NetApp, formerly known as Network Appliance, is a leading American multinational company specializing in data storage and data management solutions. Founded in 1992 by David Hitz, James Lau, and Michael Malcolm, the company has played a significant role in the evolution of network-attached storage (NAS) systems.

Timeline:

1992: Network Appliance, Inc. is founded by David Hitz, James Lau, and Michael Malcolm, focusing on simplifying data access and storage over networks.

1994: The company receives venture capital funding from Sequoia Capital, enabling further development and expansion.

1995: Network Appliance goes public with an initial public offering (IPO), marking its entry into the public market.

Mid-1990s to 2001: The company experiences significant growth during the internet boom, reaching $1 billion in annual revenue.

2006: Network Appliance officially shortens its name to NetApp, reflecting a broader focus beyond traditional network appliances.

2016: NetApp introduces ONTAP software, centralizing data management across flash, disk, and cloud 

2018: The company launches its first end-to-end NVMe array, delivering over 1.3 million IOPS at 500 microseconds per high-availability pair, emphasizing speed and performance.

2019: NetApp is recognized as #1 in primary storage in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, highlighting its industry leadership.

Throughout its history, NetApp has been at the forefront of data storage innovation, adapting to technological advancements and shifting market demands. The company's commitment to providing unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions has solidified its position as a trusted partner for organizations worldwide.