Saving and storing data efficiently and safely should be one of the top priorities for all businesses. We have all seen the stories of major data breaches and losses which have cost businesses and their customers a huge amount of money as well as an awful lot of distress. There is so much data produced by modern businesses and a lot of it is extremely sensitive so it needs to be handled with the utmost care. In this digital age, there are many different data storage solutions for businesses to consider so that they can make the right decision about what is best for themselves and their customers.
To help you make the right choice and keep your business and customers safe, here are the top ways to save your business’s data.
1. Cloud Storage
Despite being a relatively new technology, cloud storage has already established itself as the number one way for businesses to save their data, files, and important records. With quality cloud storage, you essentially have unlimited storage space because some offer up to an exabyte of storage (that’s a million trillion bytes!). Cloud storage will enable you to store all of your business’s data in one single place so that it is easily accessible to anyone you give permission to. This means that many people can collaborate on one file at the same time if they have been given access. This is ideal because it means you don’t need to send anything via email or another risky method.
Cloud storage also has the highest levels of cybersecurity which is very important because hackers and cybercriminals are becoming ever more sophisticated. A major data breach or hack can cause serious damage to your business. If sensitive files or data are stolen then it could be used to sabotage or blackmail your business or your customers. If this happens, you could end up with enormous financial costs and a significant hit to your business’s reputation. There are various cloud options available which offer different features. You can learn about the Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation to get a better idea of the benefits of one cloud service. The first important thing is to check that the storage capacity is large enough for your business and that there is up-to-date cybersecurity.
2. External Solid State Drives
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are the next generation of traditional computer hard drives which have been designed to ultimately replace standard hard disk drives (HDDs). SDDs and HDDs work in a very similar way but SSDs have some significant advantages. First of all, they will enable your business’s computers to load up faster and to run quicker even if they are storing a lot of data. You may have previously been put off buying SSDs for your business due to the higher price when compared to a standard HDD. This should no longer be a factor, however, because the prices have come down significantly in recent years. You will now be able to purchase a 2 terabyte SSD for around $250-$300.
3. External Hard Disk Drives
As explained above, hard disk drives were usually the best option before SSDs and they can still provide excellent storage for your business. All your business’s computers will already have their own built-in HDDs of different storage capacities, but when this is no longer enough for your business, you can purchase external HDDs to provide additional storage. External HDDs and SDDs both plug directly into your computers’ USB drives so that your employees will be able to get access to all your files and data no matter what computer they are doing.
4. USB Thumb Drives
USB thumb drives are just like mini SDDs or HDDs but they generally only have a few gigabytes of storage capacity. This means that thumb drives are not usually big enough for storing all of your business data, unless you have a very small business, but they are excellent for transporting and storing a decent amount of files. Most business owners and employees these days will have at least one thumb drive so that it is easy to take files home to work on or to use for presentations to customers or partners outside of the office. Thumb drives are small, light, and can be carried easily in a pocket, purse, or even on a keychain. Make sure that you always put a password on your thumb drives so that if it is lost or stolen nobody will be able to access your files.
5. Protect Your Company’s Data From Multiple Angles
Incorporating additional security features to protect your corporate data is essential these days, especially in the wake of high-profile cyber attacks and breaches. One of the most common mistakes companies make is to simply rely on passwords as their primary means of protecting their data. This approach is inherently flawed because accounts can be easily compromised if one password is guessed or cracked. Adding additional security features such as mfa on premise, virtual private network, monitoring and other solutions will significantly reduce the risk of a breach, while also increasing the overall level of protection and the overall user experience.
6. Save Your Data Directly on Your Business Computers
One really simple storage plan is to just save all of the data on your business’s computers’ internal hard drives. This is a very convenient form of storage and will make all of the files accessible to everyone in your office. One major disadvantage of saving the data on your computers is that it could be potentially vulnerable to cyber attacks or viruses. Make sure that you always have up-to-date cybersecurity and virus protection and try not to store anything very sensitive. Always have a secure wifi network in your offices so that nobody passing by can connect to the network and access your computers.
7. Use SD Cards
In addition to USB ports, your business computers may also have SD slots. If this is the case, you can store and transport your data and files on micro SD cards rather than USB thumb drives. One big benefit of an SD card is that you can use them in other devices such as digital cameras, smartphones and other gadgets. One downside of SD cards is that they are more expensive than USB thumb drives so you may want to take that into consideration.
Deciding on the best way to store your business’s data should always take careful consideration. You need to think about security, accessibility, and the capacity of the different storage options. Remember that you are not only in possession of your company’s data, but often your customers’ data as well. Consider these storage options and you will be able to make the right data storage plan.