FlashCrew London & Glasgow May/June 2025 !!!! Register NOW...
I'd like to invite you to our upcoming FlashCrew Customer User Group in London on May 15th, from midday. Throughout May, we'll be taking our FlashCrew User Group on the road to share ideas, best practices and network on all things Pure over some drinks and food. Plus, as a thank you for your continued support and attendance we will of course have the latest FlashCrew branded gifts for you to take with you! If you can make it, please register at this link below. London 10-11 Carlton House Terrace Thursday 15th May: REGISTER HERE for FLASHCREW LONDON Glasgow Radisson Blu Hotel Thursday 5th June: REGISTER HERE for FLASHCREW GLASGOW These are user group meetings, targeted at a technical audience across Pure's existing customers. Not only will you hear the latest news on the Pure Enterprise Data Cloud, but will also get to network with other like-minded users and exchange ideas and experiences. Agenda: 12:00 - 12:50 Arrival, Lunch and Welcome 13:00 - 14:00 Pure Platform: Features and Roadmap: with demo 14:00 - 14:15 Break 14:15 - 14:45 SQL Databases and Pure 14:45 - 15:15 Voice of the Customer 15:15 - 15:30 Break 15:30 - 16:15 Portworx and the Enterprise Data Cloud 16:15 - 16:45 Modern Virtualisation 16:45 - 17:00 Open Floor Q&A, Raffle, Wrap Up 17:00 - 19:00 Drinks and NetworkingWhy Are We Still Designing IT Like It's 2012?
Let’s talk about complexity in IT. Not the fun kind—like building a Raspberry Pi-powered coffee machine or arguing over whether Terraform should be capitalized. I mean the kind of complexity that slows teams down, bloats your stack, and makes security people question their career choices. You know the type: five backup platforms, three monitoring tools, two storage vendors “for resilience,” and a bunch of scripts someone wrote in 2019 that nobody’s brave enough to touch. We tell ourselves it’s “best-of-breed,” “cloud-first,” or my personal favorite—“strategic.” But let’s call it what it is: chaos without any direction. Enter Conway’s Law (aka the Mirror You’ve Been Avoiding) Melvin Conway dropped this gem in 1967: “Organizations design systems that mirror their own communication structures.” Still true. Still brutal. If your company has six teams that don’t talk to each other except through passive-aggressive Jira tickets, your architecture is going to reflect that—fragmented, redundant, over-engineered, and impossible to secure. Conway’s Law isn’t just a quirky observation. It’s a diagnostic tool. If your architecture feels like a group project gone off the rails, chances are it’s because your org works that way too. Cloud Chaos: Now with More Vendors! And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse—we bring in the cloud. Or clouds. Somewhere between “cloud-first” and “cloud-only,” we lost the plot. We started treating hyperscalers like interchangeable gas stations: need compute? Just pull over at the nearest one. We’ve seen it: Migrations from AWS to Azure to GCP like it’s some weird tech pilgrimage Applications lifted and shifted with zero refactoring Hybrid architectures that “just sort of happened” Look, the cloud’s not the problem. I like cloud and I believe it is here to stay. But designing 100% for the cloud without actually understanding your why? That’s Conway’s Law, just with bigger invoices. Even worse? Bouncing between cloud providers because someone read a Forrester report and got nervous about lock-in. That’s not strategy—that’s cloud-induced panic. The Two-Vendor Lie We Keep Telling Ourselves Ah yes, the old two-vendor strategy. Meant to be safe. Designed to reduce dependency. What it really does? Doubles your complexity and halves your team’s sanity. Two vendors = two playbooks, two consoles, two support teams blaming each other It’s not more resilient—it’s just more confusing Gartner even calls it out: more vendors = more risk, not less If you think managing multiple tools with overlapping functions is safer than consolidation, congrats—you’ve just invented the world’s most expensive “Oops” button. Manual ≠ Secure. It Just Feels That Way Let’s talk about the weird rituals we still do in the name of security: Manually copying data to “safe zones” Turning off network access like it’s a security blanket Spinning up siloed sandboxes to avoid risk It’s not protection. It’s procrastination. Manual controls introduce human error, waste time, and don’t scale. If your “strategy” depends on someone remembering to toggle a firewall rule every Thursday, you're not secure—you’re just lucky. And outsourcing that chaos to a vendor doesn’t make it better. Handing over management to a provider that’s Frankensteined a bunch of loosely integrated tech with bailing wire and hope isn’t a strategy—it’s just renting someone else’s mess. If there’s no real roadmap, no cohesion, no architectural vision—it’s not a partnership. It’s a future support ticket waiting to happen. Hybrid Cloud Needs Purpose, Not Permission Hybrid isn’t a backup plan. It’s a design decision. Too many shops end up hybrid by accident—because apps don’t refactor, budgets don’t stretch, or politics get in the way. The result is an environment that’s technically working but operationally exhausting. A good hybrid strategy is opinionated. You should know: What runs where (and why) How data moves What your north star architecture looks like If you don’t have answers to that? You’re not