NetApp has deepened its collaboration with Google Cloud to accelerate enterprise cloud transformation, introducing new block storage capabilities and advanced AI integration in Google Cloud NetApp Volumes. The enhancements aim to give businesses more flexibility, unified data access, and streamlined operations as they modernise their data infrastructure.
Unified storage for critical workloads
The latest update to NetApp Volumes brings block storage support to the platform, enabling organisations to run essential workloads such as virtualised environments, self-managed databases, and AI applications without added complexity. The Flex service level now supports both NAS (NFS/SMB) and SAN (iSCSI) protocols, allowing enterprises to manage file and block storage within a single service. This unified approach reduces operational overhead and simplifies data management.
“With the enhancements to Google Cloud NetApp Volumes including the addition of block storage capabilities, we’re giving enterprises more flexibility and power, without added complexity,” said Pravjit Tiwana, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Storage and Services at NetApp. “These updates represent a significant leap forward. Our customers will benefit from consistent low-latency performance, enhanced data management with features like snapshots and replication, and the operational simplicity of managing both file and block storage from the same NetApp Volumes service.”
The expanded functionality opens new opportunities for organisations to use Google Cloud for mission-critical business applications, such as hosting virtualised environments and managing databases. The new iSCSI block storage support is now generally available to customers upon request.
Enhanced AI capabilities with Gemini Enterprise
NetApp and Google Cloud are also deepening their collaboration in the AI space. Data stored in NetApp Volumes can now serve as a native source for AI Applications to build customised AI agents without the need for custom code or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines. This tighter integration allows enterprises to use context-specific data from trusted sources, significantly improving the quality and reliability of AI-generated outputs.
“Our collaboration with NetApp is built on a shared commitment to innovation and customer success,” said Sameet Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager, Storage, for Google Cloud. “Data infrastructure with built-in intelligence enables businesses to get the right data to the right place to generate useful results without unnecessary cost and complexity. By combining Google Cloud’s global infrastructure and Vertex AI with NetApp’s expertise in data management, we’re delivering integrated solutions that help enterprises transform and accelerate their digital journeys.”
Seamless hybrid cloud access and global data unification
NetApp has also introduced an enhanced unified global namespace through new FlexCache functionality. This enables organisations to unify their global data estate across on-premises and cloud environments within Google Cloud. Data stored in ONTAP-based storage systems can now be made visible and writeable in NetApp Volumes instantly, with data transferred only when requested.
This granular approach means enterprises can extend their on-premises workloads, such as electronic design automation, into the cloud without sacrificing performance or efficiency. It also supports hybrid use cases such as cloud migration, disaster recovery, and workload balancing through SnapMirror, which allows seamless data and snapshot transfers between environments.
“With the accelerating pace of change and innovation, enterprises need unified access to all of their data wherever it lives,” said Dave McCarthy, Research Vice President, Cloud and Edge Services, Worldwide Infrastructure Research at IDC. “NetApp’s data platform is the first unified storage built natively into the world’s largest public clouds, enabling enterprises to securely access their entire data estate, without incurring delays and costs from data movement.”
A foundation for future-ready enterprises
The NetApp data platform provides a unified, enterprise-grade, intelligent foundation that connects, protects, and activates data across every cloud, workload, and environment. Built on the proven power of NetApp ONTAP and enhanced by automation through the AI Data Engine and AFX, it delivers observability, resilience, and intelligence at scale.
Its disaggregated design separates storage, services, and control, enabling organisations to modernise faster, scale more efficiently, and innovate without vendor lock-in. As the only enterprise storage platform natively embedded in the world’s largest public clouds, it offers consistent performance, governance, and protection across any workload.
NetApp will showcase these new capabilities at NetApp INSIGHT 2025 in Las Vegas from 14 to 16 October, with sessions and demonstrations highlighting how the company is driving digital transformation across industries.
