Whether you run a small
business or a large one, your business data will grow. Data takes many forms
ranging from text, customer databases, documents, email messages, newsletters,
and presentations to photos, graphics, and videos. Many files such as PDFs, PowerPoint
presentations, sound files, photos, and video files can be huge. It doesn't
take long to accumulate a massive amount of data.
As your data grows, the
need for alternate data solutions soon becomes apparent. In the past, you could
have merely deleted old files that you no longer want or need. However, new
regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley have data retention components to them.
Where you might have deleted a file in the past, you may now have to archive
it.
In addition to growing
data and data retention requirements, many companies using desktop
virtualization find themselves with new data requirements. Fortunately, no
matter why you need more storage, several data solutions exist. Below are a few
of the most common data solutions in use today.
Portable Hard Disk
Drives
Portable hard disk drives typically connect to a computer using a USB cable. These drives are typically used by small businesses to store extra data occasionally. For example, a home-based business owner may use a portable hard disk as a temporary data solution when his or her computer's hard disk is at or near capacity. While portable hard disks can serve a need, other data solutions may be a better choice.
Portable hard disk drives typically connect to a computer using a USB cable. These drives are typically used by small businesses to store extra data occasionally. For example, a home-based business owner may use a portable hard disk as a temporary data solution when his or her computer's hard disk is at or near capacity. While portable hard disks can serve a need, other data solutions may be a better choice.
USB Flash Drives
USB "thumb" drives are commonly used as portable storage devices. They are not to be considered comprehensive data solutions. Business users often copy files to these keychain-sized drives so that they can access their files from home or an alternate computer.
USB "thumb" drives are commonly used as portable storage devices. They are not to be considered comprehensive data solutions. Business users often copy files to these keychain-sized drives so that they can access their files from home or an alternate computer.
Online Data Solutions
Another option is to use an online storage service. With online storage, data is uploaded to a remote server. Online data storage providers typically encrypt the data, ensuring security while in transit as well as when in storage. Depending on the service, a data backup solution may be bundled into the solution.
Another option is to use an online storage service. With online storage, data is uploaded to a remote server. Online data storage providers typically encrypt the data, ensuring security while in transit as well as when in storage. Depending on the service, a data backup solution may be bundled into the solution.
Network Attached Storage
(NAS)
Network attached solutions are usually used by small and mid-sized businesses that have multiple users who need to access data in a networked environment. As the name implies, the storage is attached to a network. NAS often includes disk arrays consisting of several mirrored hard disks. Should one disk fail, a backup is available on the mirrored drive.
Network attached solutions are usually used by small and mid-sized businesses that have multiple users who need to access data in a networked environment. As the name implies, the storage is attached to a network. NAS often includes disk arrays consisting of several mirrored hard disks. Should one disk fail, a backup is available on the mirrored drive.
Hybrid Storage
Hybrid solutions use a blend of solid state storage and traditional hard disk storage to create a high performance system with large storage capacity. These solutions get their performance from the use of solid state storage and their capacity from hard disk drives. This combination results in a fast, high capacity data solution that's less expensive than an all-Flash array.
Hybrid solutions use a blend of solid state storage and traditional hard disk storage to create a high performance system with large storage capacity. These solutions get their performance from the use of solid state storage and their capacity from hard disk drives. This combination results in a fast, high capacity data solution that's less expensive than an all-Flash array.
A myriad of data
solutions exist for businesses of all sizes. Whether you run a home-based
business and have run out of disk space or an enterprise organization with
desktop virtualization, today's data storage choices are plentiful and
affordable.
Stephanie Rose is a
writer and expert in storage technology. She has worked with companies from
around the U.S. to find the right data storage solution for their business.
While writing this article she gathered resources from the leading companies in
data storage such as Tegile and Intel.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_A_Rose
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8117157
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