Why it’s time to rethink how state and local governments store their data

As a former state CIO of the nation’s ninth most populous state, I’ve wrestled with my share of cross-agency budget, policy and staffing issues, as well as the real-world technical challenges all CIOs face in managing public data securely in the face of relentless cyber and ransomware attacks.

It’s a constant balancing act between expanding demands and limited resources while being prepared for the unexpected. The good news is that state and local governments are in a better position than ever to benefit from many of the recent advances in today’s technology capabilities. I’m a big advocate of one of those advances: the advent of Storage-as-a-Service.

Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS) isn’t just a different operating model or a leasing alternative to hardware state and local agencies have to buy and replace every few years. Instead, it provides critical advantages over traditional infrastructure investments at a time when agencies are dealing with a perfect storm of data overload.

The sheer volume of data agencies must manage now and in the future is exploding, driven by everything from the digitization of records to cybersecurity log files to smart cities and IoT sensor data. An IDC & Seagate Data forecast, for instance, projects the global datasphere will reach 175 billion terabytes in 2025 — up five-fold from 2018 — with IoT devices creating more than half of that data. It also projects that nearly 30% of the world’s data will need real-time processing.

Agencies must not only grapple with how to store and manage increasing volumes of data but also prepare for the growth of data to accelerate with the rapid adoption of AI. Unsurprisingly, AI, data management and digital services are right up there with cybersecurity in NASCIO’s list of top 10 policy and technology priorities for state CIOs for 2025.

That’s why state and local government leaders need to take a fresh look at the business logic of Storage-as-a-Service.  Among other advantages, STaaS offers:

1. Cost Optimization and Efficiency: Traditional CapEx models force agencies to buy storage upfront based on projected growth, often paying for unused or idle capacity. What happens if AI-related data or security logging demands exceed projections? STaaS shifts data storage to an OpEx model, where you only pay for what you consume while allowing for bursting capability for unpredicted or unusually heavy storage demands. Shifting to STaaS also means agencies typically experience a 20% reduction in their IT energy bills, freeing up funds for other uses.
2. Enhanced Cybersecurity and Resiliency: When an entity is targeted by a cyberattack, its gear is hijacked and out of commission for extended periods. With Pure Storage as a Service, for instance, new gear is available on site within 48 hours, allowing agencies to de-risk, or mitigate the risk of attacks and resume operations quickly for employees and the public, assuming, of course, that their backup data wasn’t also compromised. 
3. Modernization without Disruption: Aging storage infrastructure requires constant maintenance and upgrades. The capital expense of replacing entire systems every three to five years is a massive drain on already strained budgets. STaaS providers handle infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, eliminating the need for disruptive and costly hardware refreshes. Additionally, Pure Storage’s Evergreen One platform, for instance, guarantees “six-nines” of availability, which equates to just over 30 seconds of downtime a year.
4. Scalability and Flexibility for AI: To safeguard data security and privacy, agencies will want to avoid putting their data out in the public domain by bringing Al to their data instead of their data to AI.  STaaS offers the scalability and flexibility to meet future demands, ensuring agencies have the resources they need without overspending.
5. Focus on Mission, Not Infrastructure: State and local agencies continue to experience staffing shortages. Shifting to a STaaS model allows you to keep dedicated equipment on-prem but frees your staff to focus on other pressing IT objectives and priorities and devote less time and energy to hardware maintenance.
6. True Savings vs. Cost Avoidance: Many technology solutions promise greater efficiencies and the avoidance of certain costs. But as CIOs know only too well, the promise of cost avoidance often involves an upfront investment that’s not easy to sell to legislators. Moreover, cost avoidance is not the same as true operating savings that STaaS can help achieve, putting scarce resources to better use for the agency and taxpayers.

The business case for Storage-as-a-Service is compelling. However, it’s not just about cost savings. It’s about building a more secure, agile, and innovative government. At its core, STaaS provides a more reliable infrastructure foundation for managing data securely and reducing the risks of cyberattacks and ransomware.

At the same time, it will help make every state, county, and local government agency more resilient and adaptable to the relentless deluge of data that their organizations must inevitably deal with.

Learn how Pure Storage can help your organization manage data storage cost-effectively and securely.

This article was sponsored by Pure Storage.