Revisiting Herzog’s Dirty Dozen: The Progress Report - Part 2

In Part 1, I shared the progress report about the first six issues of Herzog’s Dirty Dozen. In Part 2, I cover the remaining six issues that depict the challenges, gaps, misconceptions and problems that have plagued CxOs, storage administrators, and other IT leaders. This progress report marks how far we have come over the last couple of years to address these issues.

Quick reminder of the Dirty Dozen − the list of issues “contaminating” current enterprise-grade storage implementations:

1. Insufficient level of cyber resilience
2. Disconnect between cybersecurity and enterprise storage
3. Storage proliferation
4. Lack of utilizing flexible consumption models
5. High total cost of ownership
6. Slow data recovery after a cyberattack
7. Slow application and workload performance
8. Reliance on an outdated architecture
9. Lag in making storage more green
10. Misunderstanding about hybrid cloud
11. Lack of autonomous automation
12. Underperforming storage vendor IT support

You need sound strategies to solve each of these Dirty Dozen. I’m happy to report that we’re putting new, leading-edge solutions into the hands of our customers and partners to solve every single one of these issues. To put it bluntly − Clean up in aisles 7 to 12!

[7] Slow application and workload performance

Latency is the number one determinant for real-world transactional performance. For highly transactional block workloads, you must focus your efforts on application latency. Without a doubt, the level of latency that an enterprise storage system provides is critical to real-world application performance.

In 2022, we heralded the launch of the InfiniBox™ SSA II all-flash system, delivering lower latency than any other comparable enterprise storage platform in the industry.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat offers the next-generation version of our all-flash enterprise storage solution with the InfiniBox SSA G4 system, which delivers an unprecedented 35 microseconds of latency combined with 2.5x the performance of the previous generation. Needless to say, the InfiniBox SSA G4 cleans up the “mess” of slow application and workload performance. Let me put it another way: it blows this Dirty Dozen issue away – in style.

[8] Reliance on an outdated architecture

Dual redundancy architectures for enterprise storage are outdated. Yet, it’s ironic how many enterprises still rely on them from their existing storage vendor. This type of architecture does not deliver the level of reliability that is needed at enterprise scale.

In 2022, we shouted from the rooftops about how the best practice in storage has already moved on to the triple-redundancy architecture, even though incumbents are reluctant to acknowledge it because they want to keep their installed base on a dual-mode architecture. If you want high reliability and durability, triple redundancy is the way to go for enterprises and service providers.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat steadfastly remains the industry leader championing triple-redundancy architecture, extending our advantage over incumbent storage vendors that want to keep their customers trapped in dual-redundancy, so they can keep selling them “band-aid” fixes. Infinidat provides a 100% availability guarantee for our InfiniBox® solutions. There is nothing outdated about that value driver.

[9] Lag in making storage more green

Enterprises have been slow to “go green” in their storage infrastructure because they have not yet made a strategic move to consolidate their existing storage arrays onto multi-petabyte-scale enterprise storage systems. By holding onto their existing storage arrays, they have inadvertently held onto inefficiency, waste, and a potentially harmful impact on the environment. Too many storage arrays use up more energy, more space and are higher in costs.

In 2022, we were touting how storage consolidation aligns with going green – less energy, less space, less waste, less to recycle, while reducing costs. Infinidat has helped organizations advance sustainability initiatives by accelerating their ability to go green in the storage estate. In fact, one of our global Fortune 500 customers consolidated 288 floor tiles of a competitor’s all-flash array down to 61 floor tiles with Infinidat’s all-flash arrays. Now that is saving on watts, slots, power, floor space, IT resource management, CAPEX, and OPEX! At the same time, delivering a much greener data center! Who said being data center environmentally friendly has to be more expense? With Infinidat, environmental advantage equals financial advantage.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat has a strong green IT story to tell, backed by hard numbers that will make you see “green” in more ways than one. Infinidat’s green IT approach focuses on reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions, as well as cost savings. A study revealed that InfiniBox showed a 42% reduction in power per effective PB, which means less power usage and less use of coolant chemicals. It also revealed 72% more capacity in the same footprint as previous generation arrays. Overall, a 36% improvement in ROI/TCO connected the dots between environmental value and economic efficiency.

