The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Storage management STMG

Provisioning, configuring and optimising on-premises and cloud-based storage solutions, ensuring data availability, security and alignment with business objectives.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Application of SFIA skills for cloud-based working, Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (new levels), Making SFIA easier to consume (updates to skill name/skill description).
  • New level 2 added to support entry-level roles.
  • Readability improvements have been made to levels 3 and 6.
  • You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
  • Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Storage management encompasses managing various storage solutions, local or external storage such as direct access storage (DAS), network access storage (NAS), storage area networks (SAN) and cloud-based storage. 

It involves technologies and processes such as, but not limited to, virtualisation, replication, mirroring, security, compression, performance monitoring, automation and storage provisioning. 

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • backup, archiving and recovery of data
  • monitoring and optimising storage performance and capacity
  • resolving potential and actual storage-related issues
  • developing and maintaining tools and procedures for storage troubleshooting and analysis
  • evaluating, provisioning and testing new storage solutions, including cloud-based storage
  • managing storage in hybrid and multi-cloud environments
  • investigating emerging technologies for storage management
  • ensuring compliance with regulatory and security requirements
  • addressing business goals based on information value, data classification, recovery point and recovery time objectives.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...
  • Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

  • Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
  • Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
  • Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

2 3 4 5 6

Storage management: Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Assists with storage management tasks such as provisioning.

Supports the setup and configuration of storage systems, incorporating standard security practices.

Helps monitor storage performance and capacity, and documents storage utilisation.

Storage management: Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Executes routine storage management tasks following established procedures and using standard tools.

Implements documented configurations for allocation of storage, installation and maintenance of secure storage systems using the agreed operational procedures.

Identifies operational problems, including security-related issues, and contributes to their resolution.

Uses standard management and reporting tools to collect and report on storage utilisation, performance and backup statistics.

Storage management: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Prepares and maintains operational procedures for storage management.

Monitors capacity, performance, availability and other operational metrics. Takes appropriate action to ensure corrective and proactive maintenance of storage and backup systems to protect and secure business information.

Creates reports and proposals for improvement.

Contributes to the planning and implementation of new installations and scheduled maintenance and changes of existing systems.

Storage management: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Develops standards and guidelines for implementing data protection and disaster recovery functionality for all business applications and business data.

Provides authoritative advice and guidance to implement and improve storage management.

Manages storage and backup systems to provide agreed service levels.

Creates, improves and supports storage management services with optimal utilisation of storage resources, ensuring security, availability and integrity of data.

Storage management: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Develops organisational policies, standards and guidelines for storage management.

Develops strategies for managing storage and data based on the level of criticality of the information.

Ensures compliance with regulatory and security requirements.

Aligns investments in storage management with business goals and data management policies.

Keywords
Small change New level Guidance notes