Client story Insight provides prosecution service with simpler, faster, more economical data-storage solution

A government prosecution service wanted to upgrade its data storage to provide a better end user experience for its remote workforce and cut down on maintenance and running costs. Insight installed Pure Storage all-flash arrays to support both the virtual desktop (VDI) and server estate. The solution met all the client’s requirements while keeping capital expenditure to a minimum thanks to data reduction technology.

The Challenge

The prosecution service’s internal servers were struggling to cope with the large number remote workers using Virtual Desktops from a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The existing data storage solution was causing noticeable lag and long load times for remote workers.

The service wanted a more reliable data storage solution to save on running costs, avoid disruption and enable employees to work efficiently during lockdown.

The IT department wanted to simplify its data storage, as the existing system involved separate platforms for the server estate and VDI. It also asked for a solution that used data reduction technology to minimise capital expenditure and could easily scale up to support other areas.

“The Pure Storage solution enabled us to consolidate four complex storage platforms into a single intelligent system. This has brought operational efficiency to our IT Services and helped to reduce maintenance costs across each of those platforms.”

IT Support Services Manager

The Solution

Insight helped the client choose and identify the best storage solution for its needs.

The client chose Pure Storage all-flash arrays as they are ideal for hosting VDIs. Their low latency reduces the delay between a user performing an action and the system responding. The arrays are also easy to maintain, cost efficient, and can be scaled up to increase capacity without disruption.

Pure Storage incorporates data reduction technologies (including compression, deduplication and thin provisioning) to minimise the data storage requirement, saving on upfront costs.

Insight installed two Pure Storage all-flash arrays, one at at each of the clients two main sites. The installation took place on two consecutive days, and workloads were running on the new all-flash arrays on day three.

Since the initial installation, the prosecution service has consolidated another storage platform into the new system, using the all-flash array to support its case management platform.

Key Benefits

• The new Pure Storage all-flash arrays deliver a much smoother user experience for the prosecution service’s remote workers. They are also more reliable than the old servers, reducing disruption and improving productivity.
• More capacity can be added as needed, without disruption to the existing servers – making the new storage arrays much easier to upgrade. And because flash storage arrays have no moving parts, they are easier to manage and reduce maintenance costs.
• This simplified storage system is easier for the client to manage, taking pressure off the IT team and leading to a reduction in ongoing maintenance requirements.
• By actively reducing the amount of data that needs to be stored, the new storage arrays reduce the capital expenditure required for the project – a key objective for the prosecution service.

The Results Highlights