Blog

All businesses, whether they are small, medium or large, need reliable data storage solutions. There’s no way around it.

Simply think about how much data that is necessary for business operations. There is email, documents, databases, spreadsheets, websites themselves and so much more. All of that data needs to be stored somewhere.

There are options for where to keep that critical information, such as on site or in the cloud, but the fact remains that businesses of all sizes need to have plans for data storage and data management.

A proper storage plan is critical for scaling and growing businesses

We’ll start with the obvious reason why businesses need to have a proper plan and strategy in place for storing data: As businesses scale, so too do their needs for storage.

It’s also a known fact that in today’s connected age, businesses create more data than ever before. With so much data being stored online, data storage is one of the most vital components of any business’s strategy for scale and growth.

However, navigating data storage needs is not a simple, straightforward task. There are so many variables based on what type of industry a business is in, who its customers are and more. As with anything in business, though, the odds for success decrease whenever there is not a plan in place.

Assess your business’s needs

The first step to developing a proper data storage plan is to assess the needs of your business. This will differ from business to business. Needs will depend on how much information needs to be stored online and how big the company or organization is.

Take into account what types of software and applications you and your team use to conduct operations. It’s likely that many of these require some form of storage. From there, keep track of which software programs and applications utilize the largest files, either in quantity or in single file size.

You will also need to identify which applications run on which servers, how quickly you are able to access the data on each server and from which locations you will need to be able to access the data.

Once you have this information, you can then start to develop plans for storage and management of all those files.

Know your options

Businesses that require data storage basically have two options: online storage (also known as cloud storage) and on-premises (on site).

With the cloud, your data will be stored on remote servers or hardware maintained by a third-party provider. This option is cheaper and very easy to scale at the same rate as an organization. It’s also easily accessible via an internet connection.

However, if the internet goes down, so does the storage capability and accessibility for as long as the outage lasts.

On-premise storage does not rely on the internet. The data is stored on site in local hardware, such as servers, computers and other devices. This hardware requires additional investment, though, as capacity needs change.

On-premise options are often more secure than cloud options, though and won’t suffer from internet outages. They do require additional options when employees need to access data when they are off-premise, though.

Organize data and set management policies

Your business’s data management plan needs to include detailed policies for what types of data will be stored, how it will be documented and organized, who will have access and how it will be backed up.

For example, how will you organize the data so that it is easily searchable and usable for all employees who need access. In addition, you will need to determine who within your organization should be granted access and sharing rights.

Can your IT department handle data management?

Larger corporations have sizable IT departments and staff members who oversee data management. However, if you are a small business, then this subheadline may seem like a trick question. It’s still one to consider, though, as you will need to determine whether to handle IT services in-house or by hiring a managed services partner.

Either way, you will need to set a budget that will be dedicated to data storage and management. Keep tabs on all licenses and fees that will need to be paid. Then there are personnel costs, but this will depend on whether a service partner or in-house option is selected.

Here’s how ANP can help

Advanced Network Professionals offers both data storage and data management solutions for businesses of any size.

We offer cloud services that are perfect for businesses that need to scale because these solutions scale alongside your operations. We are able to build state-of-the-art IT infrastructure that is secure, easy to use and easily accessible from anywhere. This ensures that your business’s data is always available when it is needed.

Data storage solutions

If you are finding that the amount of data storage your company requires is always growing, or you aren’t sure where to start when selecting a storage solution, then ANP can assist. We have partnered with industry leaders who are at the forefront of cloud service and storage solutions.

Our solutions can be tailored to fit any budget, capacity requirements and performance needs.

Data backup and recovery

ANP’s expert technicians will also make sure your organization has the capability to backup and quickly recover any and all data in the event of an outage, emergency or disaster.

You can rest easily, knowing that we are working diligently behind the scenes to perform validation checks on backups, which ensure any necessary data is fully recoverable without errors. With the high performance architecture we have established, recovering your data will be lightning fast and can be done anytime, anywhere.

Protect your data today

Your business more than likely relies on data, how securly it is stored and how easily it is managed and accessed. Don’t leave anything to chance. Have a plan for data storage.

Request a quote by simply telling us more about the needs of your business or organization. We’ll get started by providing an estimate and a detailed explanation of how ATP can provide solutions that get you back to what matters most – running your business.