Protecting our business’s data from loss or corruption is vital, and implementing a powerful data storage system is a huge part of this. While there are many different ways of storing of data, perhaps the most common types are onsite, cloud and offsite storage. It can be difficult to choose which one best suits the needs of your business and employees, so read on to find out more.
Local Storage
Local storage is exactly what it implies—all data is stored on drives and systems that are locally accessible, ie. in your office. These can take the form of internal hard drives (within your system), or external hard drives (outside your system), or a hybrid system that incorporates both. Setting up on-site storage (unless you are relying on small storage, such as laptops and portable hard drives) can be an expensive process, and you will need an IT team to manage it.
Cloud Storage
If you want to access data outside of your local area network (LAN), you may start looking at cloud storage options. This type of storage stores data in an online space using multiple servers and locations. It’s a vastly scalable solution and, when managed properly, can be a realistic and affordable option for many businesses. As with any data, files stored in a cloud are potential victims to hacking attacks; however, this risk can be mitigated with robust security.
Off-site Storage
With off-site storage, you leave your data with a cloud provider or other data centre that is not located on your premises. Off-site storage providers are more likely to have better security measures than individual business owners, and systems are more easily scaled. Data is only as secure as the protection around it, so check out all protocols before deciding on a service provider.