The Challenge
A healthcare organization needed to prepare for explosive growth in pathology data. Daily scan volumes were projected to increase from 2,500 to 40,000 scans per day. At 1.5 GB per scan and a 10-year retention requirement, the organization faced mounting pressure to implement architecture that could efficiently move objects from performance tiers to tape, extend storage runway, provide a global namespace, control long-term storage costs, and scale to over 16 PB.
The Solution
The organization selected NetApp StorageGRID integrated with Spectra object-based tape. Three StorageGRID clusters in Austin, Memphis, and Dallas provide a global namespace, enabling clinicians to easily evaluate pathology data. As this data transitions from hot to cold, StorageGRID Cloud Pool information lifecycle management (ILM) and the Spectra BlackPearl® Object Gateway automatically move data to tape, freeing StorageGRID capacity for new scans. The system stores data in the Spectra Cube tape library. One copy remains in the library; a second copy is exported for offsite retention, providing an additional layer of long-term protection.
In a separate workflow, the organization uses Spectra StorCycle to analyze existing data from clinics it acquires, ensuring that crucial pathology data is never lost.
The Result
The StorageGRID and Spectra solution delivers a hybrid architecture for the long-term preservation and management of pathology data. The organization established a scalable foundation capable of supporting decades of data growth. Teams maintain access to archived records while leveraging automated lifecycle management to move aging data to a low-cost preservation tier. As a result, the organization preserves critical clinical data and better manages long-term storage economics.
The Environment Snapshot
- 3x NetApp StorageGrid Clusters, 800 TB/cluster
- 1x Spectra Cube tape library
- LTO-9 media and drives
- 1x Spectra BlackPearl Object Gateway
- StorCycle data management software