[10] Misunderstanding about hybrid cloud

Too many IT leaders have assumed for years that their company needs to go completely “public cloud” and cannot have any private cloud because they think private cloud is no longer relevant. This sentiment was untrue three years ago, and it is still untrue today.

In 2022, we illustrated how the value of hybrid cloud had been established. We demonstrated how mixing public and private cloud environments gave an enterprise more control, more flexibility, more security, and more cost-effectiveness. A key to this set of benefits was how Infinidat transformed the private cloud into a cloud-like experience.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat is leading the way with hybrid multi-cloud, thanks to our InfuzeOS® Cloud Edition. We seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Azure and AWS. No matter whether a large enterprise is using Azure or AWS, Infinidat injects all the powerful capabilities of the award-winning InfiniBox solutions into a hybrid multi-cloud deployment. Essentially, the InfiniBox operates transparently in the cloud, delivering everything from high performance and cyber resilience to the latest support for AI applications and workloads.

[11] Lack of autonomous automation

Without autonomous automation, storage and the enterprise infrastructure overall are more complex and more costly. Automation alone is no longer enough. Incorporating autonomous automation makes the storage infrastructure “self-learning.”

In 2022, we showcased our self-learning Neural Cache, which uses intelligent data placement in a tiered storage design to cost-effectively optimize the storage, eliminate the need for performance tuning, and reduce operational manpower. Infinidat was among the first storage solution providers in the industry to break new ground with autonomous automation. We pioneered the “set-it-and-forget-it” approach years earlier. In addition, our InfiniOps™ technologies were shown to allow customers to leverage autonomous automation to dramatically reduce OPEX and CAPEX.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat has advanced the autonomous automation capabilities of our enterprise storage solutions. We have leveled up the AI / ML-driven capabilities, adding high intelligence into our solutions. The advancements that we have made in AI alone, including a RAG architecture for GenAI, have extended our leadership position with automation for cyber resilient enterprise storage.

[12] Underperforming storage vendor IT support

Enterprises and service providers should look for a white glove service because, when hands-on support is needed, you want to make sure your supplier will be there for you. However, most storage vendors cannot deliver white glove service. They don’t value their customers enough to assign a technical advisor right from the start of the relationship at no additional cost. They bump their customers off to a first line of customer support that doesn't have the same knowledge and experience as an L3.

In 2022, we made it clear to the world that Infinidat delivers a white glove service that is proactive and fixes problems before enterprises and service providers are even impacted by them. With every purchase of any Infinidat enterprise storage solution, a Technical Advisor (TA) has been assigned to serve as the experienced technical account consultant with full oversight to ensure customer success – at no additional cost. Infinidat’s L3 development support was the highest level of customer support in the industry back then – and it still is.

Today, in 2025, Infinidat remains a leader in providing white glove service. Often, new customers are stunned at how good our Technical Advisors (TA) are. They also love how they can call directly into L3 support on the first call and get technical expertise that always rises to the challenge. Infinidat’s differentiation – and credibility – has only increased over the past few years with the continuous dedication to delivering this much-lauded white glove service. Additionally, Infinidat has amped up its professional services and often provides technical support that exceeds expectations.

When you combine Infinidat’s innovation with our service and support, the picture becomes clear how and why Infinidat has jumped ahead in analyst reports about the enterprise storage industry. Herzog’s Dirty Dozen now fades away and is superseded by Herzog’s Magnificent Seven – (1) superb triple redundant architecture, (2) AI / ML storage capabilities, (3) cyber storage resilience, (4) hybrid multi-cloud support, (5) green IT value proposition, (6) lower CAPEX and OPEX, and (7) white glove service.

That’s progress, indeed.

Don’t just take our word for it! The advancements that solve the Dirty Dozen list issues have been validated independently by our enterprise customers whose reviews appear publicly on the Gartner® Peer Insights™ site. In March 2025, Infinidat was named a 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice in the Gartner Peer Insights “Voice of the Customer”: Primary Storage Platforms for the 7th time (5 times as an overall Customers’ Choice and 2 times as a North America region Customers’ Choice).

We have demonstrated our expertise in primary storage in the enterprise market, and, with Infinidat’s broad portfolio of solutions, we solve enterprise customers’ issues. It’s now time for you to knock out the issues that have hindered your storage infrastructure and prevented you from maximizing its full potential.

If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, click here.