diff --git a/plugins/storage/volume/scaleio/src/main/java/org/apache/cloudstack/storage/datastore/manager/ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl.java b/plugins/storage/volume/scaleio/src/main/java/org/apache/cloudstack/storage/datastore/manager/ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl.java
index 92fe1d837618..4d3a78f6875f 100644
--- a/plugins/storage/volume/scaleio/src/main/java/org/apache/cloudstack/storage/datastore/manager/ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl.java
+++ b/plugins/storage/volume/scaleio/src/main/java/org/apache/cloudstack/storage/datastore/manager/ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl.java
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 import org.apache.cloudstack.engine.subsystem.api.storage.DataStore;
 import org.apache.cloudstack.engine.subsystem.api.storage.PrimaryDataStore;
+import org.apache.cloudstack.framework.config.ConfigKey;
+import org.apache.cloudstack.framework.config.Configurable;
 import org.apache.cloudstack.framework.config.dao.ConfigurationDao;
 import org.apache.cloudstack.storage.datastore.client.ScaleIOGatewayClient;
 import org.apache.cloudstack.storage.datastore.client.ScaleIOGatewayClientConnectionPool;
@@ -51,9 +53,18 @@
 import com.cloud.utils.exception.CloudRuntimeException;
 
 @Component
-public class ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl implements ScaleIOSDCManager {
+public class ScaleIOSDCManagerImpl implements ScaleIOSDCManager, Configurable {
     private Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(getClass());
 
+    static ConfigKey<Boolean> ConnectOnDemand = new ConfigKey<>("Storage",
+            Boolean.class,
+            "powerflex.connect.on.demand",
+            Boolean.FALSE.toString(),
+            "Connect PowerFlex client on Host when first Volume is mapped to SDC and disconnect when last Volume is unmapped from SDC," +
+                    " otherwise no action (that is connection remains in the same state whichever it is, connected or disconnected).",
+            Boolean.TRUE,
+            ConfigKey.Scope.Zone);
+
     @Inject
     AgentManager agentManager;
     @Inject
@@ -94,6 +105,11 @@ public boolean areSDCConnectionsWithinLimit(Long storagePoolId) {
 
     @Override
     public String prepareSDC(Host host, DataStore dataStore) {
+        if (Boolean.FALSE.equals(ConnectOnDemand.valueIn(host.getDataCenterId()))) {
+            logger.debug(String.format("On-demand connect/disconnect config %s disabled in the zone %d, no need to prepare SDC (check for connected SDC)", ConnectOnDemand.key(), host.getDataCenterId()));
+            return getConnectedSdc(host, dataStore);
+        }
+
         String systemId = storagePoolDetailsDao.findDetail(dataStore.getId(), ScaleIOGatewayClient.STORAGE_POOL_SYSTEM_ID).getValue();
         if (systemId == null) {
             throw new CloudRuntimeException("Unable to prepare SDC, failed to get the system id for PowerFlex storage pool: " + dataStore.getName());
@@ -116,7 +132,7 @@ public String prepareSDC(Host host, DataStore dataStore) {
 
             long poolId = dataStore.getId();
             long hostId = host.getId();
-            String sdcId = getConnectedSdc(poolId, hostId);
+            String sdcId = getConnectedSdc(host, dataStore);
             if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(sdcId)) {
                 logger.debug(String.format("SDC %s already connected for the pool: %d on host: %d, no need to prepare/start it", sdcId, poolId, hostId));
                 return sdcId;
@@ -227,6 +243,11 @@ private String prepareSDCOnHost(Host host, DataStore dataStore, String systemId)
 
     @Override
     public boolean stopSDC(Host host, DataStore dataStore) {
+        if (Boolean.FALSE.equals(ConnectOnDemand.valueIn(host.getDataCenterId()))) {
+            logger.debug(String.format("On-demand connect/disconnect config %s disabled in the zone %d, no need to unprepare SDC", ConnectOnDemand.key(), host.getDataCenterId()));
+            return true;
+        }
+
         String systemId = storagePoolDetailsDao.findDetail(dataStore.getId(), ScaleIOGatewayClient.STORAGE_POOL_SYSTEM_ID).getValue();
         if (systemId == null) {
             throw new CloudRuntimeException("Unable to unprepare SDC, failed to get the system id for PowerFlex storage pool: " + dataStore.getName());
@@ -248,7 +269,7 @@ public boolean stopSDC(Host host, DataStore dataStore) {
 
             long poolId = dataStore.getId();
             long hostId = host.getId();
-            String sdcId = getConnectedSdc(poolId, hostId);
+            String sdcId = getConnectedSdc(host, dataStore);
             if (StringUtils.isBlank(sdcId)) {
                 logger.debug("SDC not connected, no need to unprepare it");
                 return true;
@@ -297,7 +318,10 @@ private String getHostSdcId(String sdcGuid, long poolId) {
         }
     }
 
-    private String getConnectedSdc(long poolId, long hostId) {
+    private String getConnectedSdc(Host host, DataStore dataStore) {
+        long poolId = dataStore.getId();
+        long hostId = host.getId();
+
         try {
             StoragePoolHostVO poolHostVO = storagePoolHostDao.findByPoolHost(poolId, hostId);
             if (poolHostVO == null) {
@@ -344,4 +368,14 @@ private boolean isHostSdcConnected(String sdcId, long poolId) {
     private ScaleIOGatewayClient getScaleIOClient(final Long storagePoolId) throws Exception {
         return ScaleIOGatewayClientConnectionPool.getInstance().getClient(storagePoolId, storagePoolDetailsDao);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getConfigComponentName() {
+        return ScaleIOSDCManager.class.getSimpleName();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ConfigKey<?>[] getConfigKeys() {
+        return new ConfigKey[]{ConnectOnDemand};
+    }
 }