IBM FlashSystem vs Panzura CloudFS comparison

IBM and Panzura are both solutions in the NAS category. IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.5, while Panzura is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0. IBM holds a 13.4% mindshare in N, compared to Panzura’s 3.0% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of Panzura users who would recommend it.

IBM FlashSystem

Read 110 IBM FlashSystem reviews

3,561 Views
2,718 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Panzura CloudFS

Read 5 Panzura CloudFS reviews

812 Views
579 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IBM FlashSystem

Panzura CloudFS

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 12, 2025

Panzura CloudFS and IBM FlashSystem compete in the storage solutions market. IBM FlashSystem has the upper hand due to its advanced feature set despite higher costs.

Features: Panzura CloudFS offers cloud-integrated global file systems, seamless scalability, and multi-cloud support to reduce data silos. IBM FlashSystem provides high-performance storage, flexible deployment options, and robust data reduction capabilities, offering customization and efficiency. Panzura focuses on cloud compatibility, while IBM excels in performance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Panzura CloudFS is known for straightforward deployment and excellent customer support, easing integration into existing infrastructures. IBM FlashSystem requires intricate planning and technical expertise for deployment, yet provides comprehensive customer service for complex configurations. Panzura is simpler to deploy, while IBM supports intricate installations better.

Pricing and ROI: Panzura CloudFS is cost-effective with a lower initial setup cost and faster ROI due to streamlined implementation and cloud focus. IBM FlashSystem, while more expensive, offers long-term savings through data reduction features and enduring performance benefits. Panzura provides immediate cost efficiency, whereas IBM offers ROI with sustained value and advanced technology.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM FlashSystem vs. Panzura CloudFS Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM FlashSystem vs. Panzura CloudFS

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM FlashSystem

Ranking in NAS

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

110

Ranking in other categories

Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) (4th), All-Flash Storage (13th)

Panzura CloudFS

Ranking in NAS

11th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

File System Software (4th), Cloud Storage (13th), Cloud Storage Gateways (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the NAS category, the mindshare of IBM FlashSystem is 13.4%, up from 13.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Panzura CloudFS is 3.0%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

NAS

Featured Reviews

Raanan Sitton

Vice President Sales at BELOCAL LTD

Offers cost-effective storage for small companies with budget constraints

IBM FlashSystem 5300 is offered at a very low cost in Israel, which is advantageous for small companies. However, other features like deduplication and compression do not perform effectively. The price sensitivity makes it a viable option for clients with budgetary constraints, as it allows us to secure deals based on the cost rather than advanced performance.

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Andy Knauf

CIO at Mead and Hunt, Inc.

Reliable file management and disaster recovery with minimal overwrites

For me, it is the stability aspect. It is a lot more stable now than it ever has been, but just keeping that stability is important. Previously, a new update would come out, and there might be something wrong with it, or it may not sync up as well as it should, or it may cause something to lose access to the server. We have had some problems in the past, but in the last couple of years, we have not had any issues like we had early on. There could be a slightly better dashboard or a better pane of glass. When something goes wrong somewhere, there should be a little bit better alerting with issues before they become a big problem.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The maintenance service and support from IBM is very good."

"IBM's technical support do excellent work."

"FlashSystem offers proven technology in a compact package."

"The GUI is very easy and performance is also good."

"We've found the solution to be very stable so far."

"It's a mature product. It's like a BMW that evolves consistently."

"IBM FlashSystem has been stable in our operations."

"The most valuable features are flexibility and performance."

More IBM FlashSystem pros

"The assistance of support has been excellent."

"The core function of Panzura CloudFS, with its synchronizing of files across multiple servers, provides us with a much more efficient workflow for our production staff."

"Panzura has not increased its data storage costs."

"The main thing in Panzura is that there are three key components: PanFS, NAS, and collaboration. These are strong features, and a big benefit is that you can access everything from anywhere."

"It is a very solid product. We keep all of our older files on their system. It is easy to restore if a file gets deleted. We have good disaster recovery. It is very reliable and very quick, and we do not have files that get overwritten because it locks the file."

"Its most valuable features are the collaboration, the file snapshots, and the data protection the solution provides."

