ASI Solutions launches cloud storage for New Zealand data needs
ASI Solutions has introduced a new cloud storage platform aimed at addressing backup and archive requirements for New Zealand organisations, focusing on cost efficiency, resilience, and dependable low-latency performance with local infrastructure control.
The service, known as ASI Cloud InfiniStor, is built on Quantum's ActiveScale object storage and is designed to deliver reliability and transparency for public sector and enterprise customers. ASI Solutions said the platform leverages its experience of nearly four decades working with clients in Australia and New Zealand to address specific compliance and operational challenges.
Local control
As part of the launch, the University of Auckland became an early adopter, transitioning from legacy tape libraries to InfiniStor to address increasing demands in research data management. The university highlighted the importance of local hosting in meeting New Zealand's data sovereignty requirements, stating that compliance was supported by the InfiniStor platform.
Platform features
InfiniStor's architecture uses ActiveScale's three-site erasure coding, which enables 19 nines of data durability and site-level protection without relying on multiple data copies. This approach is intended to provide high availability and operational efficiency whilst keeping utility and operational costs in check.
An S3-compatible interface and integration with the S3 Glacier API facilitate bulk data access and enable an affordable, long-term archiving model. Users are able to retrieve data predictably without facing fluctuating or hidden costs. The service also provides an integrated cold storage tape tier, combining the benefits of cloud storage models with local New Zealand data residency.
According to Lloyd Vickery, Country Manager for New Zealand at ASI Solutions, this combination yields environmental and financial savings over traditional solutions. "InfiniStor reduces storage and environmental footprint by 40%-60% compared to traditional solutions, thanks to ActiveScale's advanced erasure coding," Vickery said. "This allows us to offer New Zealand businesses lower costs and higher reliability, all hosted locally."
User adoption
As well as research institutions, the transparent, per-terabyte pricing model offered with InfiniStor has led to interest from city councils and mid-sized businesses. Customers pay for the storage they consume, can access unlimited egress, and are not charged for data retrieval, which helps in budget management for organisations seeking predictable pricing.
The University of Auckland deployed InfiniStor to manage growth in research data and benefit from affordable, long-term data archiving. The transition also included seamless integration with the REANNZ research network for high-speed collaboration and secure storage, allowing compliance with New Zealand data laws and protection standards. The university cited the predictable cost structure and strong data durability among its reasons for selecting the service.
Supplier's perspective
"ASI Solutions is redefining cloud storage in New Zealand with InfiniStor's affordability, reliability, and local focus. ActiveScale's three-site erasure coding and S3 Glacier API support empower ASI to offer a service that combines enterprise-grade durability with unmatched cost efficiency."
Bruno Hald, Vice President and General Manager of Secondary Storage at Quantum, highlighted the ability of ActiveScale technology to underpin cost-effective and resilient cloud services for the region.
Looking ahead
ASI Solutions plans to broaden the reach of InfiniStor to Australia and is considering white-label offerings for IT providers in the future. Additional plans include integrating artificial intelligence-driven analytics capabilities to help organisations enhance insights from their stored data. Vickery said, "ActiveScale is the foundation for a future-proof storage service. It enables us to deliver innovation and value to our customers."
