For a long time, the most promising methods of information storage were considered the physical ones, that is, tape drives, solid state drives, hard disk drives, USB, CD/DVD. These methods were considered the most secure as accessing the information is easy, the information is not vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and using the information does not depend on servers’ health and maintenance.
Nowadays, however, virtual methods of information storage such as the cloud have become accessible and very convenient. It became a safer place for data storage and an excellent tool for data computing.
What is cloud data storage?
A cloud is a virtual place where the information necessary for your business or you as an individual is stored. What does this mean for you? It means that you get help in storing, securing, and maintaining your information.
In this sense, the cloud frees you of the worry of buying all the necessary tools to save and manage your information. Also, a cloud saves your information in several places, for its safety. In case the company works on updating the servers, maintaining and improving the storage technology, it does not prevent you from accessing your information.
What is the best method to store your data?
It all depends on your needs. If you have a relatively small data set, and your needs for computing are not big, then you can opt for the traditional storage of information, which of course involves the need to implement certain measures to secure the information.
From this point of view, storing data through the cloud can be a better solution. Besides the fact that it frees you from the need to buy the necessary technology for storing, keeping, and managing information. The companies that provide this service to you, take the necessary measures to secure the information.
What does a cloud offer?
The cloud offers 4 types of data storage:
- public,
- private,
- hybrid
- and community.
Public cloud data storage gives easy and broad access to your data from any device and any place. Meaning, if you are interested in an application or platform that gives your employees access to specific data so that they can work from home, this type of data storage suits you. Or if you have an application intended for use by consumers from different parts of the world, the public data storage would be fine.
The advantage of choosing this type of cloud storage lies in the capacity to adjust the storage space to your business; a reduced price; and free maintenance since the provider manages the platform and ensures its right functioning.
The disadvantages of public cloud storage are about: the limited tools you have for making your platform, app, or site more secure; the supplementary charges for data management; and the responding speed of your site, page, or application depending on the traffic on the page.
Private cloud data storage gives you the chance to store and manage important information for your company by granting a specific storage space for your company on a cloud, to which only you have access through a private connection, not as in the case of the public connection. Your information is stored in the intranet of the company and is protected by its firewall.
This kind of data storage is recommended for those who want private security services for their information, but also specific tools for managing the data and specific tools for better performance of their page, site, or application.
The disadvantages of using such a method for data storage lie in the costs which are higher, in the incapacity to test the page, site, or application capacity to respond to users’ requests, and in the limited remote and external access.
The hybrid cloud data storage offers you the possibility to use elements from the public data storage but also to choose which ones to be stored and protected on a private cloud. Usually, companies use public cloud data storage for the information of public interest, and only in the case of sensitive information or that related to the protection of personal data, do they prefer to store it on a private cloud.
The advantage of using this type of data storage is about getting the best out of both, public and private cloud data storage. Yet, this hybrid method also involves more risks, like security problems for the data stored on the public clouds, and management difficulties with data stored in more than one place, etc.
Community cloud data storage offers you a more advanced and safer model of keeping and securing information than the public one, but very similar to it. As this model enables the formation of communities, interaction with information, and security, this type of data storage is most often used by hospitals, universities, or other institutions with a similar type of organization and activity.
The advantages of using such a model of data storage lie in its reduced costs, improved security, increased visibility, and malleability to businesses. The disadvantages are about: limited data protection, limited space for data storage and management, and the fact that it is the best solution for a small number of businesses.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a solution to store your company data, try to find the best solution for your business. Although private data storage offers the highest level of security, the information you want to store may not need such a high level of security. So, be sure you consult someone who would follow your interest, choosing the best solution for you in terms of visibility, security, efficiency, and cost.