UWA slashes power bills by 80% with Pure Storage upgrade

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has transformed its data storage infrastructure with the implementation of Pure Storage's Evergreen//One platform.

This move supports UWA's new high-speed, high-performance data research network and significantly cuts its energy costs by 80 percent.

UWA, frequently ranked among the top 100 universities globally, relies heavily on advanced technology to support its research in fields ranging from medical research to climate modelling. As part of its digital transformation initiative, UWA aimed to discontinue its legacy storage system, which was both costly and difficult to scale, and opted for a modern, scalable solution.

After meticulous evaluation of their future data storage requirements, UWA transitioned to a Pure Storage all-flash solution. The system is housed in an outsourced data centre managed by Atturra Managed Services. This shift has enabled UWA to manage over 6 petabytes (PB) of research data on a significantly reduced footprint. According to the university, the new environment operates with less than half a rack, compared to the 2.5 rack units previously required.

Phil Norris, Senior Manager, Network and Systems at the University of Western Australia, commented on the new infrastructure: “Switching to the Pure Storage platform with Evergreen//One has transformed our research environment, providing us with high-speed, resilient data storage that seamlessly integrates with our new high-speed research network. This combination ensures our researchers can operate without the limitations of a fixed capacity solution. With Pure Storage, I am confident in meeting the performance and scalability needs of our most demanding research projects. Moreover, we are proud to meet our ESG commitments and significantly reduce our carbon footprint.”

The Pure Storage Evergreen//One solution offers multiple benefits for UWA. These include streamlined storage management for scalability, which allows for instant adjustment of capacity while maintaining high performance and security. Additionally, the platform has enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes for UWA, requiring 80 percent less power and reduced cooling compared to its legacy system. The enhanced data protection features, such as SafeMode, provide robust protection against ransomware through immutable snapshots, ensuring that data cannot be deleted and can be recovered at any point.

Amy Rushall, ANZ Vice President at Pure Storage, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are thrilled to partner with the University of Western Australia in their digital transformation journey. By adopting the Pure Storage platform, UWA is not only enhancing its research capabilities with a high-speed, scalable, and efficient storage solution but also significantly reducing its energy consumption and environmental impact. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, sustainable technology that supports the advancement of education and research."

The decision to transition to a modern storage solution aligns with UWA’s goals of supporting cutting-edge research while adhering to environmental sustainability commitments. The new platform is expected to provide the necessary infrastructure to handle the university’s growing data needs effectively and efficiently.