A customer wants to store CIFS and iSCSI data in the cloud but has a very small operations staff. Which NetApp cloud solution best fits this requirement?

• A. BlueXP observability
• B. Cloud Volumes ONTAP
• C. BlueXP classification
• D. Cloud Volumes Service

Answer: (B)

When you need to store both Windows CIFS/SMB shares and iSCSI block storage in the cloud with a very small operations team, you want a solution that provides both protocols from a single, automated data layer. Cloud Volumes ONTAP delivers that by running in the cloud and offering a unified storage platform that supports SMB/CIFS for file shares and iSCSI for block access, all managed through familiar NetApp tooling.

Beyond protocol support, it brings built-in data protection and efficient workflows that reduce daily admin tasks. Features like snapshots, cloning, replication, and disaster-recovery keeps data safe with minimal manual effort, while automation and policy-based controls help a small team manage scale, performance, and compliance without adding headcount. This combination of multiprotocol access, strong data management, and automation is why Cloud Volumes ONTAP is the best fit for storing CIFS and iSCSI data in the cloud with limited operations staff.

Tools that are primarily observability or classification won't provide the actual storage services, and a fully managed file service may not expose iSCSI, which is essential for block workloads. Cloud Volumes ONTAP covers both needs in the cloud with manageable operations.