NetApp

NetApp, Inc.
Company type	Public
Industry	Data infrastructure, data storage, cloud services
Predecessor	Network Appliance, Inc.
Founded	1992; 34 years ago
Founder	David Hitz, James Lau, Michael Malcolm
Headquarters	San Jose, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	George Kurian (CEO), César Cernuda (President), Mike Nevens (Chairman)
Products	Data storage solutions, integrated data services, cloud operation capabilities, FAS/AFF/ASA hardware lines, ONTAP operating system, Cloud Backup, NetApp HCI, SolidFire
Number of employees	12,000
Website	www.netapp.com

NetApp, Inc. is a U.S.-based company specializing in data infrastructure, with its headquarters located in San Jose, California. Established in 1992 by David Hitz, James Lau, and Michael Malcolm, the firm delivers comprehensive data storage solutions, integrated data services, and cloud operation capabilities to enterprise customers globally. NetApp was included in the Fortune 500 list from 2012 through 2021. The company went public in 1995 and concentrates on cloud data services that facilitate management of applications and data across both cloud environments and on-premises systems.

History

Initially founded as Network Appliance, Inc., NetApp competed mainly against Auspex Systems. In 1994, it obtained venture funding from Sequoia Capital. The company launched its initial public offering on November 21, 1995, with shares priced at $13.50 on the Nasdaq exchange. During the internet expansion of the late 1990s, NetApp’s revenue rose to $1 billion but fell to $800 million following the fiscal downturn in 2002 after the dot-com crash. Since then, revenue has shown consistent recovery.

In 2006, NetApp sold its NetCache product line to Blue Coat Systems. Two years later, in 2008, it rebranded itself as NetApp, Inc., aligning its corporate identity with market positioning.

A leadership change occurred in June 2015 when George Kurian took over as CEO from Tom Georgens, emphasizing innovation and expansion strategies. In May 2018, NetApp introduced its first complete NVMe all-flash array—the All Flash FAS A800—paired with ONTAP 9.4 software, underscoring its dedication to delivering high-performance storage systems capable of exceeding 1.3 million IOPS with minimal latency.

Founder David Hitz retired in January 2019, marking a significant shift within the company’s executive leadership.

Organization

George Kurian holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at NetApp and serves on the Board of directors. He became part of the company in 2011. César Cernuda fulfills the role of President, while Mike Nevens has been the Chairman of the Board since December 2009.

NetApp’s global workforce numbers around 12,000 employees.

Acquisitions

1997 – Acquired Internet Middleware (IMC) for $10.5 million; its web proxy caching technology was developed into the NetCache product line (later sold in 2006).
2000 – Purchased Orca Systems, Inc., a company specializing in RDMA software that enabled the Direct Access File System.
2004 – Bought Spinnaker Networks for $300 million; its technology was incorporated into Data ONTAP GX and subsequently evolved into Clustered Data ONTAP.
2005 – Acquired Alacritus for $11 million; its tape virtualization technology was integrated into NearStore Virtual Tape Library (VTL).
2005 – Purchased Decru, known for storage security solutions and key management.
2006 – Bought Topio for $160 million; its replication and data protection software became ReplicatorX (Open System SnapVault), which was later discontinued.
2008 – Acquired Onaro for $120 million; its SANscreen storage service management software influenced the development of NetApp OnCommand Insight.
2010 – Purchased Bycast for $50 million; this acquisition led to the launch of the StorageGRID object storage platform.
2011 – Acquired Akorri for $60 million to enhance cross-domain data center analytics capabilities.
2011 – Bought Engenio (LSI) for $480 million; this acquisition resulted in the establishment of the NetApp E-Series external storage line.
2012 – Acquired Cache IQ, advancing development in NAS caching technologies.
2013 – Purchased IonGrid, enabling secure iOS access to enterprise applications.
2014 – Acquired Riverbed Technology's SteelStore backup solutions, rebranded initially as AltaVault and subsequently as Cloud Backup.
2015 – Bought flash storage provider SolidFire for $870 million, broadening NetApp’s flash storage offerings.
2017 – Acquired Plexistor, which formed the basis for the MAX Data product line.
2017 – Purchased Greenqloud, a provider specializing in hybrid and multi-cloud orchestration platforms.
2017 – Acquired Immersive Partner Solutions, focused on converged infrastructure validation software.
2018 – Bought StackPointCloud, contributing to Kubernetes Service multi-cloud capabilities.
2019 – Acquired Israeli AI-powered data compliance company Cognigo for $70 million.
2020 – Purchased cloud data storage firm Talon, enhancing enterprise data consolidation and security features.
2020 – Acquired cloud software companies CloudJumper (VDI services) and Spot (cloud compute management and cost optimization).
2021 – Bought AWS cloud security posture firm CloudHawk.io along with cloud optimization platform CloudCheckr.
2022 – Acquired cloud automation specialist Fylamynt and open-source database startup Instaclustr.

