Differences Between Data Storage Solutions

Data storage is an integral part of almost every company's regular operations. Whether you work from a computer on a daily basis or use one only for the billing aspect of your work, you may come across data in the from of emails, written documents, spreadsheets and databases, audio or video files, graphics, or even contracts. While overstuffed filing cabinets or to-file piles may have worked in the past, the potential for the loss of data due to hardware, software, or server problems means that every business should be on top of storing data and keeping it safe from harm.

Why Store Data?

Most people assume data storage has everything to do with damage control in the event of a virus or other type of hardware or software failure. This is true to an extent. While storing backup data is a good idea for every business and individual, data storage is also a way to streamline a network or even comply with legal regulations.

Many types of businesses are required to keep accurate records in accordance with tax law or government regulations. Almost all businesses can also benefit from keeping records of things like emails, since this type of communication can settle disputes or come into play in the event of a lawsuit.

Of course, there's also the importance of simply having room for everything. While storage solutions get larger and larger every year, it can still be difficult to keep decades of information on a single hard drive. This is especially true for large files like videos, audio, and other types of media.

Data Storage Options

There are a number of different types of data storage options. While it is important to choose a storage option relevant to your business size and type, remember that you may grow a few years down the road. If you are installing hardware or other semi-permanent data storage, make sure you have a way to expand that storage easily and cost-effectively, should you choose.

These days, on site portable data storage is typically done either through a flash drive or an external hard drives. Flash drives (also known as flash memory or thumb drives) are small storage devices that are often carried on a keychain. Ranging in size from a few gigabytes to up to 64 gigabytes, flash drives plug directly into the computer via the USB drive. They tend to be very easy to use, and the more upscale versions also provide data encryption options. Almost all external hard drives also plug in through a USB and operate in much the same way. However, they are larger than flash drives in both size and capacity, and the newest models can hold more than a terabyte of information.

These options are great as a relatively inexpensive way to store data, but they aren't without drawbacks. Because they are small and portable, they can be lost, damaged, or even stolen. All information kept on flash drives or external hard drives should be backed up elsewhere, as well.

If you have a large quantity of information that you need to keep more secure, online storage is a great option. Online storage is usually provided by a remote or off site company specializing in just that. Your files are moved to a secure, remote server that is not connected to your own. This means that your data is safe should some sort of error or catastrophe occur on your own server or network. It is ideal for very large files or for files that you wish to share with clients.

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