01Tape & optical archive
Quantum Scalar tape libraries
Quantum's tape libraries for long-term, offline-capable archives.
Best for: Large, low-cost cold archives.
Visit Quantum Scalar tape libraries →Other Storage Solutions
Storage beyond block, file and object: tape and optical archives, backup appliances, cloud archive tiers, hybrid data movement, decentralised storage and computational storage.
21solutions
6Categories
5FAQs answered
02Tape & optical archive
Spectra Logic
Tape libraries and storage software for archive and data-protection workloads.
Best for: Tape and archive tiers.
Visit Spectra Logic →03Tape & optical archive
Fujifilm data storage
LTO tape media and archive solutions from Fujifilm.
Best for: Tape media and archive systems.
Visit Fujifilm data storage →04Tape & optical archive
Sony Optical Disc Archive
Sony's optical-disc cartridges and libraries for long-term digital archives.
Best for: Long-lived archives that resist ransomware.
Visit Sony Optical Disc Archive →05Backup & archive appliances
ExaGrid
Disk-based backup storage with deduplication and a landing zone, built to work with backup software.
Best for: Fast backups and restores.
Visit ExaGrid →06Backup & archive appliances
Cohesity
Data-protection and data-security platform that also acts as scalable backup storage.
Best for: Backup consolidation and cyber resilience.
Visit Cohesity →07Cloud archive tiers
Amazon S3 Glacier
AWS's low-cost archive storage classes for rarely accessed data.
Best for: Long-term archives on AWS.
Visit Amazon S3 Glacier →08Cloud archive tiers
Azure Blob archive tier
Azure Blob Storage's archive access tier for rarely used data.
Best for: Cold data on Azure.
Visit Azure Blob archive tier →09Cloud archive tiers
Google Cloud Storage classes
Google Cloud's Nearline, Coldline and Archive storage classes.
Best for: Cold data on Google Cloud.
Visit Google Cloud Storage classes →10Hybrid & data movement
AWS Storage Gateway
A hybrid service that connects on-premises applications to AWS cloud storage.
Best for: On-premises access to cloud storage.
Visit AWS Storage Gateway →11Hybrid & data movement
AWS Snowball
Rugged devices for moving large amounts of data to and from AWS.
Best for: Offline bulk data transfer.
Visit AWS Snowball →12Hybrid & data movement
Komprise
Data-management software that analyses unstructured data and moves cold data to cheaper storage.
Best for: Cutting the cost of unstructured data.
Visit Komprise →13Hybrid & data movement
Hammerspace
Software that presents data across sites and clouds in a single global namespace.
Best for: Data orchestration across locations.
Visit Hammerspace →14Hybrid & data movement
DataCore
Software-defined storage and data-management software for block, file and object workloads.
Best for: Storage virtualisation.
Visit DataCore →15Decentralised storage
Storj
A decentralised, S3-compatible cloud storage network.
Best for: Distributed object storage.
Visit Storj →16Decentralised storage
Filecoin
A decentralised storage network in which providers are paid to store data.
Best for: Decentralised data storage.
Visit Filecoin →17Decentralised storage
Sia
A decentralised storage platform that stores encrypted data across independent hosts.
Best for: Decentralised cloud storage.
Visit Sia →18Decentralised storage
Arweave
A network designed for permanent, one-time-payment data storage.
Best for: Permanent storage.
Visit Arweave →19Decentralised storage
IPFS
A peer-to-peer protocol for storing and sharing content-addressed data.
Best for: Content-addressed file distribution.
Visit IPFS →20Emerging storage
ScaleFlux
Computational storage drives that process data, such as compression, inside the SSD.
Best for: Offloading work to the drive.
Visit ScaleFlux →21Emerging storage
Folio Photonics
Optical-disc data storage designed for low-cost, durable archives.
Best for: Emerging optical archive storage.
Visit Folio Photonics →Choosing the right approach
Match your requirement to a starting point, then compare vendors.
| Cheapest long-term archive | Tape libraries or a cloud archive tier |
|---|---|
| Protection against ransomware | Offline tape or optical archives, or immutable object storage |
| Fast backup and restore | A deduplicating backup appliance such as ExaGrid |
| Move data to the cloud | Storage Gateway, Snowball or a data-management tool such as Komprise |
| One namespace across sites | Hammerspace or a global file system |
| Experiment with decentralised storage | Storj, Filecoin, Sia or IPFS |
Related pages on PeterIndia.net
Neighbouring directories and hubs.
IT StorageThe storage hub.Object Storage SolutionsObject storage compared.File Storage SolutionsShared file storage.Block Storage SolutionsBlock volumes.Backup and Recovery SoftwareBackup software.Cloud Storage ProvidersCloud storage services.Software-Defined StorageStorage as software.Enterprise Storage SolutionsEnterprise arrays.AI Storage SolutionsStorage built for AI.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers.
What counts as other storage?
This page covers storage that is not simply block, file or object: tape and optical archives, backup appliances, cloud archive tiers, hybrid data movement, decentralised networks and emerging technologies.
Is tape still used?
Yes. Tape remains a low-cost, high-capacity option for archives and offline copies, and its air gap helps protect against ransomware. Access is slower than disk.
What is a cloud archive tier?
A very low-cost storage class for rarely accessed data. Retrieval takes longer and can incur fees, so it suits compliance and long-term retention.
What is decentralised storage?
Decentralised storage spreads encrypted data across many independent providers instead of one company's data centres. It is still maturing, so test reliability and cost carefully.
What is computational storage?
Computational storage places processing inside or near the drive, for tasks such as compression or filtering, to reduce data movement and free the host CPU.
Descriptions summarise each vendor's or project's own positioning, checked on 5 October 2026. Product names and offerings change often, so confirm details on the linked site before deciding.