Storage Gets Supersized

From the largest multinational down to the humblest mom-and-pop e-business, companies are facing explosive demand for storage. It is becoming clearer and clearer that data is key to staying on top of market trends and it is important to reconsider your data storage methods when data analytics is of utmost importance.

There are multiple aspects of data that a company may consider important and some of such  are:  

• Marketing data.
• Mission-critical applications.
• Data retention and compliance.
• Digital content.
• Availability and data recovery.

The list at times can seem endless.

Companies are investing in storage because they have to. Global data storage centers are increasing in numbers all over the world because companies are finally understanding the importance of data. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

Companies have gone into the deep end when it comes to their digital marketing approach. With the increased reach and potential for business a digital medium provides, the necessity for data storage is always growing.

The more companies come to view their communications systems as mission-critical applications, the more they need to service and store that data reliably. And the volumes are never ceasing.

Solutions such as CRM software and marketing automation software can easily fit into how this data can be used to further business even more. It is imperative that you consider reliable data storage modes to ensure that the services that thrive on data receive such data in an organized manner.

Fueled by continued growth in business-processing applications like CRM (customer resource management) and ERP (enterprise resource planning) and a burgeoning burden of rich digital content--images, sound, and video, it is important to manage the data burden strategically.

Consider cloud-based data solutions or on-site data solutions such as NAS or SAN (which will be discussed below) to manage your data storage needs.

In the age of round-the-clock business operations, companies that aim to stay competitive are increasingly ranking their disaster-recovery and applications availability as one of their highest priorities--a situation that most often requires state-of-the-art, highest-speed networked storage solutions.

How are companies coping with the storage upsurge? First and foremost, companies of all sizes are moving away from tape and toward disk-based data protection, with smaller companies taking a particular interest in easy-to-switch-to options like virtual tape libraries.

Secondly, you may not need access to all data of all types. Hence, data storage modes can be decided upon based on the frequency of use.

Networked storage also is an up-and-comer, with small and mid-sized businesses attracted especially to networked-attached storage (NAS). NAS is a file-level data storage that enables them to deliver content to storage-hungry applications in a plug-and-play manner to networked devices via common Ethernet protocols.

NAS devices also can cause redundancies and create a second copy of your data as an extra security measure in case of hard disk failure.

Cloud storage is all the rage now because of the convenience of storage as well as the convenience of access to data. Cloud storage providers or cloud hosting companies provide server space to clients for a fee. All data relating to a business can be stored on the cloud without the burden of maintaining servers and equipment falling on the company.

With the ever-evolving hybrid workplace model, it is imperative companies adapt and adopt new technology. Cloud-based storage solutions make it possible for employees to access company data from anywhere, thus blurring the line of where your operations can take place.

Companies are investing in cloud-based storage because it is simply wise to do so. There’s no glory in falling behind on technology and it is up to all companies to come up with the right data storage strategy.

Finally, corporations with the highest-end storage needs, and the money to invest in storage infrastructure, are moving into storage area networks (SANs). SAN is a network of storage devices that can be accessed by multiple computers or servers from a shared pool of storage space.

SAN is typically accessed via fast-but-pricey Fibre Channel variety, which is most popular just now and the apparent network storage wave of the future, SAN over the ubiquitous IP protocol. Massive storage capabilities over the world's most global protocol? What's not to love.

Data that doesn’t have to be accessed frequently can be archived on the cloud or other cheaper and more convenient modes such as disks. This way, you have access to the data if needed, but all of that data doesn’t need to take up precious space in your main storage systems or rack up cloud storage bills unnecessarily. Managing data efficiently is just as important as having continuous access.

After careful evaluation, your company can determine how long data stays relevant and periodically archive data that isn’t frequently accessed, in a thorough organized manner.

Data storage seems to be moving more towards storage via IP such as SAN or cloud-based data storage systems. These systems are more compatible with the current hybrid workplace model in place and have also allowed businesses to expand beyond physical borders.

Before you decide on your company’s data storage strategy, consider what types of data are important to be accessed frequently and configure a list by order of priority. After that, consider the long-term approach for managing data and consider a solution that will allow you to scale up your data storage as your business grows.

Having a data-driven approach is the cornerstone for business development hence, it is imperative that you consider the correct data storage solutions for your company. With the growing needs of your growing company, invest in the correct data storage management solutions and ensure that your business can reap its benefits using data integrations with other business growth applications.