Osmium Data Group

We spent two days at KubeCon EU in Amsterdam talking to vendors, architects, and buyers. Not at panels, but in the hallways, over coffee, and in the booths when the pitch was done. Deep, meaningful conversations with people that shape the industry. Four things kept coming up: data strategy, data sovereignty, AI value, and hardware. A new episode of the Osmium Update is out now, and we're not hedging on any of it - under 15 minutes, and without any fluff. A few things worth flagging alongside it: → If sovereignty is on your radar (and in EMEA, it should be), our 2026 Digital Sovereignty Guide is free: https://lnkd.in/dMzJZwUY → We were quoted in IT Pro UK recently on hardware supply constraints — the conversation in Amsterdam confirmed everything in that piece: https://lnkd.in/dg_2Bc2B Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) The Linux Foundation Osmium Data Group Arjan Timmerman Massimiliano Mortillaro

The era of cheap technology could be over.   That's the headline from a recent IT Pro UK feature on the hardware supply crisis reshaping enterprise IT — and it reflects what Osmium Data Group has been observing in the field.   Osmium was quoted in the piece on a trend that's been building for months: organizations are turning to high-throughput NVMe flash as a workaround for prohibitive DRAM costs and availability — driving up demand for components that were already in short supply.   The broader picture is stark:   - RAM and flash storage are increasingly hard to source, with quotes valid for a week or less. - Server prices have tripled in some segments. - Leading manufacturers have already sold out their 2026 production capacity.   The pressure is structural. Hyperscalers are consuming supply to fuel their own infrastructure buildouts, then positioning cloud as the sovereign alternative. For organizations with genuine data sovereignty requirements, that gap between perception and reality is getting harder to ignore.   What we're hearing from decision-makers across EMEA: the push toward data sovereignty is real and accelerating, but it keeps hitting the same wall. On-prem commitments are being made under genuine uncertainty, with rising costs and shrinking lead times.   A data strategy built around your actual needs — not a vendor shortlist — is no longer optional. It's how you stay in control.   If this is on your radar, reach out. That's exactly what we help with.   🔗 Read the full IT Pro feature: https://lnkd.in/dg_2Bc2B Thanks to A3 Communications ltd for the opportunity to comment on this matter.   #DataStrategy #DataSovereignty #Infrastructure #EnterpriseIT #HardwareShortage

The data sovereignty conversation is getting louder, but the hardware reality is quietly making it more complicated. Arjan Timmerman and I spent yesterday in Paris at A3 Communications ltd Technology Live, with presentations from Veeam Software, Keepit, NGX Storage, and HYCU, Inc. Great event, worthwhile conversations with peers and journalists, and a useful moment to take stock of where the market actually stands. What we're hearing from decision-makers: the push toward data sovereignty in EMEA is real and accelerating, but it keeps hitting the same wall. On-prem hardware is a major paint point: RAM and flash storage are increasingly hard to source, prices have spiked, and quotes are often valid for a week or less. The culprit is no secret: hyperscalers are consuming supply at scale to feed their AI infrastructure buildout, and then turning around to pitch their sovereign cloud offerings as the fix, with a clear gap between their perception of sovereignty and the harsh reality. So organizations are being asked to make long-term infrastructure commitments under real uncertainty. A solid data strategy helps here — one that covers how you consume SaaS, manage data infrastructure, and protect what you have, built around your actual needs rather than a vendor shortlist. We're heading to Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) KubeCon EU in Amsterdam next week with an agenda that's nearly full, and expect more of these conversations there. If this resonates, reach out. We're taking on new clients at Osmium Data Group.