Business Development

NetApp's fiscal year concludes in April; fiscal year 2023 covered the period from April 30, 2022, through April 28, 2023. The company expanded its revenue from $15 million in 1995 to exceed $1 billion by 2004. For fiscal 2023, NetApp announced revenues totaling US$6.36 billion.

Sales Figures

Year	Revenue (in million USD)	Net Profit (in million USD)
2019	6,146	1,169
2020	5,412	819
2021	5,744	730
2022	6,318	937
2023	6,362	1,274

Source: NetApp Annual Reports

Competition

NetApp competes within the data storage hardware sector. In 2009, it held the second-largest market capitalization position following EMC Corporation (now Dell EMC), surpassing companies such as Seagate Technology and Western Digital. Revenue rankings placed NetApp behind EMC, Seagate, and Western Digital but ahead of Imation and Brocade. According to a 2014 IDC analysis, NetApp was ranked second among network storage providers after EMC (Dell), outpacing IBM, HP, and Hitachi.

Partnerships

On March 1, 2021, NetApp revealed a collaboration with the Aston Martin F1 Team, supplying data and cloud infrastructure services. Comparable partnerships include its ongoing support of the MotoGP outfit Ducati Corse since 2018 and the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team beginning in July 2022, bolstering NetApp’s presence in cutting-edge sports technology sectors.

Hardware Appliances

The core of NetApp’s hardware portfolio consists of the FAS (Fabric-Attached Storage), AFF (All-Flash FAS), and ASA (All SAN Array) product lines, which incorporate storage controllers alongside disk enclosures. Initially concentrating on NFS and SMB protocols over LANs during the early 1990s, NetApp broadened its offerings in 2002 to include block-storage access with support for Fibre Channel and iSCSI protocols to capture a larger market share. By 2016, these systems had evolved to accommodate Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCoE, and FC-NVMe protocols, strengthening their position in storage technology.

ONTAP

ONTAP is NetApp’s proprietary data management operating system that has been under continuous development since 1992. It combines elements from BSD Unix and Spinnaker Networks technologies. ONTAP drives three distinct platforms: the FAS/AFF hardware series; ONTAP Select deployed on standard servers as virtual machines; and Cloud Volumes ONTAP tailored for cloud environments. Utilizing the WAFL file system enables advanced snapshot capabilities and data protection functionalities. Additionally, critical ONTAP intellectual property underpins NetApp Astra—a data management-as-a-service solution designed specifically for Kubernetes workloads—highlighting NetApp’s strategic focus on cloud-native services.

Cloud Backup

Originally known as Riverbed SteelStor prior to acquisition by NetApp, this solution was rebranded first as AltaVault and subsequently as Cloud Backup. Initially available as physical hardware, virtual appliances, and cloud-based options, NetApp has since ceased sales of the hardware and virtual formats. Cloud Backup performs deduplication, compression, encryption, and transfers NAS share data to object storage platforms such as Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage, or StorageGRID. It functions as a seamless gateway facilitating archiving to both private and public cloud infrastructures.

NetApp HCI

NetApp’s Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI), also known as Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, combines standard blade and rack servers with NetApp Element software alongside VMware vSphere. The solution includes the NetApp Deployment Engine (NDE), which simplifies the setup process for vCenter, IP addressing, authentication credentials, and storage node configuration.

