Eviden

Eviden offers a unique combination of hardware and software technologies for businesses, public sector and defense organizations and research institutions, helping them to create value from their data.

The company empowers organizations with advanced computing, cybersecurity products, artificial intelligence and mission-critical systems, enabling secure data management, digital transformation, and robust defenses against cyber threats.

By providing a strong portfolio of innovative and eco-efficient solutions in AI, computing, security, data and applications, Eviden drives innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth across industries

Known for its uncompromising BullSequana servers, Eviden has carved a niche as the preferred IT partner for enterprise-grade applications like SAP HANA, Oracle, SQL Server, and DB2. These foundational technologies are complemented by Eviden’s deep expertise in managed services and professional consulting.

Eviden’s adoption of NetApp’s technology—including AFF A1K, AFF C800, E-Series, EF-Series, and ASA A70 storage arrays—sets it apart by enabling exceptional performance and scalability for critical workloads. With 29 years of partnership, Eviden leverages NetApp’s solutions to deliver seamless integration, superior reliability, and strategic advantages for its enterprise clients.

Key achievement

Eviden achieved a breakthrough by introducing BNflex, a converged infrastructure combining BullSequana servers and NetApp^® ONTAP^® systems—offering unparalleled performance for data-intensive applications. The incorporated NetApp AFF A1K system delivers a substantial capacity of 100TiB while surpassing competitors in critical benchmarks.

Where Eviden excels

• Proficiency in performance-critical environments, such as cloud data centers, big data, and AI.
• Tailored solutions integrating BullSequana servers with NetApp storage.
• Plug-and-play solutions, factory-built to lower deployment times and risks.

Eviden operates in a landscape where businesses face exponential growth in data and need on-demand access to analytics in real time. A surge in demand for cloud scalability, regulatory compliance, and enhanced cybersecurity created new complexities for clients relying on Eviden’s solutions.

Key challenges

• Performance bottlenecks: Rapidly expanding workloads strained existing infrastructure, particularly for SAP workloads critical for enterprise clients.
• Fragmented systems: Competitor options lacked the cohesive integration needed for high-performance applications, creating inefficiencies and risks.
• Data management complexity: Clients demanded secure, flexible data-sharing systems to comply with varying regulations across geographies.

The ideal future state

Eviden set out to build an integrated IT offering capable of delivering plug-and-play infrastructure that scaled effortlessly with business needs, was secure, met rigorous SLAs, and seamlessly supported cross-border compliance.

Eviden’s partnership with NetApp addressed the most pressing challenges by introducing resilient and scalable storage solutions designed to complement its BullSequana servers.

Challenges before NetApp’s introduction

• Lack of flexibility to handle complex SAP applications with efficiency.
• Long deployment lead times leading to costly downtime.
• Absence of integrated data services capable of multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud operations.

Implementation timeline

With a factory integration approach, Eviden achieved plug-and-play capabilities, significantly reducing on-site deployment times and operational risks. The BNflex infrastructure—pre-loaded with NetApp AFF A1K technology—is certified for SAP HANA applications and has shown leading performance in the different benchmarks.^{Eviden, “Eviden’s BullSequana SH server is certified for all SAP HANA,” June 5, 2024.}

Why Eviden chose NetApp

• NetApp ONTAP offers an unmatched capability for hybrid and multicloud architectures, allowing global regulatory compliance and data harmonization.
• NetApp shares technical expertise in critical application environments, including SAP, Oracle, and SQL.
• NetApp’s support via the Sphere Program provides flexible maintenance terms and delivers cost-efficiency for Eviden’s customers.

NetApp’s integrated solutions directly solve fundamental issues for Eviden and its customers, while enabling operational efficiencies at scale.

Immediate impacts following implementation

• Enhanced SAP loading times: The AFF A1K system delivers 100TiB capacity with unmatched speed and scalability, raising performance benchmarks.
• Reduced downtime: Plug-and-play solutions, including pre-configured racks, decrease deployment cycles and failure risks.
• Cross-border compliance: NetApp BlueXP^™ powers seamless, secure intercontinental sharing that adheres to local regulations, maintaining data access while meeting SLA requirements.

End-user benefits of the BNflex infrastructure

• Ease of use: Pre-built and pre-configured solutions guarantee smooth deployment with minimal time to productivity.
• Resiliency and reliability: Built-in redundancy delivers secure and failure-resistant operations during critical workload processing.
• Scalability: Modular designs make scaling storage, compute, and network needs flexible.

A key highlight came from a client’s SAP migration project. Thanks to Eviden’s NetApp-driven solution, SAP applications reached peak performance levels, providing faster analytics and business-critical insights.

The Eviden-NetApp partnership continues to focus on growth, innovation, and excellence. Their shared vision means enterprises have the tools they need for tomorrow’s digital landscape.

What does the future hold?

Eviden is doubling down on AI, HPC, and quantum computing to create breakthroughs in personalized data solutions. “We’ve already laid the groundwork for quantum computing with simulators,” said Global Alliance Manager Nicolas Rouby. “Next, we aim to take our customers into the future of computing and analytics.”

NetApp remains integral to this vision with its energy-efficient, resilient data services and a proven ability to manage complexity in hybrid cloud environments.