doing hybrid—you’re doing hope. So What Do We Do About It? We simplify. On purpose. Relentlessly. Design like a startup, not a committee. Keep the stack lean. Less is more when you have tools that actually integrate. Use Conway’s Law in reverse. Want systems that work together? Build teams that do too. Break silos before they become dependencies. Treat cloud like architecture, not an escape route. Cloud is amazing if you design for it. Otherwise, it’s just someone else’s complexity in your billing statement. Stop solving people problems with platform purchases. Most complexity isn’t technical—it’s cultural. No vendor can fix your org chart. Final Thought: Complexity Is a Tax. Stop Paying It. Every extra platform, every vendor “just in case,” every manual handoff is a tax. And it’s compounding interest on your ability to execute. If you want to move fast, secure your data, and stay sane—you’ve got to design with purpose. That means fewer tools, better alignment, and architectures that reflect how you want to operate, not how your politics force you to. You want resilience? Start with intention. But what I’m really curious about is your perspective: How are you dealing with complexity? Is hybrid working for you—or just holding you hostage? Have you successfully simplified your architecture without sacrificing flexibility? Let's make this a real convo—not another “cloud is the answer” thread. —Zane AllynDon’t Wait, Innovate: Long‑Life Release 6.9.0 Is Your Gateway to Continuous Innovation
How Pure Releases Work (and Why You Should Care) Pure Storage doesn’t make you choose between stability and innovation: Feature Releases arrive monthly and are supported for 9 months. They’re production‑ready and ideal if you like to live on the cutting edge. Long‑Life Releases (LLRs) bundle those feature releases into a thoroughly tested version which is supported for three years. LLR 6.9.0 is essentially all the innovation of those Feature releases, rolled into one update. This dual approach means you can adopt new features as soon as they’re ready or wait for the next stable release—either way, you keep moving forward. Not sure what features you’re missing? Not a problem as we have a tool for that. A coworker reminded me: Pure1’s AI Copilot can tell you exactly what you’ve been missing. Here’s how easy it is to find out: Log into Pure1, click on the AI Copilot tab, and type your question. My coworker reminded me of this last week, so I tried: “Please provide all features for FlashArray since version 6.4 of Purity OS.” Copilot returned a detailed rundown of new capabilities across each release. In just a couple of minutes, I saw everything I’d overlooked—no digging through release notes or calling support required. A Taste of What You’ve Been Missing Here’s a snapshot of the goodies you may have missed across the last few year releases: Platform enhancements: FlashArray//E platform (6.6.0) extends Pure’s simplicity to tier‑3 workloads. Gen 2 chassis support (6.8.0) delivers more performance and density with better efficiency. 150 TB DirectFlash modules (6.8.2) boost capacity without compromising speed. File services advancements: FlashArray File (GA in 6.8.2) lets you manage block and file workloads from the same array. SMB Continuous Availability shares (6.8.6) keep file services online through failures. Multi‑server/domain support (6.8.7) scales file services across larger environments. Security and protection: Enhanced SafeMode protection (6.4.3) quadruples local snapshot capacity and adds hardware tokens for instant data locking which is vital in a ransomware era. Over‑the‑wire encryption (6.6.7) secures asynchronous replication. Pure Fusion: We can't talk about this enough Think of this as fleet intelligence. Fusion applies your policies across every array and optimizes placement automatically, cutting operational overhead . Purity OS: It’s Not Just Firmware Every Purity OS update adds value to your existing hardware. Recent improvements include support for new NAND sources, “titanium” efficiency power supplies, and advanced diagnostics. These aren’t minor tweaks; they’re part of Pure’s Evergreen promise that your hardware investment keeps getting better over time. Why Waiting Doesn’t Pay Off It’s tempting to delay updates, but with Pure, waiting often means you’re missing out on: Security upgrades that counter new threats. Performance gains like NVMe/TCP support and ActiveCluster improvements. Operational efficiencies such as open metrics and better diagnostics. Future‑proofing features that prepare you for upcoming innovations. Your Roadmap to Capture These Benefits Assess your current state: Use AI Copilot to see exactly what you’d gain by moving to LLR 6.9.0. Plan your update: Pure’s non‑disruptive upgrades let you modernize without downtime. Explore new features: Dive into Fusion, enhanced file services, and expanded security capabilities. Connect with the community: Share experiences with other users to accelerate your learning curve. The Bottom Line Pure’s Evergreen model means your hardware doesn’t just retain value it continues to gain it. Long‑Life Release 6.9.0 is a gateway to innovation. In a world where data is your competitive edge, standing still is equivalent to moving backward. Ready to see what you’ve been missing? Log into Pure1, fire up Copilot, and let it show you the difference between where you are and where you could be.
