Overview: A strategic collaboration to raise the bar on file security
OPSWAT has announced a strategic integration of its MetaDefender Storage Security™ with NetApp® ONTAP®, bringing advanced file protection directly to the storage layer. The collaboration aligns OPSWAT’s multi-layered file security tools with NetApp’s widely adopted storage platform to detect and prevent hidden malware, macro threats, sensitive data leakage, and other file-borne vulnerabilities before they reach critical applications or end users. The goal is to harden on-premises, cloud, and hybrid storage environments without disrupting existing workflows.
Why this matters: Protecting storage, not just endpoints
In many organizations, large volumes of files traverse the NetApp data platform every day. By embedding OPSWAT’s security capabilities into NetApp ONTAP, security becomes a native function of the storage layer. This approach helps organizations reduce exposure to file-based threats, reinforce compliance postures, and keep essential operations running smoothly as threats evolve. The integration serves as a practical guardrail that prevents compromised files from propagating through the environment, even before they reach endpoints or applications.
Key capabilities enabled by the integration
The combined solution delivers a multi-layered defense, including:
- OPSWAT MetaDefender Multiscanning to provide broad spectrum file scanning across multiple engines.
- Deep CDR™ (content disarm and reconstruction) to neutralize potential threats embedded in files.
- Proactive DLP™ (data loss prevention) to mitigate leakage of sensitive information.
- Patented vulnerability assessment to identify and mitigate exposed weaknesses in files and formats.
- Adaptive sandbox technologies to observe suspicious file behavior without impacting production systems.
Altogether, these capabilities deliver robust file security at the storage layer, offering organizations a way to demonstrate control for audits while preserving workflow efficiency.
Deployment flexibility across environments
The integration supports NetApp ONTAP across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments, enabling seamless adoption in a variety of architectures. In addition to ONTAP, MetaDefender Storage Security also supports common file access protocols and environments:
- Server Message Block (SMB)
- Network File System (NFS)
- Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
This flexibility makes it easier for organizations to integrate with existing infrastructure and adapt to diverse deployment requirements, ensuring consistent security controls across data stores and workflows.
Statements from leadership
NetApp emphasizes that organizations move massive file volumes through the data platform daily. By adding enhanced virus scanning and file protection from its partner ecosystem, NetApp aims to strengthen its position as a leader in secure storage. OPSWAT reiterates that the goal is to prevent file-based threats from spreading, while preserving operational continuity and auditability.
About the players
NetApp describes itself as the intelligent data infrastructure company, delivering unified data storage, integrated data services, and secure performance across clouds. OPSWAT positions itself as a global leader in critical infrastructure cybersecurity, offering technologies designed to protect networks, data, and devices against known and unknown threats, including zero-day attacks and malware.
Event context and resources
The announcement aligns with industry activity surrounding NetApp INSIGHT 2025, a key event for data infrastructure in Las Vegas. OPSWAT participates as a Technology Alliance Partner and will present a theater session titled “Not Every File Deserves to Be Stored!”. The collaboration is supported by practical resources such as an Integration Overview Brochure and the MetaDefender Storage Security Datasheet, which can be explored at opswat.com/partners/NetApp.
What this means for enterprises
For organizations seeking to harden storage without slowing down operations, OPSWAT’s integration with NetApp ONTAP offers a compelling option. By enforcing multi-layer file security at the storage boundary, businesses can reduce risk from file-borne threats while maintaining productivity, enabling more consistent compliance and easier audit reporting. As attackers continue to target file-based vectors, storage-layer protections like these become an essential component of a holistic cybersecurity program.
