Ambry Genetics Turns to EMC for Next-Generation Storage of Gene Sequencing

SEATTLE, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) today announced that Ambry Genetics®, a leading commercial provider of clinical diagnostic and genomic services, has deployed EMC® Isilon® scale-out NAS to power its advanced gene sequencing operations, enabling Ambry to advance a range of scientific pursuits while easily managing 100 percent data growth annually. Using Isilon's X-Series combined with the EMC Isilon SnapShotIQ™, SmartConnect™, and SmartQuotas™ software applications, Ambry Genetics has significantly reduced Big Data management challenges and storage administration costs, while accelerating data transfer rates and improving reliability for its genetic sequencing project pipeline.

Customer Benefits:

• Increased Performance – EMC Isilon scale-out NAS provided Ambry with the scalability and performance it needs to accelerate productivity.
• Reduced costs – Isilon handles Ambry Genetics' storage needs at a fraction of the cost of previous systems; Isilon's ease of management reduces operational expenses in storage management, eliminates hourly contract storage administrators.

Previously, Ambry Genetics had a traditional rack server with blades dedicated to storing its bioinformatics and sequencing data. "We were adding more and more blades and filling up the rack fast, and it was clear what we had wasn't offering the scalability or performance we needed," said Chris Medley, director of information technology at Ambry Genetics.  "We soon found we could leverage an Isilon system to handle our storage needs at a fraction of the cost, and that it will allow us to achieve some things, like data tiering, we couldn't have achieved before. With Isilon, we have a big storage solution for a much smaller price."

The Isilon scale-out NAS system is dedicated exclusively to the secure storage of bioinformatics and sequencing data used with and generated by Illumina sequencing platforms. By combining Illumina and Isilon technologies, Ambry Genetics can provide next-generation sequencing services to its customers without worrying about storage constraints. 

Along with the ease in scaling and management, Ambry Genetics chose Isilon for its storage needs because of the reliability of Isilon's unique clustered architecture and its ability to linearly scale performance in-line with user demand. From initial sequencing to management and analysis, the Isilon system has allowed Ambry Genetics to dramatically reduce turnaround time.

"Genetic sequences are a critical piece of our business and with new technology advancements, the amount of data it generates is doubling every year," said Ardy Arianpour, vice president of business development, Ambry Genetics. "With our launch of the Clinical Diagnostic Exome™ our data storage management is key and Isilon has enabled us to reduce costs, while simultaneously accelerating productivity, freeing our business to grow in step with customer demand."         

"Ambry Genetics is on the leading-edge of today's pursuit of personalized medicine," said Sam Grocott, vice president of marketing, EMC Isilon. "By using Isilon to accelerate their big data-intensive operations and slash management costs, they're setting best practices for all organizations looking to make the most of their business-critical information."

About Isilon

Isilon, a division of EMC, is the global leader in scale-out NAS. We deliver powerful yet simple solutions for enterprises that want to manage their data, not their storage. Isilon's products are simple to install, manage and scale, at any size. And, unlike traditional enterprise storage, Isilon stays simple no matter how much storage is added, how much performance is required or how business needs change in the future. We're challenging enterprises to think differently about their storage, because when they do, they'll recognize there's a better, simpler way. Learn what we mean at http://www.isilon.com.

About EMC

EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com.

About Ambry Genetics

Ambry Genetics is a CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified commercial clinical laboratory with headquarters in Aliso Viejo, California. Since the company's inception in 1999, it has become a leader in providing genetic services focused on clinical diagnostics and genomic services, particularly sequencing and array services. Ambry has established a solid reputation for unparalleled service and has been at the forefront of applying new technologies to the clinical molecular diagnostics market and to the advancement of disease research. To learn more about testing and services available through Ambry Genetics, visit www.ambrygen.com

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This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (iv) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (v) component and product quality and availability; (vi) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vii) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (viii) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (ix) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) fluctuating currency exchange rates; (xii) threats and other disruptions to our secure data centers or networks; (xiii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (xiv) war or acts of terrorism; and (xv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

SOURCE EMC Corporation