Data Tiering

Optimize storage performance and costs

NetApp Tiering uses policy-based automation to place cold data on lower-cost object storage while keeping active data on high-performance storage. Lower storage costs, reclaim flash capacity, and keep data continuously accessible.

tiering flow diagram

How NetApp Tiering works

NetApp Tiering enables you to:

  • Reclaim high performance capacity by moving cold data to lower cost storage
  • Reduce storage costs without refactoring applications
  • Automate data placement using policies
  • Maintain continuous access to all data

Automatically tier data according to your defined policies

NetApp Tiering monitors access patterns and automatically moves cold data to cost-efficient object storage tiers. Applications keep accessing data the same way, with no refactoring and no downtime.

Application to Object Storage capacity tier

Infrequently used data is automatically discovered and moved to object storage.

Applications flow of data

Applications continue to access the tiered data in the same way—no need to refactor.

Data is always available

Data is always available for immediate access: If tiered data is needed, it’s automatically moved back.

Choose where your tiered data lives

NetApp Tiering works across on-premises and cloud environments, so you pick the right cost and performance profile for each tier as needs change. One capability. Many targets. Your call.

Tiering locations:

Data tiering data transfer

The IEO team uses NetApp’s FabricPool to archive and tier Electronic Health Record data, while still providing physicians fast access to imaging from years’ past.

Data Tiering - Tab 1 Image [9-2uq8]

ESA uses NetApp FAS systems to manage cold data across its Digital Library of the Universe, tiering inactive science archives to lower-cost capacity storage while keeping 360,000+ researchers in 15+ countries able to access any file at any time.

Marcus Masching, Head of IT Computing Services, Festo

Bright spiral galaxy surrounded by countless stars in deep outer space

Siemens Healthineers runs seven global data centers, 80% on NetApp. Tiering to object storage via Cloud Volumes ONTAP on Azure supports their cloud-first strategy, letting the team extend on-premises infrastructure to the cloud without replacing it.

Alex Green, IT Systems Architect, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, CU Boulder

Siemens Healthineers facility entrance with company signage and flags displayed outside the building.

With 27 million annual visitors depending on always-on ticketing, hotel, and operations systems, Europa-Park can't afford storage that slows down. Tiering cold data to FAS keeps costs controlled while flash stays reserved for what actually needs it.

Andreas Müller, Product Manager, Managed Cloud Services, SVA

People riding a roller coaster at an amusement park with a large coaster track in the background.

Tiering resources

Tiering documentationVideo Cloud tiering with FabricPool INSIGHT session Lower storage costs without adding complexity Blog Mitigate tech silos, modernize effectively NetApp ONAIR Smarter data tiering for hybrid cloud storage

FAQs

Data tiering automatically moves data between storage tiers based on how often you use it. Hot, active data stays on high-performance storage. Cold, infrequently accessed data moves to lower-cost object storage. You cut costs without losing access.

FabricPool is the ONTAP technology behind NetApp Tiering. It monitors access patterns, tiers cold data to object storage based on your policies, and recalls data automatically when it becomes active again. The whole cycle runs without manual intervention.

No. Active data stays on your fastest storage. Applications access tiered data the same way they always did, with no code changes and no refactoring. When cold data heats up, FabricPool moves it back automatically.

NetApp Tiering supports object storage in Amazon S3, Azure Blob, and Google Cloud. It also tiers to on-premises targets like NetApp StorageGRID, FAS systems running ONTAP S3, and Cloud Volumes ONTAP.

Yes. Tiered data stays available for immediate access. If an application requests cold data, FabricPool retrieves it automatically. Nothing goes offline. Nothing gets archived out of reach.

Cold data is data your applications rarely touch: older records, completed projects, historical imaging, and long-retention datasets. FabricPool identifies it by monitoring real access patterns, not guesswork.

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