Major Data Storage Problems

For some computer owners, finding enough storage space for all the data they receive is a real challenge. This problem is exacerbated when it comes to storing corporate data, including user databases, media, or employee projects. Even more concerning is the security, flexible management and seamless access to data warehouses.

Two of the biggest issues with data storage can be identified: reliability and security. Customers are unlikely to trust their data to another company without the assurance that they can access their information whenever they want and that no one else can access it.

The problem with the security of data storage

In 2021, hacker attacks on user and corporate data occur every 39 seconds. To protect data, most systems use a combination of methods, including:

• Encryption - that is, the use of complex algorithms and methods to encrypt information. Users need encryption keys to decrypt encrypted files. While it is possible to crack encrypted data, most hackers do not have access to the computing power required to decrypt the data;
• Authentication procedures that require the creation of a username and password, telephone confirmation, and/or concurrent email confirmation;
• Authorization procedures - delineation of access to information between employees. In many organizations, there are multiple levels of authorization. For example, a regular employee may have very limited access to data stored in the cloud, while a human resources manager may have extensive access to files;

Even with these safeguards, many people fear that data stored using remote storage is vulnerable. There is always the possibility that a hacker will find a security hole and gain access to the data. Hackers may also attempt to steal the physical media on which the data is stored. A disgruntled employee can use their authenticated username and password to change or destroy data. Companies that offer cloud storage invest heavily in security measures to limit the possibility of data theft or corruption.

The problem with the reliability of data storage

Another issue, reliability, is as important as security. Unstable cloud storage is a liability. No one wants to store data in a system that is prone to crashing, nor does anyone want to trust companies that are financially unstable. While most cloud storage systems try to address this issue with redundant methods, there is still the possibility that the entire system could fail and customers or your employees will no longer have access to their stored data.

There are hundreds of different cloud storage systems on the market. Some of them have a very specific focus, such as storing emails on the internet or digital images. Others are available for storing all types of digital data. Some cloud storage systems are small operations, while others are so large that the physical hardware can fill an entire warehouse. The objects that house cloud storage systems are called data centers.

How to store data safely and securely

When choosing a service plan, it is important that it suits your goals and the required level of security. There are many specialized platforms today, some of which may suit your personal or corporate needs while others are less suitable.

Local data storage

Private data storage, often referred to as local storage, is the practice of storing all of your business data within a company. This includes overseeing all other necessary storage aspects to protect your equipment, such as server maintenance, physical security, and temperature control. Local storage can be direct-attached or network-connected.

Local storage is most common in relevant local projects: data from strategic regional enterprises, local data from municipal institutions and departments, or non-public commercial organizations.

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) Local Storage

Most people use Direct Attached Storage or DAS even if they don't know it. For example, almost every laptop has a DAS hard drive. Directional storage is exactly what it sounds like: storage hardware like an external hard drive or USB stick plugged directly into the device.

Direct Attached Storage is one of the most affordable storage options. For example, you can get a 5TB external hard drive for less than $200, making it ideal for small businesses that don't manage a lot of data.

However, unlike other methods of storing business data, direct attached storage is not widely used. If you want to share your data with someone or access it from somewhere else, you will either have to take your DAS device with you or upload your files to share it online.

Most people use Direct Attached Storage or DAS for everyday tasks, even if they don't know it. For example, almost every laptop has a DAS hard drive. Direct Attached Storage is exactly what it looks like: storage hardware, such as an external hard drive or USB stick, connected directly to the device.

Networked Local Storage

A network attached storage, or NAS, is a storage device connected to a network to allow authorized users to store and retrieve data from a centralized location. Basically, a NAS is an on-premises private cloud that your business has complete control over. Since NAS is like a private cloud, your team can access data remotely using only a network connection, so they can work anywhere, anytime.

NAS is great for small to midsize businesses with intensive collaboration. Unlike direct attached storage, networked storage allows multiple users to access and edit files on the same hard drive, so they don't need to make copies and reconcile multiple versions of the same file.

However, performance can be an issue for NAS. If you have a lot of activity on your network, performance can degrade to the point of using a bypass, especially if you rely on high-performance applications. And while NAS is scalable in theory, you can only increase storage capacity by adding another NAS device, which can unnecessarily complicate storage setup.

Public data storage

Although storing enterprise data in the facility seems to be the safest option, local storage can be quite expensive. For small and medium-sized businesses, the cost of private storage often outweighs the benefits, so many companies use more efficient and scalable storage methods such as cloud storage.

If you have ever accessed data "in the cloud," you have used public data storage. With public data storage, better known as cloud storage, all of your data is moved to a remote data center. This makes your data available anywhere you can connect to the Internet.

Public cloud storage means that you buy storage space from a third-party provider to store your data. Popular public cloud storage options include Google Drive, Microsoft SharePoint, Apple iCloud, and Dropbox. These providers offer an easy-to-use platform that allows businesses to share files and collaborate in the cloud from anywhere in the world.

Using cloud storage can be as simple as visiting a storage provider's website or installing an app on your computer or mobile device to access and edit files. This eliminates the need for complex storage setup and regular maintenance.

Public cloud storage solves most of the problems for small and medium-sized businesses, or small organizations of a broad orientation. Do you have a small gaming startup, and you need to provide developers with equivalent access to game models, texture files and other assets? It's enough to store it in a shared public cloud. Do you have a charity project and you plan to store videos from events and other reports? A reliable general purpose public storage is your option.

Public cloud storage is also one of the most scalable storage options available today, so you can easily expand storage as your business grows. However, the ease of scalability can be costly, especially for long-term storage use. If you have a lot of users who need access to your cloud storage, the cost can increase over time.

Dedicated public and corporate storage

Cloud storage companies live and die for their reputation. It is in every company's best interest to provide the most secure and reliable service possible. If a company can not meet these basic customer expectations, it has little chance - there are too many other options on the market.

Cloud storage systems typically rely on hundreds of data servers that are standardized and averaged to meet the needs of different customers and businesses. These companies often provide excess traffic to guarantee their customers an inexhaustible potential and stable service. However, the cost of this redundancy is often borne by the customers themselves, which determines the high cost of the providers' services.

Specialized storage is a solution for those who innovate, use non-standard approaches to the deployment of their services and services. Perhaps you need decentralized protocols for data storage? Or do you want to store your files in the cloud with the most liberal jurisdiction, ensuring that your data will not be disclosed to third parties? There are many solutions on the market today that cover such needs - ranging from distributed IPFS storage protocols, to offshore cloud services.

Which data storage solution to choose

Summarizing the above scenarios for data storage, we can distinguish three main storage methods that can be effective for various organizations and various corporate purposes:

• Local storage: safe and fast within local goals and objectives - for municipal organizations and regional strategic enterprises;
• Public storage: a performance-scalable solution for medium and small businesses, as well as for a number of non-profit organizations;
• Specialized storage: a scalable solution not only for security and performance, but also for all service components: organize access levels for employees, support for custom protocols

Are you having trouble finding a solution? Contact specialist providers focused on providing flexible customized services for various industries. Usually, such providers are well versed in the technical aspects of the industry and are able to offer solutions tailored to your objectives at a reasonable price.

Equally important is systematically backing up data and transferring archives to remote storage locations to spread potential risks. By following these and other recommendations above, you can easily find the best solutions to the problem of storing data, both personal and corporate.