Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1540216
STORAGE OPENDRIVES LAUNCHES ASTRAEUS CLOUD-NATIVE DATA SERVICES PLATFORM LOS ANGELES — OpenDrives, Inc. (www.opendrives.com), which provides software-defined data storage and data services, has launched Astraeus, a new cloud-native data services platform. Astraeus enables IT departments within enterprise organizations to configure, store, orchestrate, manage, secure and deploy their mission-critical applications across dynamic environ- ments, whether on-premises, cloud or hybrid environments. Astraeus drives both operational efficiencies as well as cost savings over cloud-dependent workflows and data environments. First previewed at the 2025 NAB Show last April, Astraeus addresses the costly reality of data fragmentation and sprawl that enterprise organizations face. Cloud-first and cloud-only environments are creating data silos for studios, leaving them with ever-increasing public-cloud costs. OpenDrives feels customers are searching for something more cost predictable, but with cloud-native resiliency and scale-out flexibility. "Traditional data infrastructures, whether cloud or on-premises, have often been blamed for increased costs, lack of performance and high complexity," explains Sean Lee, CEO of OpenDrives. "Infrastructure has also been blamed for leaving data lifecycle challenges unresolved as data continues to sprawl, and workflows continue to get more complicated. At OpenDrives, we think in- frastructure has not kept pace with workflow demands because infrastructure is not the right solution for the job. This isn't about where to move your data. It's about what you can do with your data. Outcome-based data services are the answer." Built on cloud-native principles, Astraeus brings the flexibility, familiarity and experience of the cloud back on-premises, where performance and workflow management capabilities are key. The platform's Kubernetes-based architec- ture and cluster-first design enable IT departments to deploy their entire cloud workflows without having to re-architect anything, and access and manage disparate data stores, all from a unified namespace that can easily scale out when the need arises. "The cloud fundamentally changed how we approach infrastructure, and that's been incredibly valuable," Lee continues. "But what we're seeing now is that organizations have learned enough about their actual workflows to make smarter decisions about where applications should run. The question has shift- ed from, 'Should we go to the cloud?' to 'Where does each workflow perform best?' Astraeus gives them data access and services to answer that question without creating workflow disruption." Astreaus handles demanding workflows across data-intensive industries by tackling each data lifecycle stage — from creation to ingestion, storage & performance, orchestration & unification, governance & compliance, con- sumption & operations, and protection & retention. Astraeus' built-in services include high-performance storage management; simple resource allocation & orchestration; flexible deployment & scalability; intelligent application & cluster management; data optimization & tiering; and data governance & protection — all controlled from a unified data plane. The initial release will deliver a select set of data services, with continuous enhancements planned in upcoming updates. OpenDrives' portfolio includes its flagship Atlas data storage & management platform, which is a network-at- tached storage (NAS) solution purpose-built for high-bandwidth, low-latency workflows. The new Astraeus cloud-native data services platform breaks down data silos and unifies data sprawl. The fully-managed Atlas Cloud Plus services extends Atlas' performance into the public cloud. SOHONET & RESILIO PARTNER TO ADVANCE HIGH-PERFORMANCE GLOBAL COLLABORATION LOS ANGELES — Sohonet (www.sohonet.com), which specializes in collabo- ration solutions and connectivity for the media & entertainment industry, has partnered with Resilio (www.resilio.com), a specialist in high-performance data movement, to deliver an enterprise-ready managed service of supercharged file synchronization and collaboration for film, television and media proj- ects. The partnership combines Sohonet's collaboration services and secure, scalable private network with the Resilio Active Everywhere data movement platform, a distributed architecture that transfers and synchronizes at high speeds using peer-to-peer, up to 100x faster than legacy hub-and-spoke file sharing tools. "This partnership directly addresses the most pressing challenges faced by media & entertainment IT teams today," explains Eric Klinker, CEO of Resilio. "They're required to manage massive content files globally, support remote production workflows, provide field teams with reliable data transfer capabili- ties, and ensure seamless access to cloud-based computer resources for ren- dering, visual effects and generative AI operations. By combining our distribut- ed architecture with Sohonet's trusted connectivity and dedicated white glove support, we're enabling cost-effective replacement of legacy file transfer tools that no longer serve the demands of modern media production." "This is the start of an exciting journey," adds Chuck Parker, CEO of Sohonet. "With Resilio, we're enabling a new era of global collaboration, where distribut- ed teams can work as one, with the speed and reliability to match their ideas, no matter where their data resides."