Just like any new product that is introduced, when Cirtas introduced its cloud storage solution, the Bluejet Cloud Storage Controller, journalists, analysts and end-users asked questions such as “How it works?” and “What makes it unique?”

In a recent blog post, the cloud storage company tackled some of the more common inquiries about its Bluejet Cloud Storage Controller, which represent “part of a larger conversation we’re having with the marketplace.”

One of the main questions Cirtas receives is: “Is Bluejet really cloud-powered primary storage? Or is it actually cloud-powered backup storage because you still need local storage to run all of your applications since cloud-based primary storage won’t work for most applications?”

The answer, according to Cirtas, is that Bluejet “really is cloud powered primary storage.” According to officials, Cirtas “recognized that the emergence of multiple, reputable public cloud storage providers would allow the creation of a new generation of data storage system that uses the cloud (instead of an array of local disk drives) as the data repository.” Bluejet is the result as the combination of its technology and the cloud eliminates the need to perform separate backups of that data, resulting in cost savings for a company.

Another popular question is: “Does the Bluejet do snapshots or do I need to purchase snapshot software?”

Consumers do not have to purchase snapshot software as the Bluejet’s snapshot capability is fully integrated into the system and included in the purchase price so there is no need to obtain an extra license, officials argue.

Others have been asking, “Why don’t I need to run backups on the data stored on Bluejet?”

According to the cloud storage company, Bluejet provides two levels of data protection – physical protection, which ensures that there is a second copy of the data, and logical protection, which is when the consumer has a point-in-time recovery capability that protects against human and machine errors.

“When you store data on Bluejet, it is automatically sent offsite to the cloud, and the cloud providers in turn replicate your data to protect it physically,” Cordys officials state. “Bluejet’s CloudSnap technology takes point-in-time snapshots of your data, adding the logical data protection layer.”

Another popular question is, “Do you need to define what data is cached on the Bluejet?”

According to Cirtas, no, since the Bluejet’s CloudCache caching system is fully automated.

“You don’t need to define anything and Bluejet will constantly adapt to data usage patterns to keep relevant data in cache and provide the best performance,” officials write.

While the cloud storage company has taken to its website to talk about how its Bluejet cloud storage system works, and the associated benefits, not as many enterprises are turning to the cloud as one might think, according to Cirtas officials.  

According to a report put out by the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG), this result is because for the most part “services on the market lack enterprise-class features.”

Cirtas is trying to challenge this fact by offering Bluejet, which makes remote cloud storage function like local, SAN-attached storage, with all the enterprise-class features expected in today’s data centers.

David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin