The Best Data Storage Options for Your Organization

Cloud, Data Storage, Direct Attached, Network Attached, Offline Storage, Online Storage, , , , ,
24
Apr 2018

 

Data is getting increasingly bigger and, while this allows us to analyze data more effectively, it’s also putting a major strain on our storage.

And that’s why so many organizations are looking to improve their storage options. After all, data is crucial for your organization to operate and remain competitive e.g. storing customer details and monitoring their purchasing history etc. Naturally, data storage has become a huge industry, so the options available for storing data have multiplied significantly.

Understanding which option is best for you, however, isn’t always straightforward. Therefore, to help you get started, we’re going to take a look at the best data storage options for your organization.

  1. Network Attached Storage

Network attached storage (NAS) allows large amounts of data to be stored in a central point which can be easily shared across an entire network. The most common form of NAS is an external hard drive which comes complete with Ethernet ports or built in WiFi. These devices can easily be integrated into your network and, with capacities now exceeding 4TB, can store huge amounts of data.

  1. Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is the new kid on the block when it comes to data storage and is being readily adopted by organizations. With cloud networks managed by third parties and all hardware being kept in central hub offsite, cloud storage allows your organization to save physical space while providing quick access to your data. An added bonus of cloud storage is that it provides amazing accessibility when it comes to accessing your data. Not only can your in-house staff access data immediately, but remote workers can log on to the cloud network from anywhere with an internet connection.

Accessibility is vital when it comes to sharing data, so many online services have sprung up which allow you to store and share data securely. Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft Drive grant you a set amount of space online to upload data and provide sharing links to colleagues and clients. While the initial (and free) storage space is limited, it provides a useful option for storing small sets of data online which take the strain off your internal storage capacities.

  1. Direct Attached Storage

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) devices are, as their name suggests, a form of storage which attaches directly to a computer. The most well-known forms of DAS are external hard drives and thumb drives. Capable of holding large amounts of data, DAS devices provide a useful storage option for new businesses that are looking to minimize storage costs, but not run out of space for their data.

  1. Offline Storage

Data is certainly getting bigger, but one of the oldest forms of data storage still has a place in modern business. Offline storage has been around for decades and involves using optical discs such as CDs and Blu-Rays to archive important data. And, although the data is not immediately available as it is with more modern storage options, offline storage is incredibly secure while also being available in the case of a network failure.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Turbocharge Home or Office File Sharing and Backup With A NAS

General, Office IT, Office Network, , , ,
26
Mar 2014

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What a NAS typically looks like.

NAS (not to be confused with NOS) is an essential tool for sharing files, doing backups and many other common functions between computers in your home or office.  Network Attached Storage, or ‘NAS’, isn’t the first thing you will think of when you’re shopping around for a computer.  As your home or office PC’s, tablets and smartphones build up, the term NAS will likely come up somewhere.

How can you use a NAS for your Home or Office?

Once you have several computers in your home or office, you’ll realize that it’s an inefficient use of time to constantly duplicate files from one hard drive to the next just so you can access them from all your devices.  That’s where NAS come in.  It’s an external hard drive with a light operating system (OS) to help make ‘sharing’ easier.

Western-Digital-Red-3TB-Synology-DS1812

Another look at a different NAS model.

Most of us pull information directly from the cloud, or huge datacenters scattered all over the world, but the issue with this is many people are not yet connected to a high speed connection.  A typical image (i.e. JPG or PNG) will download in just a few seconds if you’re retrieving it from a server, but large files like HD videos will require several hours.  The proximity to a server and the connection quality become limiting factors when we want to share any type of digital content.

So instead of uploading huge video files to the cloud (i.e. DropBox) and then sharing them via this route, people on the same network can share information using a NAS.  The biggest benefit of having a NAS for your home or office network is that you don’t need to run a dedicated PC at all times for people to access files.  As we already pointed out, the NAS is a computer on its own, with the exception that it possess just enough horsepower to carry out what it’s intended for.

More features already built in

Most NAS devices also have built-in printer sharing, so a single household can have access to the printer’s feature at all time from any supported devices.

You may also notice that your computer has a ‘back-up’ feature, which allows you to restore or retrieve lost files should there be some sort of software complications down the line.  While this method is completely acceptable for most cases, people who are even more concerned about their data should find a secondary source to back up their files to, such as a NAS.

Lastly, NAS is also extremely useful for pulling up information on-the-go.  If configured correctly, a NAS can act like a server so any user can pull up whatever is stored on the server from any location with an internet connection.  Just keep in mind that once you’re out of range of your own network, how fast you can retrieve these files from the NAS will depend on the connection you’re currently using.

To learn how your office can benefit from a NAS device, contact your local IT support.

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