How a 1992 startup became a cornerstone of global data infrastructure
In short: Founded in 1992, NetApp has grown from a specialised hardware provider into a major force in cloud operations and data services. After reaching the Fortune 500, the company expanded its influence globally, even supporting high-performance racing teams like Aston Martin F1 through strategic data and cloud service partnerships.
Established in 1992 by Michael Malcolm, James Lau, and David Hitz under the name Network Appliance, Inc., the firm originally aimed to challenge competitors such as Auspex Systems. After receiving venture capital from Sequoia Capital in 1994, the firm went public in 1995. By 2008, the company officially transitioned its legal name to NetApp, Inc., adopting the nickname that had already become common in the industry.
The company's market influence was significant in 2009, when it ranked second in market capitalization in the computer data storage hardware industry, trailing only EMC Corporation. By 2014, an IDC report placed NetApp second in the network storage industry's 'Big 5' list, ahead of major players like IBM, HP, and Hitachi. Today, NetApp employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide and operates out of San Jose, California.
NetApp's reach extends into specialized sectors, including high-stakes motorsports. Since 2018, it has partnered with the Ducati Corse MotoGP team, and in July 2022, it joined the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. Most recently, on March 1, 2021, the company announced a partnership with the Aston Martin F1 Team to provide data and cloud services for the racing squad.
The company's history also includes complex legal and ethical navigation. In 2007, NetApp engaged in a patent dispute with Sun Microsystems regarding the ZFS File System, which was eventually settled with Oracle Corporation in 2010. Additionally, the company faced scrutiny in 2011 regarding the use of its products by the Syrian government, though the U.S. Department of Commerce closed its review of the matter in 2014, finding no violation of export laws.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NetApp
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