Digital information and data seem to grow exponentially in today’s business world, yet many companies are limited in their IT budgets. One of the obstacles information officers and IT managers face is how to ensure they have the right tools in place to handle all data needs while keeping their budgets under control. Fortunately, solutions exist and are powered by experts in their fields, that deliver a-la-cart services and ensure companies are working as efficiently and securely as possible. Storage-as-a-service provides cloud-based storage and ensures companies have the right tools in place and that security measures protect all data while keeping the cost-effective.
Why Develop a Cloud Storage Strategy?
Cloud storage is not just for archives and backups but for everyday data operations. Cloud storage is dynamic and allows companies to scale up or down as needed while maintaining cost-effective and predictable IT costs. Developing a cloud storage strategy starts with evaluation. When developing and implementing a plan, consider the following elements.
Your Data and Storage Needs
Business should start by reviewing their current data and the policies that guide usage and storage. Develop metrics to understand the trends in data and think about what can be purged, what can be achieved, and what is necessary for day-to-day operations. These considerations will help you determine the type of storage needs your company has; be it primary storage for applications and file servers or secondary storage for data protection, archives, or backups for continuity or business operations and disaster recovery. Understanding your storage needs will also help you determine if a public or private cloud storage solution is needed.
Versatility
Data is diverse, and a company may have an array of data ranging from non-critical to critical and non-secure to highly secure. Managing the ranges of data requires versatility so the appropriate people in your organization can access and manage information as needed. Enterprise-level storage-as-a-service provides an immediate ability to capture, store, and protect all levels of data at reduced costs.
Data Access and Security
When choosing a cloud storage provider, be sure to understand how data moves from your in-house systems, servers, and applications to the provider’s data centers. Your cloud storage partner must understand your data and security needs to ensure they are protecting it at the appropriate level and you need to know who will have access to and control of your company’s data.
Information Management Approach (Not Cheap Storage)
Implementing a cloud storage strategy is not about creating a cheap storage solution or a simple data backup solution but about developing an overall data management strategy that reduces the costs of all data storage while giving your company access to all needed data and applications. It is a secure environment for all of your data, both archival and operational.
Do Your Research
Once you have gone through your data needs and security considerations as well as determined the types of cloud storage solutions your company will best benefit from, you should research your cloud storage provider options. Look at each of the companies and review their customer satisfaction reviews and industrial standards awards. You may also want a company you can grow with and add other cloud-based services as your company grows.
It is important for your company to fully evaluate your storage needs, including consideration of all your security options before you develop and implement a cloud storage strategy. From knowing when to use a public versus a private storage cloud to selecting tools that automate storage and data communication between your company and the data center, a cloud storage solution provider can help your company reduce IT costs and create efficiency for all your data.
