Equinix, NetApp and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have teamed up on a private cloud storage offering, giving companies the option of deploying NetApp storage arrays at private colocation cages in Equinix data centers and connecting them directly to Amazon's storage and other public-cloud services.

Greg Adgate, general manager of global alliances and partnerships at Equinix, said the deal was about addressing compliance and security concerns companies have about using public cloud services. A solution like this gives them the benefits of an elastic cloud infrastructure with security and compliance of private cloud.

“Mid-to-large [size] organizations that have corporate data – whether it [is] intellectual property or their finance records – that require a certain level of compliance,” he said. “They would rather have that on their own filers that they own and control.”

The three companies have essentially come up with a reference architecture NetApp resellers can use to set up storage arrays and plug them into AWS infrastructure at Equinix data centers. Avnet Technology Solutions will be the major distribution partner to offer this service initially, Adgate said.

Large companies that have the capabilities in-house can purchase the needed products and services and use the architecture to set it up themselves.

Demo platforms is available for testing to Equinix customers in its Singapore, Silicon Valley and Ashburn, Virginia, data centers. The option to use the service will be available at Equinix data centers that have AWS Direct Connect, which provides connectivity to the public cloud cloud – via XO Communications – without using the public internet.

Equinix facilities with AWS Direct Connect are in San Jose, California, Ashburn, Virginia, Sydney, Tokyo and Singapore. The service gives clients that need to expand into those regions an option of expanding the reach of their IT infrastructure without the need to set up offices there, Adgate said.