Ask Us Everything Recap: Making Purity Upgrades Simple
At our recent Ask Us Everything session, we put a spotlight on something every storage admin has an opinion about: software upgrades. Traditionally, storage upgrades have been dreaded — late nights, service windows, and the fear of downtime. But as attendees quickly learned, Pure Storage Purity upgrades are designed to be a very different experience. Our panel of Pure Storage experts included our host Don Poorman, Technical Evangelist, and special guests Sean Kennedy and Rob Quast, Principal Technologists. Here are the questions that sparked the most conversation, and the insights our panel shared. “Are Purity upgrades really non-disruptive?” This one came up right away, and for good reason. Many admins have scars from upgrade events at other vendors. Pure experts emphasized that non-disruptive upgrades (NDUs) are the default. With thousands performed in the field — even for mission-critical applications — upgrades run safely in the background. Customers don’t need to schedule middle-of-the-night windows just to stay current. “Do I need to wait for a major release?” Attendees wanted to know how often they should upgrade, and whether “dot-zero” releases are safe. The advice: don’t wait too long. With Pure’s long-life releases (like Purity 6.9), you can stay current without chasing every new feature release. And because Purity upgrades are included in your Evergreen subscription, you’re not paying extra to get value — you just need to install the latest version. Session attendees found this slide helpful, illustrating the different kinds of Purity releases. “How do self-service upgrades work?” Admins were curious about how much they can do themselves versus involving Pure Storage support. The good news: self-service upgrades are straightforward through Pure1, but you’re never on your own. Pure Technical Services knows that you're running an upgrade, and if an issue arises you’re automatically moved to the front of the queue. If you want a co-pilot, then of course Pure Storage support can walk you through it live. Either way, the process is fast, repeatable, and built for confidence. Upgrading your Purity version has never been easier, now that Self Service Upgrades lets you modernize on your schedule. “Why should I upgrade regularly?” This is where the conversation shifted from fear to excitement. Staying current doesn’t just keep systems secure — it unlocks new capabilities like: Pure Fusion™: a unified, fleet-wide control plane for storage. FlashArray™ Files: modern file services, delivered from the same trusted platform. Ongoing performance, security, and automation enhancements that come with every release. One attendee summed it up perfectly: “Upgrading isn’t about fixing problems — it’s about getting new toys.” The Takeaway The biggest lesson from this session? Purity upgrades aren’t something to fear — they’re something to look forward to. They’re included with your Evergreen subscription, they don’t disrupt your environment, and they unlock powerful features that make storage easier to manage. So if you’ve been putting off your next upgrade, take a fresh look. Chances are, Fusion, Files, or another feature you’ve been waiting for is already there — you just need to turn it on. 👉 Want to keep the conversation going? Join the discussion in the Pure Community and share your own upgrade tips and stories. Be sure to join our next Ask Us Everything session, and catch up with past sessions here!Ask Us Everything ... Evergreen//One edition!