2U HCI Chassis with Four Half-Width Blade Servers

Each storage node is equipped with six SSD drives directly attached to dedicated storage nodes positioned at the front of the blade chassis. Both storage and compute blades come with 25 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (compatible with 10 Gbit/s) plus separate 1 Gb management ports. While initial configurations did not include network switches, the release of Element software version 11 introduced the NetApp H-Series Switch, requiring customers to acquire all hardware components exclusively from NetApp. For NAS protocol compatibility, ONTAP Select is available as software-defined storage on NetApp HCI. Additionally, a self-service portal automates provisioning and operational management.

SolidFire

SolidFire operates on NetApp Element Software (previously known as SolidFire Element OS), a Linux-based operating system designed for SSD optimization and scale-out infrastructure supporting up to 100 nodes. It provides native SAN protocol connectivity through iSCSI and Fiber Channel via gateway nodes, although FC support was discontinued after Element Software version 11. The OS includes a REST API facilitating automation and system management. I/O distribution across clusters is managed by the helix algorithm through iSCSI login redirection. Nodes arrive preloaded with SSDs of consistent type and capacity; however, clusters can combine different node models and generations.

StorageGRID

StorageGRID represents a software-defined storage platform that enables data access through object-based IP protocols such as S3 and OpenStack Swift. It is available both as hardware appliances and software-only deployments, designed to address scalable data management requirements.

E-Series

Previously known as LSI Engenio RDAC, the NetApp E-Series serves as a versatile enterprise storage solution supporting SAN protocols including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, SAS, and InfiniBand (covering SRP, iSER, and NVMe over Fabrics). It operates on the proprietary SANtricity OS featuring Dynamic Disk Pool (DDP) RAID technology, which accelerates data reconstruction by distributing parity information at the block level rather than across entire disks. This method delivers notable performance improvements compared to conventional RAID levels such as RAID 10, 5, and 6. Since SANtricity version 11.50, E-Series models EF570 and E5700 have incorporated NVMe over Ethernet (RoCEv2) using 100 Gbit/s ports. EF600 series systems provide full end-to-end NVMe support including NVMe/FC, NVMe/RoCE, and NVMe/InfiniBand protocols. The platform supports both synchronous and asynchronous mirroring and includes SANtricity Unified Manager—a web-based interface capable of managing up to 500 arrays with integrated LDAP, RBAC, CA, and SSL security features. In August 2019, NetApp introduced the E600 system offering NVMe/IB, NVMe/RoCE, and NVMe/FC protocol support with bandwidths up to 44 GBps alongside a comprehensive embedded REST API.

Converged Infrastructure

NetApp’s suite of converged infrastructure (CI) solutions—FlexPod, nFlex, and ONTAP AI—combine compute servers, network switches (optional in certain configurations), and NetApp storage arrays. The primary setups include:

FlexPod: Cisco Unified Computing System servers integrated with Cisco Nexus switches
nFlex: Fujitsu Primergy servers coupled with Extreme Networks switches
ONTAP AI: NVIDIA DGX supercomputers connected to Mellanox or Cisco Nexus switches

These CI platforms support widely used infrastructure software such as Docker Enterprise Edition, Red Hat OpenStack Platform, VMware vSphere, Microsoft Servers (including SQL Server and Exchange), Oracle VM and Database, Citrix Xen, KVM, OpenStack, SAP HANA, among others. Additionally, they may incorporate self-service portals for managing PaaS or IaaS environments like Cisco UCS Director (UCSD), which aids in boosting operational agility and scalability for enterprise deployments.

FlexPod

The FlexPod solution merges cloud capabilities with data management within a converged infrastructure framework. Its key variants include FlexPod XCS, FlexPod Express, FlexPod Datacenter, and FlexPod AI.

NetApp’s Converged Systems Advisor (CSA) is a SaaS offering that combines an on-site agent with a cloud portal to provide comprehensive infrastructure monitoring.

