How has cloud storage made data handling easier for big businesses?

In today’s world, businesses and companies rely heavily on their data assets to make critical decisions, develop new products or services, and derive valuable insights about their customers.

In this age of analytics, every decision is evaluated meticulously, graphs are plotted, numbers are vetted, and cost & benefit analysis is weighed. Thus, no business enters into a new venture without ascertaining the benefits it can reap from it.

However, we cannot truly benefit from the data unless it is stored in ways that are secure, manageable, and accessible. In the past, most businesses relied on physical and on-premises data storage options to store their data.

This method involved in-house servers that were owned and managed by the company. It provided great control over the data, and the entire infrastructure was managed and secured by the enterprise.

The on-premises solution also incurred a significant cost to manage the data. From replacing outdated equipment to updating the security protocols, managing and maintaining in-house data servers was not cheap.

Due to this high cost, for many businesses, the total control over data and networks was not worth the efforts. This is where “cloud storage services” stepped in. They took away the worries of maintenance and security and provided enterprises with a simple solution: just store your data, and leave the rest to us.

As Steve Jobs once said,

I don’t need a hard disk in my computer if I can get to the server faster… carrying around these non-connected computers is byzantine by comparison.

Hence, many companies migrated to cloud storage for their data operations. Cloud storage refers to a model in which data is stored in a remote physical location and can be accessed via the internet or a private network.

Clients send the data to a server that is generally hosted by third-party cloud providers instead of saving it on their own hard drives. The cloud services make sure that the data is secured and is accessible all the time.

Cloud servers provide big businesses with all the data security benefits that a physical server can give, albeit at lesser storage and maintenance costs. They also make data handling a lot easier because any authorized person can access the data from anywhere with an internet connection.

How does cloud storage work?

The word ‘cloud’ in cloud computing or cloud storage may sound like it is related to weather. In reality, it is a metaphor for the online world. Cloud storage involves a vast number of data centers or server farms that store data for individuals as well as businesses.

These servers can be located anywhere, depending on the service provider.The user sends data over the internet to the server, which then forwards it to multiple servers. The data, once stored on the servers, can then be accessed via a web-based interface.

Storing the data on multiple servers enable users to access the data even if one server fails or is down for maintenance. For instance, the Amazon Web Services (AWS) spans 76 availability zones in 24 geographic regions around the world.

The replication of data has not only improved disaster data recovery, it has also made data management easier for businesses.

Below, we have discussedhow cloud storage solutions havemade data handling extremely easy for big businesses:

1.  Global access:

For a multinational corporation, with offices in different continents, the employees need to access data whenever & wherever they need. It is made possible thanks to cloud storage.

The obvious benefit of cloud storage in terms of global accessibility has made many companies switch to virtual data storage. While global access is an obvious benefit, it has also raised the security threats to data.

Therefore, it is recommended to have an access control strategy to ensure security. Any person that requests access to data must be authenticated, and every transaction must be recorded for future audits.

2.  Synchronization:

Cloud storage allows businesses to synchronize their data across multiple devices. Businesses can access files and sync them with any device through an active internet connection. This removes the danger involved in physically transferring files from one device to another.

The data stored in the cloud remains the same across all the devices. Similarly, any edits and modifications in the data are automatically updated on the servers. Whether you are using your work PC, home computer, or smartphone, you can view the latest updated version of data through cloud storage.

3.  Upgraded Infrastructure:

No matter how advanced a business model is, it cannot succeed in the present business environment without modern tools and the latest technology. Businesses have to constantly upgrade outdated equipment in their on-premises storage systems to handle large data sets.

Fortunately, cloud storage benefits from sophisticated data handling infrastructure that can be used by businesses to meet their data storage requirements.

4.  Data security:

No business can function without data in the current environment. This is becausedata is at the heart of most business decisions and operations.

Imagine going to your office one morning and realizing that all your data islost due to server failure or a security breach. Not only will it result in huge financial loss, but the company’s credibility will also be severely damaged.

Cloud storage mitigates these security threats by storing your data on multiple servers.Cloud storage services also have strict security measures like encryption and authorized access that secures them from cybersecurity attacks.

Additionally, enterprises can create a secure and encrypted channel between a user’s device and the cloud. This ensures that the data not only stays protected on the cloud, it also remains safe while being transferred to the cloud.

The connection to cloud storage can be secured through third-party VPNs like McAfee endpoint security or Cisco Anyconnect secure mobility client. They provide end-to-end encryption so that the data will be of no value if it is intercepted while being transferred to the cloud.

For further protection of important files, businessesalso have the option to encrypt contents to secure data.

Bottom line:

You can have the smartest employees in the world, but without the necessary data, they can’t make decisions. Cloud storage enables businesses to save important dataand pursue smart data management policies.

It empowers the staff to access data anytime and from anywhere. It also requires less supervision and management so that you can focus more on your business goals.