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Dell has warned that outdated data storage can quietly limit business growth, causing slow application performance, security risks, and inefficiencies.
According to Dell, in South Africa, legacy systems struggle to support AI, increase vulnerability to ransomware, complicate IT management and also hinder hybrid cloud strategies.
Client solutions product specialist Nischal Mahakian said modern storage enables faster performance, stronger resilience, and seamless scalability.
Storage
Mahakian said that by upgrading infrastructure, organisations can reduce risk, improve agility, and unlock innovation, ensuring their data supports growth rather than holding the business back.
“In the drive for business growth, organisations across South Africa are investing heavily in talent, applications, and strategy. Yet the foundational technology that underpins every digital interaction—data storage—is often overlooked,” says Mahakian.
“Many enterprises continue to rely on legacy systems designed for a simpler era. This mismatch creates bottlenecks, increases costs, and introduces risks that hold businesses back from their full potential.”
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Five signs your storage is holding you back
Application performance
One of the most visible signs of outdated storage is sluggish application performance. “When teams complain about slow response times for critical databases or customer-facing services, the storage layer is often the culprit,” Mahakian explains.
Legacy systems struggle to deliver the throughput and low latency required by modern applications, especially those involving real-time analytics or AI. In competitive markets, even a one-second delay can cost conversions and revenue.
Resilience
Cybersecurity threats are escalating, with ransomware among the most pervasive risks. According to Sophos, 71% of South African organisations paid a ransom in 2025, up from 43% in 2024. Median demands surged from R2.9 million to R17 million.
“The question is no longer if an attack will happen, but when,” Mahakian warns. Legacy backup solutions are slow and lack advanced features like immutable snapshots. Modern storage, he says, “must be the last line of defence, enabling recovery in minutes, not days.”
Scaling with AI
AI workloads demand fast, reliable, and scalable access to vast data volumes. Legacy systems force rigid scaling, often requiring overprovisioning.
“This inefficiency slows innovation and decision-making,” Mahakian notes. Modern platforms, purpose-built for AI, scale seamlessly as needs change, unlocking insights and growth.
IT teams
If IT talent spends more time managing siloed systems than innovating, storage is part of the problem. “Legacy infrastructure often involves juggling multiple interfaces and manual provisioning,” Mahakian says.
Intelligent storage consolidates operations, automates routine tasks, and frees IT to focus on strategic initiatives.
Cloud strategies
Hybrid cloud models depend on seamless data mobility. “If moving data between your data centre and the public cloud is difficult, costly, or insecure, your storage is undermining your cloud ambitions,” Mahakian explains.
Modern platforms provide consistent services across environments, ensuring compliance with POPIA while eliminating silos.
Moving forward
“Your data storage should be a source of strength, not a barrier to progress,” Mahakian said.
By modernising infrastructure, organisations can build resilience, efficiency, and innovation into their foundation.
“Empowering teams with the right technology gives them the freedom to explore new ideas, respond faster to market changes, and drive business forward with confidence.”
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