NetApp, Inc. is an American data infrastructure company that provides unified data storage, integrated data services, and cloud operations (CloudOps) solutions to enterprise customers. The company is based in San Jose, California. It has ranked in the Fortune 500 from 2012 to 2021.[2] Founded in 1992[3] with an initial public offering in 1995,[4] NetApp offers cloud data services for management of applications and data both online and physically.
History
NetApp was founded in 1992 by David Hitz, James Lau,[6] and Michael Malcolm[7] as Network Appliance, Inc.[8] At the time, its major competitor was Auspex Systems. In 1994, NetApp received venture capital funding from Sequoia Capital.[9] In 2006, NetApp sold the NetCache product line to Blue Coat Systems.[10] In 2008, Network Appliance officially changed its legal name to NetApp, Inc., reflecting the nickname by which it was already well-known.[11] On June 1, 2015, Tom Georgens stepped down as CEO and was replaced by George Kurian.[12] In May 2018, NetApp announced its first end-to-end NVMe array called All Flash FAS A800 with the release of ONTAP 9.4 software.[13]
Organization
George Kurian is the Chief Executive Officer of NetApp and a member of the Board of Directors. He joined the company in 2011. The President of NetApp is César Cernuda. In December 2009, Mike Nevens was appointed as Chairman of the Board. The company employs around 12,000 people worldwide.[14]
Competition
NetApp competes in the computer data storage hardware industry.[15] In 2009, NetApp ranked second in market capitalization in its industry behind EMC Corporation, now Dell EMC, and ahead of Seagate Technology, Western Digital, Brocade, Imation, and Quantum.[16] In total revenue of 2009, NetApp ranked behind EMC, Seagate, Western Digital, and ahead of Imation, Brocade, Xyratex, and Hutchinson Technology.[17] According to a 2014 IDC report, NetApp ranked second in the network storage industry "Big 5's list", behind EMC (Dell), and ahead of IBM, HP and Hitachi.[18]
Partnerships
On March 1, 2021, a partnership with the Aston Martin F1 Team was announced. NetApp is currently responsible for data provision and cloud services for the racing team.[19] Similar partnerships have been in place with the MotoGP team Ducati Corse since 2018,[20] and the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team since July 2022.[21]
OEM
September 13, 2018, Lenovo and NetApp announced its technology partnership, so Lenovo OEM Netapp products under its own name: Lenovo ThinkSystem DE (using NetApp's EF and E-Series array technology), and ThinkSystem DM uses ONTAP software with Lenovo servers and supports FC-NVMe (analog for NetApp FAS and AFF systems).[22][23] Vector Data's Vault series of products are rugged and carrier-grade versions of NetApp systems including -48V DC Power and NEBS Level 3 Certification.
Reception
Controversy
Syrian surveillance
In November 2011, during the 2011 Syrian uprising, NetApp was named as one of several companies whose products were being used in the Syrian government crackdown. The equipment was allegedly sold to the Syrians by an authorized NetApp reseller.[24]
On April 7, 2014, NetApp was notified by the US Department of Commerce "that it had completed its review of this matter and determined that NetApp had not violated the U.S. export laws", and that the file on the matter had been closed.[25]
Legal dispute with Sun Microsystems
In September 2007, NetApp started proceedings against Sun Microsystems, claiming that the ZFS File System developed by Sun infringed its patents.[26] The following month, Sun announced plans to countersue based on alleged misuse by NetApp of Sun's own patented technology.[27] Several of NetApp's patent claims were rejected on the basis of prior art after re-examination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[28] On September 9, 2010, NetApp announced an agreement with Oracle Corporation (the new owner of Sun Microsystems) to dismiss the suits.[29]
Syrian surveillance
In November 2011, during the 2011 Syrian uprising, NetApp was named as one of several companies whose products were being used in the Syrian government crackdown. The equipment was allegedly sold to the Syrians by an authorized NetApp reseller.[24]
On April 7, 2014, NetApp was notified by the US Department of Commerce "that it had completed its review of this matter and determined that NetApp had not violated the U.S. export laws", and that the file on the matter had been closed.[25]
Legal dispute with Sun Microsystems