💬 Have more questions for our experts around Evergreen//One after today's live "Ask Us Everything"? Feel free to drop them below and our experts will answer! dpoorman abarnes and Tago- - Tag! You're it! Or, check out some of these self-serve resources: EG//1 website Introduction to Evergreen//One (video) Evergreen//One for AI: Modern Storage Economics for the AI Era (blog) The Economics of Pure Storage Evergreen Subscriptions (blog) DATIC Protects Citizen Data from Attack (customer case study)
Ask Us Everything About Evergreen//One
Got questions about Evergreen//One? Get answers Get answers. December 11, 2025 | 09:00am PT • 12:00pm ET In this month’s episode of Ask Us Everything, we’re diving into Evergreen//One™—our storage-as-a-service solution that gives you flexibility, protection, and cloud-ready capabilities. Whether you already use Evergreen//One or are exploring it for the first time, you’ll see how to get more value from your storage—without added cost or complexity. Then it’s your turn. Our experts will answer your questions and show you how Evergreen//One enables you to focus on business outcomes, instead of storage management. Reserve your seat! Ask a question for your chance to win: The first 10 eligible Pure Storage customers to submit a question during the live webinar will receive one (1) Pure Storage Customer Appreciation Kit (approximate retail value: $65). Limit one kit per customer. Offer valid only during the live event and while supplies last. See Terms and Conditions.
We are just one week away PUG#3
January 28th, the Cincinnati Pure User Group will be convening at Ace's Pickleball to discuss Enterprise file. We will be joined by Matt Niederhelman Unstructured Data Field Solutions Architect to help guide conversation and answer questions about what he is experiencing amongst other customers. Click the link below to register and come join us. Help us guide the conversation with your ideas for future topics. https://info.purestorage.com/2025-Q4AMS-COMREPLTFSCincinnatiPUG-LP_01---Registration-Page.htmlVirtualization Anonymous - Pittsburgh PUG
Welcome to Our 2nd Pure User Group (PUG) Discussion on Server Virtualization! We’re excited to bring our community together again for our second PUG session focused on server virtualization — a topic that's constantly evolving and critical to modern infrastructure. This is part of our ongoing effort to host these discussions every six months, continuing as long as there's interest from our user community. Whether you joined us for the first session or you're new to the group, we’re glad to have you here. Let’s learn, share, and grow together — and as always, your feedback helps shape future PUG topics! Event Details This will be a customer driven and customer focused discussion to hear from people like you related to the experiences and journey you have been on as we all seek the recovery we need to build a virtualization strategy for the future. Pure Storage and Expedient will provide experts and guidance to take that first step with you. After our presentation, we invite you to join us for happy hour and appetizers at the Federal Galley located here. Prizes will be provided to help encourage open collaboration. Space is extremely limited for this event. Sign up now to grab your spot to this exciting event. Registration https://info.purestorage.com/2025-Q3AMS-COMREDTFSPUGPittsburghLP_01---Registration-Page.html Parking Enter the Parking garage on level 2 off of S Commons, Take the east or west stairs to the Plaza Level, Exit the plaza level by the information desk to the outdoor plaza, walk towards the Federal Galley, The conference center entrance is located to the left of the Federal Galley. (follow Pure Storage Signage) Agenda 2:00PM Check In 2:30PM - 4:30PM Presentation 4:30PM - Giveaway Raffle (Pirate Tickets, Pure Swag, Autographed Pirate Baseballs) 5:00PM - 6:30PM Happy Hour with PureStorage Jailbreak! The Transformative, Operational Hope of Storage as a Service
May 6, 2025 | 11:00AM PT • 2:00PM ET -> Register Now! Details: For May, Principal Technologist Matthew Bednar will join Coffee Break host Andrew Miller. First, we’ll explore Matt’s career as a customer–what drew him to choose Pure Storage as a customer even before he joined the company (yes, this is partly about how he got out of storage jail). From there, we’ll dive into storage as a service (STaaS) from a practitioner perspective and how STaaS done right (Evergreen® is part of it) enables you to focus on items that matter to your company—freeing you from storage jail. The discussion will include: How STaaS affects traditional customer organization roles and responsibilities - It’s more than just a shift from purchase to consumption. SLOs vs. SLAs - If you don’t know the difference, you might be getting taken advantage of. Initial sizing and expansion planning - The shift in approaches. Overview of Evergreen//One™ (Pure Storage STaaS offering) New Evergreen//One capabilities, such as “paid power and rack” and the “cyber resilience SLA” (unique value in the case of a ransomware attack). As always, we’ll keep it educational while exploring how Pure Storage offers capabilities and products that benefit you. The speakers will stay on after the webinar to answer questions for those who want to learn more. LIVE RAFFLE: One lucky attendee will win a YETI Coffee Lover Set (approx. value $132.16). See Terms and Conditions. Register Now!
