Why data storage is so important for organizations

Data has become one of the important currencies that any organization has. It is very necessary to properly safeguard the data of a company, as in the wrong hands, it can lead to severe consequences. This is the reason why companies spend so much on protecting company data. Most of the decisions taken by a company are taken after analyzing and interpreting their existing data. Proper data analysis can lead to a company taking much more profitable decisions that are in synchronization with the stated goals of the company. 

This is where offsite data backup comes in important. Our lives are unpredictable and we may face situations that we did not expect. It is the same with data. Whatever security apparatus you had used to safeguard the company data, might prove insufficient. Many big companies have faced data thefts and they have paid dearly for it. This is the reason why storing the data in an offsite location makes so much sense. Physical data backup appliances are also very much at the risk since a single mechanical or technical error can lead to the data getting compromised, or even worse, lost. So this is an important consideration in any decision. 

Offsite data storage refers to storing the data from the servers, workstations, applications, and such, to a secure offsite location, probably in a public or a private cloud. Earlier, most businesses had designated staff to perform physical data backup and that took too much time. It also left those physical storage devices vulnerable to theft, damage, or any technical malfunction. Also, due to even small malfunctions, productivity might severely be hampered. The cost factor is also significant in deciding the appropriate storage options.  

The cost incurred while buying storage devices and building a storage infrastructure onsite can be huge. This drains the resources of a company severely. For both security and cost concerns, the offsite mode of data backup stands out as the most effective option. For one, since the data would be stored in the cloud, any mechanical or human error would not lead to the whole data being lost. Rather, in a cloud, multiple copies of the data are kept starting from past and present. Also, it backs up automatically leading to the staff that would have been occupied for this purpose, using their time elsewhere. This leads to a good productivity boost. 

Secondly, with regards to the cost constraint too, an offsite backup service is a much more viable option. Especially for smaller businesses, it is difficult to get the financial resources straightaway to hire a complete IT staff that can take care among other things, the storing of data. Most offsite data backup service providers charge on a membership model or follow a monthly system of remuneration. This is very helpful for businesses short on cash. It also leads to amortization of the total cost that is to be incurred. Rather than spending the big bucks on buying physical data storage equipment, they can just buy cloud space and pay regularly, which is much more sustainable in both the short and long run.

Tags: data backup, data server, IT consultant, offsite data backup