This IDC presentation - given at IDC's Storage Systems Breakfast in San Mateo, California, on May 3, 2006 - considers the market factors and impacts on the sales opportunities for storage systems. Much is changing across several contexts that is not necessarily obvious or on the radar of storage systems strategists and planners. This presentation covers the following market contexts: current major IT wave, categories of storage systems usage, performance relative to networking and computing technologies, changes in the datacenter (DC), stages of user infrastructure development, data protection requirements, security needs, server attached versus network attached, outsourced data and information services, evolving presentation layer needs, migrating price-point opportunity, changing technology for persistence, new competitors, emerging technology tools, and changes in the law. Essential guidance is offered.