In September 2007, NetApp started proceedings against Sun Microsystems, claiming that the ZFS File System developed by Sun infringed its patents.[26] The following month, Sun announced plans to countersue based on alleged misuse by NetApp of Sun's own patented technology.[27] Several of NetApp's patent claims were rejected on the basis of prior art after re-examination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[28] On September 9, 2010, NetApp announced an agreement with Oracle Corporation (the new owner of Sun Microsystems) to dismiss the suits.[29]
Awards
NetApp was listed amongst Silicon Valley Top 25 Corporate Philanthropists in 2013.[30] NetApp was Named Brand of the Year by the Think Global Awards in 2019.[31] In 2023, NetApp was named Best Company to Work For by U.S. News & World Report.[32] In 2024, consulting firm Frost & Sullivan named NetApp Global Company of the Year in the hybrid cloud storage management industry.[33]
Environment
In 2021, the CDP Climate Change Score improved to B−.[34] In some NetApp offices, employees have formed Green Teams to integrate sustainable values into their daily lives.[35]
See also
- Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL), used in ONTAP storage systems
- Team NetApp
- Kaleidescape
Further reading
External links
References
- NetApp, Inc. FY 2025 Annual Report (Form 10-K) U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, June 9, 2025^
- NetApp Fortune 500, Time Inc, retrieved May 31, 2022^
- Corporate brief NetApp, retrieved September 27, 2013^
- FAQs NetApp, retrieved August 25, 2016^
- TRD Staff. Walmart subleases 719K sf office campus in Sunnyvale The Real Deal, November 10, 2023, retrieved February 23, 2025^
- Executive Bios NetApp, 2012, retrieved April 13, 2012^
- Michael Malcolm Resigns as Chairman of the Board of CacheFlow to Focus on New Start-Up Opportunity Business Wire, November 13, 2000, retrieved April 14, 2009^
- Giant Firm winner: Network Appliance Inc. Triangle Business Journal, September 27, 2004, retrieved May 24, 2019^
- Sequoia Capital funds NetApp retrieved December 12, 2007^
- Bryan Betts. NetApp sells NetCache to Blue Coat Techworld, June 26, 2006, retrieved January 22, 2019^
- Modine, Austin. NetApp changes name to NetApp The Register, March 10, 2008, retrieved May 24, 2019^
- NetApp Announces Changes to Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors NetApp, June 1, 2015, retrieved June 1, 2015^
- The Future Is Now: AI-Ready, Cloud-Connected, NVMe All-Flash Storage NetApp Blog, May 8, 2018, retrieved June 2, 2018^
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission NetApp.com, 29 April 2022, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- Industry Center - Data Storage Devices Overview Yahoo! Finance, 2009, retrieved April 14, 2009^
- Industry Center - Data Storage Devices, Leaders in Market Capitalization Yahoo! Finance, 2009, retrieved April 14, 2009^
- Industry Center - Data Storage Devices, Leaders in Total Revenue (ttm) Yahoo! Finance, 2009, retrieved April 14, 2009^
- How EMC Lines Up Against NetApp, HP, IBM, Hitachi in Storage Systems Market Forbes, retrieved September 6, 2017^
- Aston Martin F1® Team and NetApp NetApp.com, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- Ducati and NetApp: Riding on cloud nine NetApp.com, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- Porsche Motorsport and NetApp NetApp.com, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- NetApp press release: "Lenovo and NetApp Form Global Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Customers' Digital Transformation"^
- Lenovo press release: "Lenovo and NetApp Form Global Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Customers' Digital Transformation - Lenovo StoryHub"^
- Companies That Aid Syria Crackdown Deserve Sanctions' Slap: View Businessweek, November 14, 2011, retrieved March 25, 2012^
- NetApp response to allegations of potential use of equipment in Syria NetApp, April 9, 2014, retrieved May 23, 2014^
- NetApp files patent suit against Sun September 5, 2007, retrieved October 25, 2007^
- Sun plans to countersue NetApp October 24, 2007, retrieved October 25, 2007^
- NetApp Patent Lawsuit Against ZFS Open Source Technology retrieved August 13, 2010^
- Oracle, NetApp agree to settle ZFS patent litigation ARN, September 10, 2010, retrieved January 6, 2024^
- Corporate philanthropy: Meet Silicon Valley's 25 most generous companies^
- Congratulations to All of the Think Global Awards Winners 8 April 2019, retrieved 8 June 2019^
- U.S. News Best Companies Ratings retrieved 18 August 2024^
- 2024 Award Recipients Frost & Sullivan, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- CDP Disclosure Insight Action CDP.net, retrieved 18 August 2024^
- NetApp Green Team promotes sustainability with e-waste shredding thesunflower.com, 23 October 2022, retrieved 18 August 2024^