Introducing Amplify: A Closer Look at Where IBM Storage Protect Is Heading

IBM Storage Protect has always been built around one thing: keeping your data safe, no matter what the world throws at it. As the threat landscape shifts, workloads modernise, and compliance demands grow, the product is evolving to match — and we want you to be part of that conversation.

That's why we're launching Amplify.

Amplify is our initiative to make the IBM Storage Protect roadmap more of a two-way dialogue. We come to you — to share where the product is heading, to give you an early look at what's coming, and to make sure your voice is heard by the people building it.

What Amplify is — and what it isn't

Amplify will run across our customer base in the Americas, EMEA, APAC, and Japan. We'll be reaching out to customers ahead of their renewal and inviting them to a dedicated 45-minute session — a product conversation, not a sales call.

Here's what that session looks like:

• We share the roadmap direction. You'll get an early look at where IBM Storage Protect is heading — upcoming capabilities across security, compliance, recovery, and new workload support.
• We listen. We'll ask about your priorities, your environment, and what would make IBM Storage Protect work better for your team.
• We capture your input. Feedback, feature requests, and priorities raised in sessions are logged and shared with the product team for consideration.
• We aim to close the loop. Where possible, we'll follow up on key themes raised — whether that's something we're already working on, actively exploring, or something that isn't in the current direction.

What's on the roadmap?

The themes we're building toward in IBM Storage Protect are concrete and deliberate.

Application and data security. Massive data deletion prevention ensures that even if credentials are compromised, bulk deletion of backup data is blocked. Two-person integrity requires a second authorised user to approve destructive operations — an important safeguard where insider risk or compromised accounts are a concern.

Immutability — across tape, disk, and object storage. We're making immutability available across every supported storage tier, consistently, without requiring additional infrastructure or separate tooling.

Operations Center — one place to run everything. A unified view across all SP server operations and target storage pools, plus automated certificate management to reduce manual overhead.

Tape — faster, simpler, more integrated. VTL 7785 now supports fast mount to cut tape mount latency. SP-in-a-box makes CDM offload to tape simple and integrated. FlashSystem Safeguarded Copy is now natively integrated with SP for DRS-driven recovery.

New workload and platform coverage. IBM Storage Protect is expanding to protect MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MS SQL on RHEL, CEPH/Lustre filesystems, and Proxmox VE — modern environments covered by the same platform.

Looking ahead. Quantum-safe security, AI-powered operations, and legal hold capabilities are on the horizon.

Why your input matters

The part of Amplify we're most proud of is the intent behind it — making customer conversations a genuine input into how the product evolves.

Feedback raised in sessions is reviewed by the product team. We categorise what we hear — things already in motion, areas under active exploration, and areas that aren't in the current direction. We aim to follow up on key themes so customers have a sense of where things stand.

We won't always be able to act on everything — roadmaps involve tradeoffs, priorities shift, and not every request will align with the current direction. But the goal is that your voice is heard, considered, and not just filed away.

If you're an IBM Storage Protect customer

If you receive an invitation to an Amplify session — we'd love for you to join.

It's 45 minutes. You'll see where the product is heading before it's publicly announced, and you'll have a direct line to share what matters most to your organisation.

If there's a capability you've been waiting for, a gap that's been frustrating your team, or something you think we should be prioritising — this is the place to say it.

The bottom line

IBM Storage Protect is a product with real momentum. The roadmap is strong, the investment is real, and the direction is informed by exactly this kind of structured customer dialogue.

The best products are built in close partnership with the people who rely on them. Amplify is how we make that partnership more structured and more consistent — for both sides.

We're just getting started. We'd love to hear from you.

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