Today, businesses are responsible for storing more data than ever before. Not only do they need to keep track of their own records, files, and information, but they are also often expected to look after sensitive information pertaining to their clients.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at what data storage is, why it’s important, and the two main types of data storage.
Let’s dive in!
What is Data Storage?
Data storage simply refers to the processes and strategies you use to keep your data safe. Often when we hear the word “data,” it automatically makes us think of digital files. However, data is a term that also encompasses all of your business’s paper documents as well.
Why is Data Storage Important?
Proper data storage is critically important for a number of reasons. First of all, ensuing good data storage practices helps protect your information from getting stolen and misused. This is especially important if you need to keep sensitive information from your clients on file. The last thing you want is to have your data stolen and then be on the hook for a lawsuit from one of your clients because you failed to keep their data safe.
Second, if you don’t have the proper data storage system in place, you risk losing your important data forever. Not only can this set your business back years, but it can also be very expensive.
What are the Different Types of Data Storage?
There are two main categores of data storage – direct-attached storage and network-attached storage.
Direct attached storage includes documents, files, and other information that’s physically attached to your computer.
Here are some of the most common types of direct-attached storage:
- Hard Drives
- Solid State Drives (SSDs)
- Flash Drives
- Optical Disk Drives
- External Drives
The second category of data storage is called network-attached storage. As you might have already guessed, network-attached storage allows more than one device to share storage across a particular network. According to CDW.com, one of the key benefits of network-attached storage is…
“The ability to centralize data and improve collaboration. Data can easily be shared among connected machines, and permission levels can be set to control access. While network-attached storage solutions tend to be more costly than direct-attached solutions, they are still very affordable as storage technology has advanced significantly.”
In the last few years, cloud storage (a division of network-attached storage) has become increasingly popular.
Western Archives – Data Storage Service in Edmonton
If you’re looking for a storage solution for your business, Western Archives is the place to go. We offer a range of electronic document management solutions, including:
- Electronic repository
- Retention policy modules
- Workflow automation
- E-forms
We also have the ability to provide a hybrid document storage solution to our clients. This is where we focus on digitizing individual departments or specific workflows instead of entire business units.
Contact us today to learn more about our data storage solutions!