Building on its position as a leading Kubernetes data management platform, Portworx by Pure Storage’s new Kube Datastore introduces a modern VM architecture optimized for cloud-native deployments.
“For many CIOs, the path to modern, cloud-native infrastructure feels less like a migration and more like a minefield. Virtual machines (VMs) often host the most critical workloads and data in the enterprise. The VMware transition has forced organisations to confront mounting costs and uncertain roadmaps while seeking a way forward. Meanwhile, Kubernetes has become the platform of choice for modern applications and nearly all new AI deployments. As cyber threats and outages grow more frequent, protecting application data has become a board-level concern for many in their decision to move to a new platform like Kubernetes. And all this is compounded by a shortage of available talent with the right skills,” commented Venkat Ramakrishnan, Vice President and General Manager, Portworx by Pure Storage.
“This is where Portworx® comes in. By bringing familiar architecture and workflows to Kubernetes, we eliminate the steep learning curve that often slows modernisation. Enterprises can run everything from lightweight edge VMs to heavy virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) workloads on Kubernetes, without disruption or cyber risk. This helps CIOs confidently modernise by making Kubernetes a viable platform not only for new, cloud-native applications but also for traditional VM workloads,” added Ramakrishnan.
Ensuring operational continuity
KubeVirt represents the broadest virtualisation effort in the cloud-native ecosystem with contributing engineers from Red Hat, SUSE, Microsoft, Oracle, and more. Built for KubeVirt, Kube Datastore redefines virtualisation for the cloud-native era. Together, they deliver:
- Intelligent storage abstraction: Transform how VMs consume storage on Kubernetes by delivering a unified high-performance data layer across the Kubernetes cluster. Power modern VM workflows like provisioning, migration, vMotions, snapshots, and recovery at cloud-scale efficiency and agility.
- Operational continuity: Retain trusted workflows like Advanced Storage Migration and Enhanced Storage Rebalancing.
- Flexible deployment: Run VMs across edge environments, Citrix VDI workloads, or nested control planes, even OpenShift-on-OpenShift without requiring VMware as a hypervisor.
- Smooth migration: Move from VMware to Kubernetes without compromising uptime or your disaster recovery requirements. Customers using Pure Storage® FlashArray™ can leverage Rapid VM Migration capabilities to significantly cut migration time.
Portworx gives customers the confidence to adopt Kubernetes for their VMs without losing the operational familiarity they depend on. It’s not just about storage; Portworx now provides a modern software-defined data management platform that lets VMware administrators operate with the same workflows and outcomes they’re used to, but in a modern, cloud-native environment.
The company is also partnering closely with global systems integrators (GSIs) like Wipro to help enterprises upskill their teams and accelerate cloud-native adoption. “Wipro’s Intelligent Data Storage Service (IDSS), powered by Pure Storage’s Enterprise Data Cloud (EDC), brings together the strengths of both organisations to deliver a unified yet flexible approach to modern data management.
By standardising Portworx as the foundational storage layer across all hosting platforms and Kubernetes variants, integrating it seamlessly with Wipro’s Cloud Studio, this collaboration ensures enterprises gain a resilient, scalable, and future-ready solution. The integration enables intelligent data replication, automated failover, and advanced protection features — such as snapshots, backups, and disaster recovery — while supporting multi-cloud environments and deep Kubernetes compatibility.
Together, Wipro and Pure Storage empower businesses to operate mission-critical workloads securely and efficiently across diverse infrastructures,” said Milan Shah, Cloud Advisory Lead and Product owner for Intelligent Data Storage Service (IDSS), Wipro.
Building cyber resilience
Cloud outages, cyberattacks, and ransomware attacks are more aggressive than ever, and moving VMs to Kubernetes requires a comprehensive and consistent business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) framework that ensures both protection and rapid recovery.
Portworx delivers a flexible, consistent BCDR operating model that provides the resiliency required for even the most critical VM workloads running on Kubernetes, including:
- Granular recovery: The introduction of VM file-level backup and restores in PX-Backup, provides even more granular recovery options tailored to end-user needs and SLAs.
- Metro disaster recovery: Customers can implement synchronous disaster recovery with added support for FlashArray ActiveCluster™ to achieve zero RPO for critical VM workloads.
These capabilities help customers reduce outages, strengthen cyber resiliency, accelerate recovery, and minimise downtime, all while ensuring data remains safe and recoverable.
Reducing TCO
Virtualisation costs are rising sharply, and while some CIOs may delay decisions for a year or two, now is the time to invest for the future.
Portworx helps CIOs mitigate both capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expense (OpEx) associated with traditional virtualisation. With a cost-efficient entry point for migrating VMs to Kubernetes — Portworx for KubeVirt — combined with the automation that is delivered by these new, familiar VMware workflows, CIOs can reduce overprovisioning. Enterprises can safely accelerate their migration plans, running VMs and containers side by side on Kubernetes — all while improving operational agility, security, and cost efficiency.
“Advanced storage capabilities are critical to enable and accelerate a successful transition from traditional virtualisation platforms to a modern KubeVirt approach that allows companies to set themselves up for success across containers, virtual machines, and AI workloads,” said Gary Chen, Research Director, Software Defined Compute, IDC.
The VMware-to-Kubernetes transition doesn’t have to be a leap of faith. With Portworx, CIOs gain a clear path to modernization, while controlling CapEx and OpEx, securing data against outages as well as cyber threats, and empowering existing teams to move faster.
