Data is vital for all companies and one of their most valuable assets. It informs the company about various aspects, whether it is intellectual property or customer information. Data must be at the center of every decision companies make for their profitability and growth to succeed. But, what kind of data storage approach is best for your business?
The majority of industries require strict compliance with data privacy law but using the right data storage approaches will keep your business safe from hackers and reassure clients that you are looking after their best interest by prioritizing their privacy.
Moreover, data storage can provide easier accessibility, easier collaboration across teams, and improved productivity and workflows. It also allows the long-lasting preservation of large volumes of information.
With all that said, having the proper data storage is crucial for the growth and success of your business.
However, since there’re so many data storage options available nowadays selecting the most effective storage solution for your company can be somewhat of a challenge. To properly store and protect your business data, below, we share some storage methods as a way to help you choose the approach that best suits your needs.
Private Data Storage
Private data storage, also known as on-premises storage, is the practice of companies storing their business data in-house. This entails keeping an eye on all the other components of data storage that are crucial for safeguarding your technology.
And such as server upkeep, physical security, and temperature management. Essentially, private data storage falls into three categories: direct-attached storage, network-attached storage, and storage area networks.
Also, using private data storage lets you use infrastructure that’s exclusive to your organization, thereby offering it greater control over your data management.
DAS
Direct-attached storage (DAS) is storage hardware, such as an external hard drive, that is directly connected to a device. It is one of the most reasonably priced alternatives for data storage. But unlike other ways to store business data, DAS is not easy to share.
Still, using DAS has several advantages. For instance, it provides great accessibility for your teams, seamless data backups, and easy setups. It’s also a scalable data storage solution because it allows you to get a device with a larger data capacity while still maintaining the same level of utility as your business grows.
NAS
Network-attached storage, or NAS, is a type of double storage where your data is backed up in a physical location and the cloud. Backing up your data to a cloud storage service allows you to quickly retrieve it and recover it if needed, as well as providing double security.
Assume you own a photography business and want to keep your photos safe. Then, to back up your NAS to the cloud, you will need to look for the best cloud storage for photos available on the market.
Using NAS for your data has its benefits. It’s relatively cheaper than other storage solutions and has fault-tolerant multiple drives, making data resilient and available anytime. This means the rest of the system runs efficiently, even if one drive becomes defective.
SAN
A storage area network (SAN) is a network of storage devices that may be accessed by numerous servers or devices, creating a shared pool of storage space. Since multiple drives are connected via a SAN. They are much more resilient to the issues that plague single-device storage alternatives.
A SAN can improve the efficiency of your data storage by consolidating your storage resources into a single network. It can also provide faster speeds and good scalability, given the variety of device options you can choose from.
Keep in mind, however, that SANs are far more expensive and complex than other private data storage approaches.
Public Data Storage
For small and medium-sized businesses, the expenses of private data storage frequently outweigh the benefits. As a result, many SMBs are looking into alternative data storage approaches that are more effective and scalable, such as cloud-based storage.
If you have accessed data in the cloud, then you have already used public data storage. It is a cost-effective and efficient storage method that moves all your data to a remote data center. And makes it available whenever you have the chance to connect to the internet.
Public Cloud Storage
Public cloud storage means purchasing storage space from a third-party provider so you can store your data. These service providers offer their users a user-friendly and straightforward platform that makes it easy for businesses to share files and collaborate in the cloud regardless of where they are in the world.
You can either visit your storage provider’s website to use the cloud storage or simply install an app on your computer or mobile and access and edit any file.
Given the advantages of public cloud storage, many companies offer it for various businesses. Their ease of implementation with other tools makes them a great asset.
For example, if you’re running a business that uses 3D assets, such as those in the architectural industry, you can easily pair it with 3D asset management software. Use it as a platform for storing 3D models, along with all the information about them, at any point in the design process.
Colocation Services
The interest and demand for colocation services have grown significantly as companies are increasingly dependent on their IT operations which should be secure and available at all times. Businesses don’t want the hassle of constantly maintaining and monitoring their equipment. While others have neither the infrastructure nor the expertise to handle it themselves. Data colocation means keeping your own data storage hardware in a colocation data center or third-party center, which is a secure, shared space,
Using a colocation data center can be very cost-effective. By taking responsibility for data management internally, companies have to bear all major investments and expenses alone. This can be both time-consuming and costly when maintaining day-to-day operations. By using colocation, companies can focus on their core business and use their resources more efficiently.
Data Storage Approach: Final Thoughts
Many business owners struggle to scale data storage and are unsure of which approach is right for their business. We hope this mini-guide will help you choose the most appropriate solution for your business. And one that will protect your data while maximizing accessibility and speed.