Multi-Pod is a FlexPod configuration utilizing FAS or AFF storage systems along with MetroCluster technology to enable storage stretching across dual locations.

ONTAP AI

This converged infrastructure solution incorporates Cisco Nexus 3000 or Mellanox Spectrum switches featuring 100 Gbit/s ports, NetApp AFF storage arrays, and Nvidia DGX supercomputer servers. DGX nodes connect through RDMA over RoCE, optimized for deep learning workloads running in Docker containers using NetApp’s Trident plugin. Storage access is facilitated over Ethernet via the NFS protocol.

OnCommand Insight

OnCommand Insight (OCI) delivers comprehensive data center management capabilities including capacity planning and infrastructure analytics designed to enhance IT operations efficiency.

Memory Accelerated Data

NetApp MAX Data is a proprietary Linux-based file system that supports automatic tiering between persistent memory (PMEM) and SSD storage while incorporating built-in data protection. It transparently migrates infrequently accessed data between Tier 1 and Tier 2 storage tiers based on usage trends, improving overall performance and resource utilization.

Cloud Business

Cloud Central provides a multi-cloud graphical interface built on Qstack for managing NetApp cloud services such as Cloud Volumes Service, Cloud Sync, Cloud Insights, Cloud Volumes ONTAP, and SaaS Backup across various public cloud environments.

Cloud Manager offers centralized administration of ONTAP-powered systems both on-premises and in the cloud—including CVO, CVS, ONTAP Select, FAS, and AFF platforms. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to configure SnapMirror replication easily.

Cloud Volumes On-Prem

This on-premises storage service operates within customer data centers while NetApp manages maintenance and support. Users access storage resources through a web-based GUI or API with capabilities including backup and replication.

Cloud Volumes ONTAP

Previously known as ONTAP Cloud, Cloud Volumes ONTAP (CVO) represents a software-defined implementation of ONTAP that operates as virtual machines within major public cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud. This solution runs ONTAP software on standard hardware infrastructure delivered as a cloud service.

Cloud Volumes Service

Offered on Amazon AWS and Google Cloud, Cloud Volumes Service is a public cloud solution built upon NetApp’s All-Flash FAS hardware and ONTAP software technology. It facilitates smooth data synchronization between cloud environments and on-premises NetApp storage systems.

NetApp Private Storage

NetApp Private Storage (NPS) utilizes Equinix colocation facilities to house NetApp Storage Systems connected via 10 Gbit/s direct links to public cloud providers such as Azure and AWS. NPS allows for effortless connectivity across multiple cloud platforms or local infrastructure, removing the necessity for data transfers when moving between clouds.

Astra

Astra is NetApp’s Kubernetes-focused cloud service that provides application-consistent backup, data cloning, and cross-cloud as well as on-premises workload mobility. It supports deployment and administration of data-intensive applications on AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and private datacenters, enabling backup, recovery, and migration across Kubernetes clusters in hybrid multicloud environments.

SaaS Backup

NetApp SaaS Backup (previously known as Cloud Control) enhances backup and recovery capabilities for SaaS applications such as Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce, offering more detailed retention options beyond native cloud features. Future expansions plan to include support for Google Workspace, Slack, and ServiceNow, thereby extending its coverage.

Cloud Sync

Cloud Sync enables synchronization between NAS storage arrays and other NAS devices or Object Storage platforms like Amazon S3 and NetApp StorageGRID. It supports flexible data transfers utilizing object storage protocols.

Cloud Insights

Cloud Insights is a SaaS-based monitoring platform designed for infrastructure and application layers within cloud environments, particularly suited for dynamic microservices and large-scale web infrastructures. Available in Free, Standard, and Premium editions, it delivers scalable visibility comparable to OnCommand Insight but employs more advanced backend technologies.

Cloud Secure

Cloud Secure is a SaaS security solution that uses machine learning to detect abnormal data access patterns and compromised user behavior. It identifies ransomware attacks early to prevent encryption of files. Supported storage repositories include NetApp Cloud Volumes, ONTAP, StorageGRID, OneDrive, AWS, Google Suite, HPE, DELLEMC Isilon, Dropbox, Box, @workspace, and Office 365.

