Case study · Data centre & storage

Optimising enterprise storage

Global enterprise across multiple data centres

Drawing on deep experience from Dell, NetApp and Pure Storage, C4C helped a global enterprise consolidate a fragmented estate, cut cost and improve performance.

45%smaller data centre footprint
38%better performance and throughput
30%+less power and cooling

The challenge

The client ran ageing arrays from several top tier vendors, each bought on a different refresh cycle, which left the estate fragmented and expensive to run.

The solution

Our storage experts delivered a full consolidation and modernisation plan, independent of any single vendor.

Delivered through our IDEAL framework, the disciplined method behind every C4C engagement.

  1. IdentifyAssessed the full estate, mapping workloads, dependencies and lifecycle positions to see where cost and complexity really sat.
  2. DecideRan a vendor neutral evaluation on evidence from the estate, not an existing relationship, to choose the right long term platform.
  3. ExecuteMigrated from three separate vendor arrays onto a single high performance platform with minimal disruption.
  4. AdoptDesigned the architecture and data tiering so critical workloads got the I/O they needed and the team could run one platform, not three.
  5. LifecyclePositioned the estate for future scale, automation and cloud integration, with ongoing capacity and cost review built in.

The outcome

Within months the client reduced complexity and positioned itself for future scale, automation and cloud integration.

Why C4C Group

Our advantage is independent insight paired with vendor side experience. We understand enterprise storage platforms from the inside, and we combine technical depth with commercial acumen so modernisation delivers measurable, lasting outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

How much can consolidating enterprise storage save?

It depends on how fragmented the estate is, but the gains compound. In this engagement consolidation cut the data centre footprint by 45 percent, improved performance by 38 percent and reduced power and cooling by over 30 percent, alongside fewer support contracts and tools to manage.

Should we standardise on a single storage vendor?

Often, but not blindly. A single high performance platform removes silos, simplifies management and lowers cost per terabyte. The right answer depends on your workloads, so the platform should be chosen on evidence from your own estate, not on an existing vendor relationship.

Why does a fragmented storage estate cost so much to run?

Because every array bought on a different cycle brings its own management tools, support contract, refresh date and power draw. The hardware is only part of it. The hidden cost is the operational drag of running several platforms that do not behave as one.

Is hyperconverged or disaggregated storage the better model?

Neither wins outright. Hyperconverged is elegant when compute and storage scale together, but a disaggregated, three tier design lets you refresh and scale them independently. For estates where the fused model no longer fits, separating them can be the cleaner long term position.

How do you cut data centre power and cooling through storage?

Modern arrays deliver far more capacity and performance per watt than ageing kit, so consolidating several older platforms onto one efficient system reduces both the rack space used and the power and cooling it draws. Here that was a reduction of over 30 percent.

Facing something similar?

Tell us what you are working through. We will give you an independent, vendor neutral view and a clear next step.

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