"Primarily, it is the way Panzura CloudFS handles the file locks and the way these filers, along with the authoritative copy of all our data, which is about 27 terabytes located in an AWS bucket in the cloud, operate."

"Panzura is a hundred percent better than what we had before."

Cons

"This solution could be improved by offering greater amounts of storage."

"One area for improvement is in the GUI, where host clusters are not properly dealt with. With Hypervisor host clusters, all hosts must see the same volumes in the same order. Using the concept of a “host-group” has been around (even with IBM) for many years, so why not with the V7000?"

"Customization features must be improved."

"I have looked at a few pages of a report I download and I saw a graph there regarding software-defined vendors. IBM is not in a good position on this graph. I know that they are working very hard on this, to make it much better and to get to a level where it's not only hardware but also software to provide a complete solution."

"They can improve its initial configuration. The initial configuration is currently very difficult. There are multiple choices or alternative ways to configure based on the use case and what you are targeting out of the device, that is, more capacity or more performance. These multiple alternatives cause a lot of confusion. They should increase the processing part of the nodes. Currently, you can cluster up to eight nodes. From my experience and the workload that I am facing in my environment currently, I would like to see either a bigger or stronger node or a larger number of nodes that can be clustered together. We formally communicated to them that we need to see either this or that, and they are working on something."

"The data reduction pool feature sucks and is not recommended for use with heavy workloads."

"In IBM FlashSystem, data reduction is an area with shortcomings where improvements can be made in the future."

"The support could improve by allowing you to speak to someone when you call rather than them calling you back. However, once we do have contact with one of their technicians they are excellent."

More IBM FlashSystem cons

"It has not reduced the data storage cost."

"Previously, a new update would come out, and there might be something wrong with it, or it may not sync up as well as it should, or it may cause something to lose access to the server."

"It should be easy for people not on the network to connect and access their files."

"It would be nice if Panzura offered data in increments instead of 25 terabytes per license."

"There are a few file types that do not work well with Panzura CloudFS. Specifically, the GIS data formats, such as a geo database, have been found better kept outside of Panzura CloudFS."

"Master Snapshot feature is the only exceptional feature, but the rest of the features are similar to other storage solutions."

"There are a few file types that do not work well with Panzura CloudFS."

"There could be a slightly better dashboard or a better pane of glass. When something goes wrong somewhere, there should be a little bit better alerting with issues before they become a big problem."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The integration is already included in the license cost of IBM FlashSystem. The integration is very easy. You get the IBM storage core with all software, firmware, and upgrades. EMC provides the features in the box, but they are not free for customers. There is a licensing cost for features. We have yearly licensing, but IBM has also provided a new option where you pay as you go. They provide a big box, and I pay, for example, for 10 terabytes. If I exceed 10 terabytes, IBM will charge for the new storage after 10 terabytes. It is a good opportunity in the market for using the storage as a cloud and paying as you go."

"The pricing may be a bit higher than other brands. If you compare the IBM FlashSystems in midrange with Dell EMC in midrange, IBM costs a bit more, but I prefer IBM because it has more specs that I can benefit from."

"For a yearly license, it is about $100,000. There are no additional costs. The entire system is included."

"My customers got the IBM FlashSystem bundle offer. It was a one-time purchase for three years of service. The price would depend on the storage size and could reach between $25,000 to $55,000."

"The tool is cost-efficient."

"I find the pricing of the solution to be very reasonable."

"The price depends of the technology that our customers need. The price can come at a lower cost but this may increase as storage is added."

"The solution requires a license and could be less expensive."

More IBM FlashSystem pricing and cost advice

"The solution's pricing is on the expensive side."

"The pricing seems high on certain products and features, such as the audit feature of Panzura Data Services. They should consider more attractive pricing for companies of our size. The renewals are yearly, but the pricing is a little high for us."

"It is not bad. It is like everything else. Pricing has gone up quite over the last couple of years, but everybody's pricing has gone up. For what they deliver, it is right in line with what everybody else has."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Construction Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM FlashSystem?

It is simple to make an update.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM FlashSystem?

Many factors affect purchasing directly from IBM, often involving a multi-step process. Customers, especially in banking, often use the latest devices as they are upgrading, indicating they do not ...

