3165: Is Enterprise Storage Due for a Shake-Up? How TrueNAS is Challenging the Status Quo

Enterprise storage has long been dominated by tech giants with expensive, proprietary solutions—but what if there was a different way?

In this episode, recorded at the IT Press Tour in Silicon Valley, I sit down with Brett Davis, Executive Vice President at iXsystems, to explore how TrueNAS is rewriting the storage rulebook with an open-source approach that delivers enterprise-grade performance without the hefty price tag.

With competitors like NetApp, Pure Storage, Dell, and HPE, TrueNAS stands apart as the world's largest open-source storage platform, trusted by 60% of Fortune 500 companies and downloaded over 500,000 times annually across 190 countries. Brett shares the company's fascinating origin story, which traces its roots back to Berkeley Unix in the 1960s, and how a commitment to transparency, affordability, and long-term growth has made TrueNAS a serious contender in today's enterprise storage market.

We also discuss the major trends shaping IT infrastructure in 2025, from the rising costs of VMware licensing to the debate between on-prem and cloud storage—now growing at the same pace. Brett explains why organizations are increasingly pushing back against vendor lock-in, how open enterprise storage is lowering barriers for businesses of all sizes, and why IT leaders are prioritizing cost savings without sacrificing performance.

But where does TrueNAS go from here? Brett gives us a sneak peek into what's next, including an upcoming software release focused on data optimization, deduplication, and high-performance enterprise storage.

Is open-source enterprise storage the future? And how can businesses break free from costly, restrictive storage contracts? Join the conversation and let us know what you think.