NDAS

NetApp Data Availability Services (NDAS) provides cloud-based backup, data protection, and disaster recovery tailored for ONTAP storage environments. Hosted on AWS with cross-cloud replication features, NDAS converts NetApp snapshots into S3-compatible format via embedded ONTAP 9.5+ proxy applications—distinguishing itself from FabricPool by managing both metadata and data. NDAS is a key component of NetApp’s Data Fabric vision.

Data Fabric

NetApp's Data Fabric concept outlines its hybrid cloud infrastructure through comprehensive product integrations and data mobility capabilities. Notable functionalities include:

SnapMirror replication connecting SolidFire, ONTAP, and Cloud Backup
FabricPool tiering that moves infrequently accessed data from ONTAP to StorageGRID, Amazon S3, or Azure Blob storage
Volume Encryption paired with FabricPool to ensure secure storage and data transfer across multiple cloud platforms
Archiving and disaster recovery (DR) solutions targeting public cloud environments
CloudMirror within StorageGRID replicates on-premises object storage to Amazon S3, triggering automated AWS workflows
SolidFire backup support to StorageGRID or Amazon S3
Cloud Backup offering archiving across diverse object storage systems and cloud vendors
CloudSync enabling bidirectional NAS-to-object data replication
Replication capabilities extending to Cloud Volumes Service
SaaS Backup facilitating backup of on-premises data
SANtricity Cloud Connector providing block-level backup and restore of E-Series volumes directly to S3-compatible storage
NetApp Data Availability Services delivering cloud-based backup, DR, and data analytics from ONTAP

This cohesive strategy strengthens NetApp’s market position by simplifying unified data management within hybrid cloud ecosystems.

Software integrations

NetApp solutions, particularly ONTAP platforms, offer extensive software integration options that improve automation, backup, and recovery processes.

Automation

NetApp provides automation tools accessible via HTTP interfaces or middleware layers.

Docker

NetApp Trident supplies persistent volume plugins tailored for Docker containers managed by Kubernetes and Swarm, compatible with ONTAP, SolidFire, E-Series, Azure NetApp Files (ANF), Cloud Volumes, and NetApp Kubernetes Service in cloud environments.

In collaboration with Cisco, NetApp delivers FlexPod Datacenter architectures combining Trident with Docker Enterprise Edition and ONTAP AI, reinforcing their converged infrastructure offerings.

CI/CD

The NetApp Jenkins Framework incorporates ONTAP storage into DevOps workflows by automating provisioning, dataset cloning, version control, and checkpoint handling. It also integrates with NetApp Service Level Manager through RESTful APIs to maintain storage performance SLAs. Partnerships with Apprenda and CloudBees further streamline DevOps by merging Docker persistent volumes with Jenkins pipelines; Apprenda additionally integrates OpenStack on FlexPod infrastructures.

Backup and recovery

NetApp platforms work seamlessly with top backup providers such as CommVault, Veeam, and Veritas to utilize snapshot and cloning capabilities for improved backup, disaster recovery (DR), and archiving. SnapMirror enhances B&R processes by optimizing recovery point objectives (RPO) and recovery time objectives (RTO). Cloud Backup presents as a standard NAS share compatible with most backup software. Additional integrations include IBM Spectrum Protect, EMC NetWorker, HP Data Protector, Dell vRanger, Acronis Backup, among others—expanding NetApp’s footprint in the data protection market.

Enterprise applications

NetApp platforms seamlessly integrate with various enterprise applications to facilitate backup, cloning, provisioning, and self-service storage operations. The Oracle Database connects through the Direct NFS (dNFS) client, which optimizes network efficiency, enhances fault tolerance, and balances workloads when paired with ONTAP systems.

A broad range of databases and platforms—including Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MySQL, MongoDB, SAP HANA, Microsoft Exchange, VMware vSphere, Citrix Xen, and KVM—utilize NetApp solutions for tasks such as provisioning, cloning, backup, and disaster recovery. Notable functionalities include SnapShots, SnapVault, SnapMirror, alongside management utilities like SnapCenter and SnapCreator.

