One of the many benefits of cloud computing is the ability to store large and almost limitless amounts of data on servers operated by tech firms' data centres. At a time when protecting data and personal information — particularly of customers — is so critical and continually at risk, having the best and most secure storage options has become vitally important.
With the cloud, companies and organisations no longer have to set up their own data storage facilities — a burdensome, expensive and time-consuming endeavour, as well as recruiting IT staff to manage it — because highly secure facilities are available via cloud services. Backing up that data — another crucial task when running an enterprise — is also a breeze as it can be done automatically for you.
The cloud serves to protect your business from hardware and software issues that could be catastrophic, as well as human error in storing and backing up data — and natural disasters that might damage or destroy your own IT system. These — and other benefits — are key reasons why so many companies are now moving to the cloud. Let's look at storing your data in the cloud in a bit more detail.
What Is Cloud Storage?
You can think of your cloud storage facility as a hard drive in the sky — even if it's located on the ground, a remote server somewhere in the country or a different place altogether. It could even be under the sea, as with Microsoft's barnacle-encrusted data centre that spent two years in waters off Scotland. The location is not important, because all you need is an internet connection to reach it and you're ready to get storing, retrieving and using your data no matter where in the world you happen to be.
There's no more waiting till the office is open to get a file — or travelling there to retrieve it. And you no longer have to worry about the hard drives in your laptops or office PCs crashing and dying and losing all the precious data that was stored on them.
Plus, when you store your data in the cloud, you're also helping to protect it from the growing phenomenon of cyber-attacks that can strike any business of any size and at any time. That’s because cloud services employ the latest in protection — including firewalls and encryption — and are constantly monitoring their systems for vulnerabilities that criminals could exploit.
The Main Benefits of Cloud Storage
When you store your data in the cloud, you immediately benefit from a range of measures that could be difficult if not impossible for you to set up in-house, freeing up your time and resources to power your business ahead. They include such essential features as:
- Durability: Cloud storage facilities have multiple levels of redundancy, making them extremely robust and durable. So if something does go wrong and a remote server and the data on it is compromised or lost, your files will still be available, elsewhere in the system.
- Accessibility: When you're storing your data in the cloud, neither your location nor that of the data centre is a factor in how you access it, as you're using the internet to get there. This provides high levels of flexibility to companies and their employees, especially with remote working.
- Scalability: If you want more server space to store greater volumes of data on, it's not an issue with cloud computing. So instead of having to add additional servers in a traditional network setup, you can get additional space when you want it and often at little or no extra cost.
- Managed: Another beauty of cloud storage is that once you place your data on remote servers, you don't have to do anything else, because it's all managed for you, with the latest updates, security, energy-efficiency and everything else you need to give you the ultimate peace of mind while you get on with running your business.
Looking for the best in cloud storage? Contact the experts at ITRM now.