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What needs improvement with IBM FlashSystem?

The GUI needs some improvement. An additional function that could be helpful is reducing the time it takes to delete volumes, especially if they are compressed or deduplicated.

See all answers

What are the products that Panzura provides?

Panzura offers four main products: CloudFS, data services, smart apps, and global services. They call this "all-in-one solution" and it's for end-to-end cloud data management. Why is it called that...

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What kind of industries does Panzura serve?

Hello, I think businesses from all industries that have their data on a cloud can benefit from Panzura. Especially if you have offices in various locations or your employees are working from home a...

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Why was Panzura acquired? Is the acquisition going to cause a change?

I think Panzura may change in a positive direction now that it's been bought by Profile Capital. That's a very big investment company for technology businesses and I think it's an opportunity for ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerStore vs IBM FlashSystem

Compared 24% of the time

Huawei OceanStor Dorado vs IBM FlashSystem

Compared 8% of the time

Pure Storage FlashArray vs IBM FlashSystem

Compared 8% of the time

HPE Alletra Storage vs IBM FlashSystem

Compared 8% of the time

Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform vs IBM FlashSystem

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM FlashSystem Competitors

Nasuni vs Panzura CloudFS

Compared 79% of the time

CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform vs Panzura CloudFS

Compared 11% of the time

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Panzura CloudFS

Compared 10% of the time

More Panzura CloudFS Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM FlashSystem

March 2025

Download IBM FlashSystem product report

Buyer's Guide

Panzura CloudFS

March 2025

Download Panzura CloudFS product report

Also Known As

IBM Storwize

Panzura Freedom

Overview

IBM FlashSystem products are enterprise computer data storage systems that store data on flash memory chips. Unlike storage systems that use standard solid-state drives, IBM FlashSystem products incorporate custom hardware based on technology from the 2012 acquisition of Texas Memory Systems. This hardware provides performance, reliability, and efficiency benefits versus competitive offerings.

IBM

Panzura CloudFS connects data across a distributed network, offering an efficient solution for file storage and management in a cloud environment.

Designed for businesses needing robust data management, Panzura CloudFS enables seamless access and high availability by providing advanced capabilities for distributed file systems. This technology ensures collaboration and data consistency across multiple locations, optimizing enterprise storage strategies and enhancing data governance and compliance. Effective in reducing latency and operational complexity, it addresses the demands of global enterprises seeking scalable and reliable cloud file services.

What are the key features of Panzura CloudFS?

Global File System: Offers a unified view of file storage across multiple sites.
Data Consolidation: Merges various data silos into a single, cohesive storage network.
Security and Compliance: Ensures data protection with built-in encryption and compliance features.
High Availability: Provides continuous access to data with fault-tolerant architecture.
Quick Deployment: Enables rapid integration into existing infrastructure with minimal downtime.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Cost Reduction: Minimizes data storage costs through efficient use of cloud storage.
Improved Collaboration: Facilitates real-time file access and sharing across geographies.
Scalability: Supports growing data needs without significant infrastructure investment.
Enhanced Productivity: Reduces operational inefficiencies with streamlined data management.
Security Enhancements: Protects critical data assets with advanced security measures.

Panzura CloudFS finds applications in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and media, where data integrity and accessibility are critical. Financial institutions benefit from secure and synchronized data access, while healthcare providers utilize it for managing patient data across locations. The media industry leverages its capabilities for collaboration and efficient media file handling worldwide.

Panzura

Sample Customers

Celero, Friedhelm Loh Group, Clarks, Mingkang Natregro Health Food Group, Sofia, Etisalat Fights Fraud, UF Health Shands Hospital, Generali, Elecon Engineering Company Limited, Ventiv , Technology, CPFL Energia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., SciQuest, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Paddy Power, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Interconnect Services, Severstal IP-Only AB, PVU Group GmbH

Petrofac, Komatsu, HCA Healthcare, Vanguard, Disney, Pokemon, US Department of Justice, Gensler, Fluor, AFRY, Milwaukee Tool, Navy Federal Credit Union, TechTarget

Buyer's Guide

IBM FlashSystem vs. Panzura CloudFS

March 2025

Free Report: IBM FlashSystem vs. Panzura CloudFS

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