Storage is getting more expensive—and by a significant margin. Prices for hard drives have risen by 20 to 50 percent since mid-2025. For the first quarter of 2026, the industry expects even steeper increases: up to 110 percent more for DDR5 RAM and up to 58 percent more for enterprise SSDs compared to the previous year. Companies that need to continuously expand their audit-proof data archives are feeling the pressure on their budgets particularly hard.

Why storage is becoming scarce and expensive

The cause lies primarily on the supply side. Samsung, SK Hynix, and other major manufacturers have shifted their production capacities to AI storage because the margins are better there. Less is left for traditional enterprise solutions. Demand for high-performance storage for AI applications and cloud services already exceeds supply, and production can barely keep up.

For companies, this means two things: costs are rising, and the selection of hardware is shrinking. Those who are also tied to a single manufacturer have little room to maneuver. The compliance chain depends on this one solution; switching is costly and risky.

What Makes FileLock Different

FileLock breaks this dependency. The archiving software is vendor-neutral and flexibly integrates both existing and new storage systems, regardless of the provider. The decision for or against specific hardware is based on price and technology, not on a manufacturer’s specifications.

All compliance requirements are met: GoBD, GDPdU, and GDPR are covered. Integration with common ERP and DMS systems is ensured, so existing business processes continue as before.

“FileLock breaks vendor lock-in and gives companies back the freedom to design their storage infrastructure based on economic and technical criteria. At the same time, with our many years of market experience, we offer the assurance that our customers can continue to rely on a stable and compatible archiving solution in the future.”

 

-  Kai Hambrecht, Head of Service and Support at GRAU DATA

Archiving that grows with the company

Anyone who needs to retain data for years or decades requires a solution that does not depend on the goodwill of a single provider. FileLock supports all common storage technologies and can be adapted as requirements change. This eliminates the need for a complete system overhaul. This also includes GRAU DATA ensuring the long-term availability of the software and providing regular updates.

About GRAU DATA

GRAU DATA is a medium-sized company based in Schwäbisch Gmünd near Stuttgart that has specialized in data archiving, data protection, and metadata mining for over 25 years. Sales are conducted exclusively through partners: distributors, system houses, MSPs, and system integrators in Germany, Europe, and the U.S.

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