Exclusive: Wasabi's Rob Waite discusses growth, cloud security and customer success

Rob Waite has been leading Wasabi's APJ solutions architecture for over two years, and has played a big part in the company's growth.

With a career spanning several technology companies, Waite's journey in the tech world has led him to his current role in Australia, where he oversees the technical aspects of Wasabi's innovative cloud storage platform.

"I've always worked in the tech industry," he explained to TechDay. "I've been in cloud security, virtualization, and storage for about two decades."

Wasabi, founded in Boston in 2017, provides a next-generation, high-performance cloud storage solution. "We offer object storage as a service in the cloud, and we do that very well because we focus on just doing that," Waite explained.

At its core, Wasabi offers simple and predictable pricing without the hidden fees that often frustrate customers. "Nobody likes getting a bill every month for hidden charges," Waite pointed out. "Wasabi's model is straightforward – no additional charges for egress or API requests."

Supporting Growth and Success

Waite's role involves supporting sales teams, engaging with customers and prospects, and helping them integrate their on-premises solutions with Wasabi's cloud platform.

He also focuses on evangelizing the brand in the Asia-Pacific region through seminars and events.

Customer satisfaction is a key priority for Wasabi, and Waite noted that the company's growth is fuelled by strong word-of-mouth in markets like Australia and New Zealand. "If your customers are happy, they'll talk to other customers," he said. "In Melbourne, for example, all the banks talk to each other, and word spreads quickly."

Wasabi's success is driven by the growing demand for cloud storage, particularly from customers looking to avoid cloud lock-in and unpredictable costs. "The main trend we're seeing is that customers want more predictability around the cost of storage," Waite explained. "They don't want to deal with hidden costs, which is a big issue with traditional cloud storage providers."

A Strong, Recognisable Brand

The Wasabi name itself sparks curiosity.

"It's a great brand," Waite admitted. "It's very marketable, and we've done a lot with it, from Wasabi peas to branded wasabi paste tubes at events."

The name, which evokes images of the spicy Japanese condiment, has no direct connection to Japan but is a clever marketing play that reflects the company's high-performance service, or as they call it, 'hot cloud storage.'

Wasabi's brand presence extends beyond Asia-Pacific. The company has a sponsorship agreement with Liverpool Football Club in the UK. "They've been a long-time user of Wasabi," Waite said. "You'll see Wasabi advertised at their stadium, in the matchday programme, and even during press conferences. It's a great brand placement."

For Waite, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, this partnership is particularly exciting. "Working with the club I've supported all my life is just fantastic," he added.

Cloud Storage Simplified

Wasabi focuses on simplicity and performance. "What sets us apart is the simplicity of the platform, ease of use, and our cost model," Waite explained. The company's flagship product is S3-compatible object storage, which "integrates easily with customers' existing infrastructure."

"We also have services like Wasabi Cloud NAS and Wasabi Surveillance Cloud, which help specific industries such as video security and surveillance," Waite added. More recently, the company launched Wasabi Air, a solution for the media and entertainment sectors that enables advanced analytics on video content.

"Liverpool FC uses Wasabi Air to tag individual moments in their matches for analysis."

Data Security: A Growing Concern

In today's climate of increasing cyber threats, data security is a top priority for Wasabi customers. "Security is probably the number one topic with customers," Waite said. "Ransomware and data breaches are unfortunately becoming more frequent."

Wasabi ensures that all data stored on its platform is encrypted and offers features like immutability to prevent modification or deletion. "We also encourage customers to use multi-factor authentication and recently introduced multi-user authentication as an additional layer of security," Waite explained.

This feature ensures that no single user can delete an account without approval from others, enhancing protection against both external and internal threats.

Addressing Market Challenges

One of the main challenges Waite observes is the rapid growth of data. "With technologies like IoT and AI, data is being generated at an unprecedented rate," he said. "Many organizations simply can't keep up with the demand for storage, and that's where Wasabi comes in."

Higher education and research institutions, in particular, face significant storage challenges as they embark on large projects that generate vast amounts of data. "We help customers store data they may not need immediately but will need in the future," Waite said. "This helps them avoid the costs and infrastructure demands of managing everything on-premises."

Future Prospects and Customer Engagement

Looking to the future, Wasabi is committed to enhancing its security features and expanding its customer base. Waite frequently interacts with customers through events and councils, gathering feedback and fostering relationships. "We have strong customer relationships, and we're always looking to improve their experience," he explained.

Ultimately, Waite believes Wasabi's customer-focused approach and dedication to simplicity are the keys to its success. "Happy customers are the heart of our business," he said. "As long as we keep delivering a great service, we'll continue to grow."

By focusing on performance, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction, Wasabi is well-positioned to meet the demands of a data-driven world.

"We make it easy for customers to scale without worrying about complex cost structures or security compromises."