Storage software market enjoys strong finish to 2010

Analyst firm finds that revenues grew in 2010 following a difficult 2009

The worldwide storage software market grew by 10.6 per cent in Q4 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, according to analyst firm IDC.

Revenues in the final quarter were $3.4bn (£2.1bn), as full-year sales of storage software increased 10.3 per cent to $12.7bn (£7.8bn).

"The storage software market is in the midst of a sustained recovery, partly driven by new product innovations, and partly by a strong desire to address inefficiencies related to storing, protecting, and managing corporate data," said Eric Sheppard, research director with IDC's storage software programme.

The market shrank by 3.2 per cent in 2009, when the global recession was at its peak.

IDC placed storage firm EMC as the market leader with a 25.4 per cent market share at the end of 2010, up from 23.8 per cent last year.