--- description: HCLTech and NetApp expand their partnership, pairing NetApp Keystone with U4X for consumption-based hybrid cloud storage for AI. title: HCLTech Pairs NetApp Keystone With U4X to Sell Enterprise AI Storage by Consumption image: https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StorageReview-HCLTech-NetApp-STaaS-square.jpg --- [![Storage Review]()](https://storagereview.com/) --- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [![StorageReview.com]()](https://www.storagereview.com) ≡ Menu - [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) - [Storage Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/review) - [End User Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer) - [Enterprise Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) - [Ubiquiti Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/best/ubiquiti-reviews) - [SR Merch](https://store.storagereview.com) - [Leaderboards](https://www.storagereview.com/best) - [Best Storage Arrays](https://www.storagereview.com/best/storage-arrays) - [Best Enterprise SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-ssds) - [Best Servers](https://www.storagereview.com/best/servers) - [Best Enterprise GPUs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-gpus) - [Best Desktops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktops-local-ai) - [Best Laptops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptops-local-ai) - [Best Local LLM Tools](https://www.storagereview.com/best/local-llm-tools) - [Agentic AI Hardware](https://www.storagereview.com/best/agentic-ai-hardware) - [Best SSDs & Hard Drives](https://www.storagereview.com/best_drives) - [Best Portable SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/portable-ssds) - [Best Business Laptops](https://www.storagereview.com/best/business-laptops) - [Best Mobile Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mobile-workstations) - [Best Desktop Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktop-workstations) - [Best Mini PCs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mini-pcs) - [Best Laptop Battery Life](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptop-battery-life) - [Storage Reference Guide](https://www.storagereview.com/storage-reference-guide) - [About SR](https://www.storagereview.com/about-storagereview) - [StorageReview.com Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-com-sweepstakes-rules-and-regulations) Search [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) » [News](https://www.storagereview.com/news) » HCLTech Pairs NetApp Keystone With U4X to Sell Enterprise AI Storage by Consumption # HCLTech Pairs NetApp Keystone With U4X to Sell Enterprise AI Storage by Consumption by Harold Fritts on August 17, 2026 [Cloud](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise/cloud)  ◇  [Enterprise](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) HCLTech and NetApp have expanded their strategic partnership to deliver an integrated hybrid cloud Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS) platform tailored for enterprise artificial intelligence, generative AI, and high-performance data architectures. It is the latest in a run of NetApp moves aimed at AI data pipelines, following its [DataPelago acquisition](https://www.storagereview.com/news/netapp-buys-datapelago-to-run-gpu-data-processing-where-the-data-already-lives) in July. The offering links infrastructure consumption with operational demand, allowing IT organizations to scale storage performance and capacity alongside legacy enterprise applications without incurring large upfront capital expenditures. ![HCLTech and NetApp logos on the announcement graphic for their expanded hybrid cloud storage-as-a-service partnership]() ## Integrating NetApp Keystone with HCLTech U4X Architecture The joint offering combines HCLTech’s Utility for Everything (U4X) digital infrastructure framework with [NetApp Keystone](https://www.storagereview.com/news/cgi-taps-netapp-keystone-to-power-block-storage-in-its-shared-services-platform), the pay-as-you-go storage service. The companies describe the pairing as a way to align infrastructure with evolving workload requirements, so capacity and performance track demand rather than a purchase cycle. Neither company has detailed the underlying data services in this announcement. The offering also ties into HCLTech’s AI Factory suite of offerings. In the companies’ framing, the combination strengthens data readiness and governance while letting organizations run workloads closer to where data resides, which they position as an efficiency and time-to-value gain rather than a throughput claim. ## What the Companies Are Claiming “We believe strong partnerships are built by co-creating technology offerings, business models, solutions and services that deliver meaningful customer value,” said Alvaro Celis, Chief Partner and Ecosystem Officer at NetApp. “This collaboration gives customers access to NetApp’s intelligent data infrastructure through a flexible, accessible business model, backed by HCLTech’s hands-on expertise.” “Our collaboration with NetApp reflects our focus on helping enterprises scale AI in a pragmatic and efficient way,” said Rampal Singh, Senior Vice President, Hybrid Cloud Business Unit at HCLTech. “By combining flexible infrastructure models with strong data management capabilities, we are enabling clients to unlock the value of their data and accelerate their AI journeys.” HCLTech points to two deployments as evidence, both unnamed. A global food and beverage company adopted the consumption-based model to improve operational flexibility and reduce upfront investment, and a European telecommunications provider used it to improve scalability and resilience across distributed environments while meeting strict regulatory requirements. Shifting enterprise storage onto an OPEX footing is the clear pitch, letting organizations adjust capacity as AI workloads fluctuate instead of buying for peak. **Engage with StorageReview** [Newsletter](https://www.storagereview.com/storage_newsletter) |  [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/StorageReview "Opens in a new window") | Podcast  [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/storagereview-com-storage-reviews/id1060681115 "Opens in a new window")/ [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0 "Opens in a new window") |  [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/ "Opens in a new window") |  [Twitter](https://twitter.com/storagereview "Opens in a new window") |  [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview? "Opens in a new window") |  [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) ![]() ### Harold Fritts I have been in the tech industry since IBM created Selectric. My background, though, is writing. So I decided to get out of the pre-sales biz and return to my roots, doing a bit of writing but still being involved in technology. 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