OpenStack

NetApp extends its support to open source initiatives like OpenStack Cinder for block storage across SolidFire, ONTAP, and E-Series systems; OpenStack Manila for shared file system management on ONTAP; and Docker persistent volume integration via the Trident plugin compatible with SolidFire, ONTAP, and E-Series. These integrations bolster NetApp’s cloud storage capabilities.

NetApp cloud technologies

NetApp delivers comprehensive solutions tailored for private, public, and hybrid cloud environments centered on hybrid multi-cloud data management. This encompasses features such as tiering, data classification, and monitoring through products like BlueXP Backup and Recovery. Its Storage as a Service offerings include:

Public cloud services:
- Amazon FSx for NetApp
- Azure NetApp Files
- Google Cloud NetApp Volumes

On-premises solutions:
- NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP

These products enable adaptable cloud storage integration designed to meet the dynamic demands of modern enterprises.

OEM

In the past, IBM rebranded NetApp FAS systems as IBM N-series up until May 2014. Dell continues to offer NetApp E-Series technology under its PowerVault MD line.

Since September 2018, Lenovo has maintained a strategic alliance with NetApp; Lenovo OEMs NetApp technology under the ThinkSystem DE series (including EF and E-Series arrays) and ThinkSystem DM series (featuring ONTAP software with FC-NVMe support), broadening market penetration through shared innovation.

Vector Data produces customized ruggedized variants of NetApp’s FAS, AFF, E-Series, and SolidFire products equipped with carrier-grade specifications such as -48V DC power within its Vault product lineup.

Syrian surveillance

In November 2011 amid the 2011 Syrian uprising, NetApp was identified among companies whose equipment was reportedly utilized in the Syrian government’s suppression efforts through an authorized reseller. On April 7, 2014, following a review by the US Department of Commerce, it was concluded that NetApp had not breached export regulations; consequently, the investigation was closed.

Legal dispute with Sun Microsystems

In September 2007, NetApp initiated a patent infringement suit against Sun Microsystems concerning the ZFS File System. Sun intended to counterclaim alleging improper use of its patented technologies. Several of NetApp’s patent assertions were subsequently invalidated due to prior art. The matter was resolved on September 9, 2010, when NetApp and Oracle Corporation (Sun’s successor) mutually agreed to drop all litigation.

Accolades

NetApp was recognized among Silicon Valley’s Top 25 Corporate Philanthropists in 2013 and received the Brand of the Year award from the Think Global Awards in 2019. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report honored it as one of the “Best Companies to Work For.” Additionally, Frost & Sullivan named NetApp “Global Company of the Year in hybrid cloud storage management” in 2024.

Charity

During the 2021 fiscal year, NetApp contributed $3 million through its corporate philanthropy efforts. The organization actively supports UNICEF’s World's Largest Lesson initiative and encourages employee participation via its NetApp Serves program, with more than 2,100 staff members volunteering in community projects. The Community Investments initiative prioritizes education, food security, and efforts to alleviate homelessness. Furthermore, NetApp promotes data literacy among young people through its Data Explorers program.

Environment

From 2017 to 2023, NetApp achieved a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity and decreased energy usage by 15%, resulting in a 61% drop in emissions. The company aims to substantially lower Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by the year 2030. Its CDP Climate Change Score rose to a B- rating in 2021. In 2022, NetApp strengthened its e-waste management by partnering with a new global provider and supports programs compliant with WEEE regulations.

NetApp’s Innovation Campus at Wichita State University runs entirely on wind energy sourced locally. At its Bangalore location, 88% of electricity consumption is derived from renewable sources such as wind, hydroelectric, and solar power. By the end of 2022, NetApp was ranked within the top 7% of companies assessed by EcoVadis for sustainability performance. Most of its worldwide offices comply with ISO14001:2015 environmental management standards, with Green Teams led by employees driving sustainable initiatives.

External links

NetApp Data Storage