This week's Osmium Update is a special one - we got to sit down with our dear friend Enrico Signoretti, VP Product & Partnerships at Cubbit, for a wide-ranging conversation on data sovereignty and what it actually means in practice. We covered the EU-US tech maturity gap (the Nextcloud vs. Office 365 debate says a lot), the uncomfortable truth that tech parity won't happen without real investment in Europe's ecosystem, and why "data first" is the only sensible foundation for any sovereignty strategy. Enrico also makes a compelling case that friction around EU tech is largely artificial — and easily overcome when there's genuine organizational commitment. Plus a look at DS3, Cubbit's sovereign & geo-resilient storage solution, and why data sovereignty is starting to be seen through the same lens as cyber resiliency. We've worked with Enrico for years and he never fails to bring both clarity and sharp opinions to these topics. Full episode on YouTube — link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehveyq4i Arjan Timmerman Massimiliano Mortillaro #DataSovereignty #EUTech #CloudStorage #Cubbit #OsmiumUpdate

Heading to KubeCon EU Amsterdam? 🇳🇱   At Osmium Data Group, we're seeking candid conversations with technology practitioners, decision makers, and vendors navigating the evolving cloud native landscape.   We want to go beyond the product demos. Let's talk about the forces shaping your decisions: EU regulation, shifting geopolitics, economic headwinds, and what it all means for cloud native adoption.   If you have a perspective worth sharing, we want to hear it. Drop us a DM to grab one of our available discussion slots on March 25 & 26. Arjan Timmerman Massimiliano Mortillaro Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) The Linux Foundation #KubeCon #CNCF #LinuxFoundation #CloudNative

Welcome Everpure, goodbye Pure Storage. What does this rebrand tell us about the storage industry?   Storage isn't going anywhere, but in the overwhelming majority of cases, fundamental architectural and design strengths are nowadays considered table stakes. Every customer expects a robust hardware platform that reliably stores their data. Data efficiencies such as deduplication, compression, and optimized use of underlying media remain a decision factor, but they're no longer enough on their own.   Today, differentiation happens at the upper service layer: customers expect advanced, policy-based data management capabilities and multi-protocol support. The former is a key enabler of proper data hygiene — an absolute prerequisite for any dataset training in AI/ML/HPC workloads (see: "garbage in, garbage out") and for regulatory compliance. The latter is essential for multi-step data transformation workloads, notably in the HPC space.   But even that isn't enough. Security management remains a key concern, and other critical areas of differentiation revolve around proactive ransomware protection, cyber resiliency features, and data security posture management — often rounded out with fleet management.   Cloud-based consumption models such as Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS) and non-disruptive controller upgrades — relevant not only for longevity and operational benefits, but also from a sustainability standpoint — are also profoundly changing how storage is perceived.   The evolution from a hardware-centric approach toward an outcomes-driven vision is notable. It's not that hardware no longer matters (take the astounding density of Everpure's DirectFlash Modules) or that engineering decisions are secondary (think distributed Flash Translation Layer). When Everpure announced last year a successful collaboration with Meta on a hyperscaler-optimized disaggregated storage solution, the company demonstrated its ability to innovate and its willingness to step outside the proprietary hardware platform that made its name.   To wrap up: we now take excellence in storage design and engineering for granted, while capabilities that were once emerging are considered mainstream.   Getting back to Everpure, this name change can reasonably be read as an acknowledgement that the storage stack has evolved, and that the company is putting skin in the game, likely doubling down on improvements, notably in the data management space. Arjan Timmerman Massimiliano Mortillaro

Digital Sovereignty: Here's why you should act now!   Digital sovereignty is about control, risk, and resilience in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape.   Our digital sovereignty guide is designed specifically for EMEA-based private and public organizations navigating these challenges.   This guide unpacks the critical layers of digital sovereignty - from data residency to infrastructure dependencies, including public clouds, SaaS services, and cloud-based control planes.   We cover the legal implications, highlight key risks and focus areas, and provide practical advice you can act on today.   Get your free copy now and take the first step toward true digital autonomy.  

