National Library of Wales Storage Modernisation | Vohkus

Introduction

For organisations entrusted with preserving national heritage, technology plays a crucial role in ensuring that invaluable collections remain accessible and ready for future generations. The National Library of Wales recognised the need to modernise and consolidate its data infrastructure to support growing digital demands while maintaining operational efficiency.

By engaging Vohkus, the Library took a strategic, methodical approach to modernisation, balancing innovation with continuity, and ensuring that its infrastructure would remain robust, scalable, and aligned with future ambitions.

The National Library of Wales partnered with Vohkus after tendering via the GCA RM6098 framework to modernise and consolidate its data infrastructure, ensuring long-term preservation of national heritage while supporting growing digital demands. By implementing the first IBM C200 Flash storage solution in the United Kingdom and unifying two separate sites into a single, scalable architecture, Vohkus delivered a future-ready platform that aligned seamlessly with the Library’s existing skills, systems, and strategic goals.

Solution Implemented by Vohkus

Vohkus delivered a structured, evidence-driven transformation programme:

• Technical assessments and full environment audits

• Analysis of the Library’s existing estate, workloads, and long-term requirements

• Design and deployment of an IBM C200 storage solution

• Consolidation of two sites into a centralised, simplified architecture

• Building a scalable platform designed to support future expansion goals
  
  
  

• Existing IBM infrastructure

• Backup tools such as Veeam, optimised by routing traffic to direct-attached storage to fully leverage the new C200 SAN infrastructure

• Current switching and network fabric

Key Benefits

• 10x backup performance leap: Shifting Veeam traffic to direct-attached storage and utilising the new C200 SAN infrastructure accelerated throughput from 30 to 60 MB/s to an incredible 300 to 600 MB/s.

• Successful data migration and consolidation

• Increased storage capacity beyond immediate requirements

• Improved operational efficiency through simplified architecture

• Reduced risk with a future-proofed, scalable platform

• High customer satisfaction, “customer over the moon”
  
  
  

• Consultative approach driven by workshops, audits, and technical validation

• Deep in-house expertise enabling tailored solution design

• Ability to align technology with existing skills and estate

• Strong relationship leading to ongoing advisory influence on future projects and tenders

Build a Future-Ready Infrastructure

Managing growing data volumes while preserving critical assets doesn’t have to come with complexity or risk.

Vohkus helps organisations modernise and consolidate their infrastructure in a way that aligns with existing systems, skills, and long-term goals. Get in touch to discover how we can help you build a scalable, future-ready platform while protecting what matters most.

Testimonial

“We partnered with Vohkus to implement an IBM C200 Flash storage solution to improve efficiency and speed in part of our storage estate. This was a time-critical project due to the nature of the Welsh Government-supplied funding. When geopolitical issues intervened, Vohkus worked tirelessly with IBM to get the solution delivered within the original timeframe and to the original specification.

The solution has delivered far beyond our expectations, and even beyond our hopes, delivering a performance improvement that has been described as ‘amazing’.”

Richard Drew
Head of ICT Operations
The National Library of Wales