Data storage for small businesses in 2013

As a business owner, you are likely aware of the needs for tech insurance, but choosing the right data storage for your important documents can be challenging if you don’t know where to start. If you want to stay on top of current technology trends, IT business edge offers advice on the latest and greatest storage and backup tools.

It may seem as though everyone is talking about cloud computing, because many business owners are. Having a cloud backup requires little knowledge of IT systems overall, which is good for those that aren’t familiar with data protection. This is a good option for those wary of keeping all their documents on an external hard drive, as these won’t be replaceable if somehow lost. By using an online backup service, you won’t have to worry about misplacing all of your company’s data, which could provide you peace of mind as the business owner. Service providers typically charge a monthly fee for these services, but owners can compare prices and services offered from multiple companies before enrolling in a subscription.

Another option that has been more popular with business owners is data deduplication, a hybrid storage system. One issue that may not be noticeable is the duplication of data that occurs when backing up information. This is good for companies that send out mass emails to clients or employees, ensuring that only one copy if kept in the system’s memory rather than however many times it was sent out. This may be one of the most cost-effective solutions to standard data storage, but that can depend on how much growth your company sees and the amount of storage necessary.

According to the source, hybrid systems can be ideal for small companies that serve a large number of clientele. This is broken down into three different types, which all serve a different purpose when it comes to storage. Hard disk drives can be purchased in a variety of capacities and speeds, depending on your needs, while solid-state drives are considered a better solution, as they use memory technology to store some information. However, SSDs are seemingly more expensive than HDDs. Hybrid storage systems provide an optimal price without compromising performance. In this case, large amounts of data are loaded onto hard drives that are inexpensive, while small amounts of data are stored solid-state which are known for performing better.

Those who prefer an in-house copy of all their data may want to invest in a backup appliance, which combine disk space and software when storing information. IT Business Edge refers to these as Purpose-Built Backup Appliances. These are said to provide small businesses with a simple solution to data storage needs, as the product is able to recognize what on the network needs to be saved. This also gives additional security compared to traditional storage techniques.

“From a data protection standpoint, smaller businesses face challenges that are similar to those of larger enterprises: the amount, and the value, of their data is growing significantly while their budgets are not,” Kieran Maloney, SMB product marketing manager for Quantum Corporation, told Small Business Computing.

While there are many ways you, as a small business owner, can choose to store your company’s most important information including client files and communications, investing in tech insurance may provide financial protection to whatever source you use for storage and backup.