Spectra Logic launches software to delay storage expansion

Spectra Logic has launched Spectra Storage Reclaim, aimed at organisations looking to delay storage expansion.

The software identifies inactive unstructured data on existing flash and disk systems and moves it to a lower-cost protected storage tier. This frees capacity on primary storage for active workloads without the need for immediate hardware purchases.

The launch comes as storage buyers face higher component costs. Spectra Logic cited market data showing flash contract prices rose by 55 to 60 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and by a further 70 to 75 per cent in the second quarter. Gartner also forecast flash prices would rise by almost 250 per cent year on year in the second half.

How it works

Storage Reclaim follows a four-step process, starting with a read-only analysis of stored data to measure how much is inactive or rarely accessed. The assessment is based on age and access patterns.

Policies then determine which data should be moved from flash and disk arrays to another tier. Data is transferred under policy control through Spectra StorCycle or integrated third-party data management tools, while files remain visible and accessible in the customer environment. Once the move is complete, capacity on the original systems becomes available again for production use.

Spectra BlackPearl Object Gateway and the company's tape storage systems underpin the long-term retention layer used in the offering. The broader ecosystem also includes Komprise, Starfish Storage and rclone.

The product is aimed at infrastructure teams weighing storage refresh plans, near-term capacity constraints or tighter budgets. Rather than replacing existing environments, it is designed to help organisations assess whether they can recover usable space from systems already in place before committing to new spending.

Cost pressure

Storage management suppliers have increasingly focused on tiering and data mobility as flash and disk budgets come under pressure. The premise is that a significant share of enterprise data remains on expensive primary storage even though it no longer needs that level of performance.

The issue has become more visible as businesses reserve faster storage for AI workloads and other data-intensive applications. Reclaiming inactive data from primary platforms can help delay procurement cycles, particularly where organisations face supply constraints or sharp price increases.

Spectra Logic has built its business around long-term data retention and archive systems, particularly tape-based infrastructure and software for managing data lifecycles. Storage Reclaim extends that position into capacity optimisation by linking analysis and policy-driven movement of inactive data with archive and retention platforms.

Nathan Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Logic, outlined the company's view of the market in comments accompanying the launch.

"Organisations have traditionally responded to growing storage requirements by buying more capacity. But the cheapest flash you'll ever buy is the flash you already own," Thompson said.

He added: "Storage Reclaim shows organizations what is consuming their existing storage capacity and moves data that no longer requires premium performance. With an ecosystem that includes Komprise, Starfish Storage, and rclone, customers can reclaim that capacity using the approach that best fits their environment."