GDEP Solutions launches Morro Data CloudNAS through IIJ Global Solutions

GDEP Solutions Inc. (CEO: Atsushi Nagasaki, hereinafter GDEP), an IT distributor/reseller in Japan, launches Morro Data CloudNAS of Morro Data, Inc. of the United States, which has excellent cost performance and enables file sharing between domestic and overseas bases.

GDEP sells it through IIJ Global Solutions, Inc. (CEO: Toshinori Iwasawa, hereinafter IIJ Global), a wholly owned subsidiary of Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (CEO: Eijiro Katsu; IIJ; an operator of corporate WAN service).

Background

With the explosion of unstructured data, the demand for NAS (Network Attached Storage) is expected to increase in companies due to the explosion of unstructured data. Some are operated without proper backup and disaster recovery measures, and there are cases where important data is lost due to NAS failure or disaster. In addition, many NAS used in such scenes have low scalability, so there are many NAS in the company, and the number of companies suffering from increased operational load and increased security risk due to data distribution is increasing. 

Therefore, the trend is to connect NAS to cloud. But many of the existing solutions are high-end by design targeting hundreds to thousands of users. These systems are expensive and requires great efforts in deployment and continued support and maintenance.

Therefore, GDEP will launch Morro Data’s CloudNAS, which has excellent cost performance and is very easy to install and operate, in the domestic market, and will strongly support enterprise NAS installation and data protection.

Morro architecture

Three elements that make up the Morro Data architecture:

1. CacheDrive: A caching NAS installed in a company. It has a CIFS / SMB interface and is provided as a virtual appliance that runs on Hyper-V and vSphere.
2. Morro Cloud: SaaS that provides NAS metadata management, exclusive file control, versioning, and user management.
3. Cloud Storage: Master copy of files are stored in the cloud storage. Choose from Amazon S3, Wasabi, and Backblaze B2.

File synchronization and sharing

Files saved in the CacheDrive from the client PC are saved (synchronized) to cloud storage via Morro Cloud. Also, if you connect to Morro Cloud from the client PC’s web browser via the Internet, you can also access and use files stored via CacheDrive.

Main features

1. Cost performance
   CacheDrive is software that is light enough to run on a typical Windows PC, and does not require expensive hardware. In addition, the usage fee of Morro Cloud / cloud storage is pay-as-you-go on a monthly / annual basis. You will not be forced to sign multi-year contracts.
2. How to use and performance are the same as conventional NAS
   Mount the CacheDrive from the client PC as a network drive to read, write, overwrite, and directly edit files. By setting the appropriate cache size of Cache Drive, frequently used files are always stored in the cache, so performance is as good as that of conventional NAS.
3. Strong data protection and versioning with cloud storage
   All files stored in CacheDrive are stored in durable cloud storage to keep copies safe. In addition, Morro Cloud has a file versioning management function, so you can restore files from previous versions as a measure against accidental overwriting and ransomware. Morro also has the ability to copy files stored in cloud storage to online storage such as OneDrive or Dropbox, allowing for double or triple data protection.
4. Easy to install and operate
   Morro does not require the complex design of traditional NAS products. It has a simple and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone in the corporate IT department to install and operate it, and has extensive manuals and technical support documents. In addition, Morro Cloud has a built-in user management and authentication mechanism, so you can use it without Active Directory.

Special features

1. Multi-site file sharing by CIFS / SMB
   Single namespace and global syncing enable high-speed file sharing by CIFS / SMB at multiple sites. For example, Autodesk’s BIM (Building Information Modeling) application Revit has a work sharing function that allows multiple designers to simultaneously access Revit files saved on a network drive and edit them in parallel. However, by installing CacheDrive at multiple locations, it is possible to realize work sharing between remote locations.
2. File sharing by CIFS / SMB and online storageFiles stored via the internal CacheDrive can be accessed and used from outside using the Web browser. For example, if a CacheDrive is installed at an overseas base, it will operate as a NAS inside the base, but the files stored there will be available for reference from the Tokyo headquarters via the Web.

Application example

1. SOHO, data protection and scalability enhancement by cloudifying file servers of SMEs
2. Strengthen data protection by using CloudNAS at departments of large companies and projects
3. Strengthen and integrate data protection by clouding NAS distributed to domestic and overseas bases
4. Collaboration of design work in multi-sites of manufacturing and construction industries.
5. Cloud storage gateway for cloud backup

Endorsements

We are excited to launch CloudNAS with GDEP Solutions to businesses in Japan.  Our partner recognizes that the Morro Data CloudNAS is an innovative solution that extends the on-premises file server design to a global cloud-based architecture. It allows users at multiple sites to collaborate as if on the same high performance file server, with cloud reliability and scalability.

Morro Data, Inc.

CEO Paul Tien