Block storage
Exposes storage volumes to servers for workloads such as databases or virtual machines, according to platform requirements.
Enterprise IT Infrastructure
Compute & Storage Infrastructure
Build the Foundation for Your Enterprise Workloads
Enterprise applications and business-critical workloads depend on computing and storage infrastructure that is appropriately designed, scalable and resilient.
QSAT helps organizations assess, plan and implement compute and storage infrastructure aligned with workload requirements, data growth, performance expectations and operational objectives.
Enterprise computeBusiness data infrastructureWorkload-led architecture
The infrastructure behind business applications
The Computing and Storage Foundation of Your Business
Every application needs resources to process information, access data and support the people who use it. Compute and storage infrastructure brings those resources together beneath your business systems.
QSAT helps organizations evaluate the technical and operational trade-offs, aligning infrastructure investments with business needs. Build a reliable foundation for enterprise applications, business data and future growth.
Balance the requirements that matter
- Processing performance
- Memory & capacity
- Storage performance
- Data growth
- Availability & security
- Backup & recovery
- Operational cost
- Future expansion
Enterprise compute infrastructure
Compute Infrastructure Designed for Your Workloads
Business applications, databases and operational systems need appropriately sized processing and memory resources. Enterprise rack servers and compute platforms should be selected around the workload—not the other way around.
- 1. Compute ResourcesServer platforms, CPU and memory
- 2. Operating EnvironmentOperating systems or virtualization, where appropriate
- 3. Applications & WorkloadsBusiness systems, databases and operational applications
- Enterprise rack servers
- CPU & memory planning
- Workload requirements
- Server consolidation
- Compute capacity planning
- Hardware lifecycle assessment
- Infrastructure expansion
- Compatibility & support needs
Server selection considers performance, compatibility, availability and support requirements. Physical workloads remain appropriate in some environments; virtualization is not mandatory.
Enterprise storage infrastructure
Storage Infrastructure for Growing Business Data
Storage infrastructure keeps application data, databases, files and business information accessible to the workloads that depend on them. Enterprise storage arrays should balance capacity with performance, latency, availability and operational needs.
Architecture decisions also consider existing systems, budget, storage expansion and the lifecycle of the data—from active use to retention and eventual disposal.
- 1. ApplicationsWorkloads that read and write information
- 2. Storage ConnectivitySuitable local or network interfaces
- 3. Enterprise StorageCapacity and performance aligned to demand
- 4. Business DataManaged access, retention and lifecycle
Direct-attached storage (DAS) serves a connected server. Network-attached storage (NAS) typically shares files. Storage area networks (SAN) commonly deliver block storage to servers. These are architectural options, not a requirement to deploy every type together.
Compute and storage architecture
Design the Right Architecture for Your Environment
Compute and storage should be designed together. Processing resources alone cannot resolve a storage bottleneck, and additional storage capacity does not automatically improve application performance.
- 1. ApplicationsWorkload placement and dependencies
- 2. ComputeProcessing, memory and recovery capacity
- 3. NetworkCompute-to-storage connectivity
- 4. StoragePerformance, growth and redundancy
- Capacity & performance
- Workload placement
- Redundancy considerations
- Storage growth
- Network dependencies
- Existing-system compatibility
- Operational manageability
- Connectivity requirements
This illustrative architecture is a starting point, not a universal design. QSAT evaluates the full environment before defining suitable interfaces, resource allocation and infrastructure dependencies.
Structured Cabling & FiberHybrid SD-WAN for wider network connectivity
Virtualization-ready infrastructure
Infrastructure Ready for Modern Workloads
Appropriately designed compute and storage can support virtual machines and consolidated workloads while retaining physical deployment options where required. Resource allocation needs to account for the demands of each application and the shared environment.
Memory planning, shared-storage requirements, utilization and expansion are considered alongside compatibility with existing virtualization platforms. Platform selection and deployment depend on customer requirements and existing licensing.
Plan for the operating model
- Virtual machine workloads
- Physical workload requirements
- Compute resource allocation
- Memory capacity planning
- Shared storage where required
- Workload consolidation
- Resource utilization
- Platform compatibility
No particular platform certification or vendor relationship is assumed.
Hyperconverged infrastructure
Simplify Infrastructure with Hyperconverged Architecture
Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) integrates compute and storage resources into a managed architecture. A scale-out approach can support workload consolidation and capacity expansion where the environment is suitable.
Hyperconverged architecture
Integrated resources and centralized management can simplify certain operational tasks. Assess workload suitability, platform compatibility, licensing and how compute and storage capacity expand together.
Conventional server and storage
Separate compute and storage platforms may better suit established systems, specialized workloads or environments needing independent resource growth. The appropriate choice follows the requirement.
HCI is not ideal for every organization and does not automatically reduce costs or improve performance. QSAT assesses architectural fit before recommending an approach.
Backup, recovery and data resilience
Design Infrastructure with Recovery in Mind
Recovery requirements should shape infrastructure decisions from the beginning. Production resources, backup capacity and the environment used to restore services need to be considered together.
- 1. Production WorkloadsBusiness criticality and application dependencies
- 2. Primary StorageActive business data
- 3. Backup InfrastructureRecoverable copies and retention
- 4. Recovery EnvironmentResources and procedures for restoration
- Backup integration & capacity
- Data retention requirements
- Recovery point objectives (RPO)
- Recovery time objectives (RTO)
- Replication where appropriate
- Recovery testing
- Production / backup separation
- Business criticality & budget
RPO defines the acceptable data-loss window; RTO defines the target time to restore a service. These objectives inform design and validation rather than representing a guaranteed outcome.