Osmium Data Group analysts Massimiliano Mortillaro and Arjan Timmerman continue the discussion from last year on #sovereign #cloud. With the geopolitical issues we face at the moment, we think companies in the #EMEA region should be thinking about their data. Where it is? Where should it reside? And how to protect it. We are more than happy to discuss further offline, and hope you feel free to reach out with your questions. #Data #Cloud #DataProtection #DataManagement #Sovereignty #CloudAct

Digital sovereignty in EMEA boils down to three Sicilian words: "curnuti, vastuniati, e contenti". This flourished Sicilian expression would roughly translate as "betrayed, beaten, and content about it". And although it is cruel, I find it deliciously offensive and fun to say due to my Sicilian heritage. And I can see some clear parallels with where we are today in the sad reality of digital sovereignty in Europe. Let me unpack it for you! Betrayed, because we've had idyllic expectations of geopolitical neutrality and stability. We happily lived in a short-term profit-driven reality, without having the courage to take strategic decisions that pay in the long run. Organizations assumed that the overwhelming dominance of the US tech ecosystem was not a risk factor regardless of the political realignment. Beaten, because decision makers are only starting to realize now (if at all) that the risk is here, that the stakes are high, and that the lock-in is real. It will take courage and time to revert the trend and challenge proprietary stacks. Content, because the overwhelming majority of organizations still go on unhindered by this systemic threat, thinking that there is no cheap, fast, and risk free alternative option - or that this too will pass. The risk is being minimized or ignored, and the comfort of continuity prevails over strategic planning. We're happy to stay in our comfort zone, hoping that lightning strikes will not hit our roof. No matter how loyal and friendly your customer-vendor relationship is, will it survive to legal weaponization and threat-based diplomacy? As a technology leader, are you willing to trade off a systemic risk for immediate convenience? There are options though. Awareness is the first step, and doing the right thing - starting with planning - is a multi-step process. Every transformation comes with challenges and timing constraints, but preserving independence and sovereignty is essential, especially in a world where stability and trust are increasingly fragile. If this reality makes you uneasy, that discomfort is the right signal. It is time to move from awareness to action. Osmium Data Group can help you assess your exposure, clarify your options, and start planning a pragmatic roadmap toward digital sovereignty. Contact me or Arjan Timmerman to begin that process. #DigitalSovereignty #EMEA

Osmium Data Group (Massimiliano Mortillaro and Arjan Timmerman) had the honor of being interviewed in a recent article by Chris Mellor on Blocks and Files, about where storage, HCI, AI, and data platforms are heading in 2026 and beyond. Here are just a few highlights of these questions and answers we gave; the full article can be found at the end of this post: - The future for stand-alone object storage suppliers. Even with S3 everywhere these days, at Osmium, we don’t see standalone object storage disappearing. Implementation details, performance tuning, and real-world compatibility still matter, especially when unified platforms fall short in production. - How will the HCI/hypervisor market develop? The Broadcom acquisition of VMware has reshaped the market. Alternatives like Nutanix aren’t automatically cheaper, and many organizations are now rethinking whether HCI is still the right long-term model. At Osmium, we also see other, less known, options that seem to be more open-sourced, like Scale Computing, which excels in the Edge space, Starwind, or Stormagic, and larger solution providers like HPE, Sanfor, or Dell. We strongly recommend reading the full article on the Blocks and Files website here: https://lnkd.in/eYHQ9QMd And as we are at the beginning of 2026 and we at Osmium want to thank everybody for their support with the start of our renewed company we will offer our first Trendscape on Data Protection for free until the end of this month of everybody. You can secure your copy here: https://lnkd.in/etAVU-e9 #S3 #AI #AIstorage #Storage #Data #DataStorage #HCI #Hypervisor #RDBMS #LLM #GlobalNameSpace #CIO #CTO #StorageArchitecture Further technology vendors mentioned: NVIDIA NetApp Scale Computing StarWind Inc. StorMagic Hewlett Packard Enterprise Sangfor Technologies Dell Technologies The Xen Project Proxmox Server Solutions IBM Lenovo Infinidat VAST Data