Backup creates recoverable copies. Replication maintains another copy of selected data. High availability supports service continuity during certain failures. They solve different problems and are not substitutes for one another.
Availability and business continuity
Reduce Infrastructure Risk and Support Continuity
Redundant components, resilient compute architecture and storage redundancy can reduce the impact of some hardware failures. Their effectiveness depends on the complete system, application dependencies and how recovery is planned.
Failover planning should account for power, connectivity and enough capacity to run recovery workloads. High availability and disaster recovery are designed against business requirements; redundancy does not eliminate every failure scenario.
Power & Precision Cooling- Redundant components
- Resilient compute architecture
- Storage redundancy
- Power & connectivity dependencies
- Workload recovery
- Failover planning
- Recovery workload capacity
- Continuity requirements
Modernization and refresh
Modernize Before Infrastructure Becomes a Constraint
Aging or poorly sized hardware can constrain application performance, complicate operations and make expansion difficult. An assessment helps distinguish capacity limits from configuration issues and lifecycle risks.
Modernization may involve a targeted hardware upgrade, resource reconfiguration, workload consolidation or a different architecture. A complete replacement is not always necessary.
Explore Data Centre Modernization- Hardware lifecycle assessment
- Server refresh planning
- Storage modernization
- Capacity constraints
- Performance bottlenecks
- Compatibility assessment
- Migration planning
- Future workload requirements
Performance, capacity and resource planning
Plan Capacity Around Real Workload Requirements
Before adding hardware, establish how the existing infrastructure is used. Workload measurements help identify whether demand is constrained by processing, memory, storage I/O, latency or another dependency.
Infrastructure sizing should use actual workload data wherever possible, rather than arbitrary benchmarks or assumed utilization improvements.
Security and operational readiness
Build Security and Manageability into the Infrastructure
Infrastructure needs to be manageable as well as appropriately sized. Administrative access, secure configuration and storage permissions should be planned alongside monitoring and the processes used to maintain the environment.
Security depends on identity, networking, applications, operating procedures and ongoing management. Compute and storage infrastructure alone cannot guarantee compliance or eliminate cyber risk.
- Administrative access controls
- Secure configuration
- Firmware & lifecycle management
- Patch planning
- Storage access controls
- Monitoring & alerting
- Asset inventory
- Documentation & handover
Assessment and deployment approach
From Infrastructure Assessment to Deployment
A considered delivery process connects business requirements with implementation and operational readiness.
- 01
Assess
Understand the existing environment, workloads, constraints and business requirements.
- 02
Design
Develop an architecture aligned with performance, capacity, availability and budget.
- 03
Plan
Confirm dependencies, compatibility, implementation scope and migration considerations.
- 04
Deploy
Implement the agreed infrastructure using the approved design and change procedures.
- 05
Validate
Verify configuration, connectivity, capacity and agreed operational requirements.
- 06
Document and Handover
Provide appropriate configuration records, infrastructure documentation and handover materials.
Migration, managed services and ongoing support are included only where confirmed in the agreed engagement scope.
Strategic Advisory for infrastructure planningIndustries and use cases
Infrastructure for Different Workload Requirements
Solutions can be designed around the requirements of different operating environments, with suitability assessed for each engagement.
Enterprise IT
Compute and storage infrastructure for business applications, databases and internal systems.
Data Centres
Server, storage and workload infrastructure for data-centre environments.
Government and Public Sector
Planning aligned with organizational security, operational and capacity requirements.
Industrial and Operational Environments
Compute and storage infrastructure for applicable operational and business workloads.
Remote and Distributed Operations
Design around local workload, availability, connectivity and management requirements.
Growing Organizations
Scalable approaches that accommodate business growth and evolving technology requirements.
Why QSAT
Infrastructure Decisions Aligned with Business Needs
Workload-Led Planning
Start with business applications and operational requirements, rather than hardware without a clear need.
Compute and Storage Perspective
Evaluate processing resources, storage capacity and architecture together.
Modernization Focus
Identify practical options for refreshing, consolidating or extending existing infrastructure.
Resilience Considerations
Account for availability, backup, recovery and infrastructure dependencies.
Scalable Design
Plan infrastructure with capacity and future growth in mind.
Integrated Infrastructure Thinking
Consider compute and storage alongside facilities, physical connectivity and wider network architecture.
Related QSAT solutions
Build a Complete Infrastructure Foundation
Data Centre Modernization
Assess and modernize data-centre infrastructure to support changing operational and technology requirements.
Data Centre ModernizationPower & Precision Cooling
Address power distribution, backup power and the thermal requirements of critical IT infrastructure.
Power & Precision CoolingStructured Cabling & Fiber
Build the physical connectivity foundation for enterprise networks and data-centre environments.
Structured Cabling & FiberHybrid SD-WAN
Integrate suitable network connections into a resilient and manageable WAN architecture.
Hybrid SD-WANStrategic Advisory
Align infrastructure decisions with business priorities, operational requirements and technology plans.
Strategic AdvisoryResource Augmentation
Extend technical capacity with appropriate infrastructure and technology expertise.
Resource AugmentationFrequently asked questions
Compute and Storage: Your Questions Answered
Talk to QSAT
Build Infrastructure That Is Ready for What Comes Next
Whether you are refreshing aging servers, expanding storage capacity, consolidating workloads or planning a new infrastructure environment, QSAT can help you evaluate the options and develop an approach aligned with your technical and business requirements.