Data is vital for any business, and choosing the right data storage modality is crucial for ensuring its availability, security, and performance. However, with so many data storage solutions available on the market, how do you decide which is best for your business?
Types of data storage
Data storage can be broadly classified into three significant categories:
Private data storage
Private data storage refers to storing data on your servers or devices, either on-premise or off-site. This gives you full control over your data but also requires you to manage the hardware, software, and maintenance costs. Some of the common types of private data storage solutions are:
- Direct-attached storage (DAS)
This is the simplest and most basic form of data storage, where the storage device is directly connected to the computer or server. For example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD) inside your laptop or desktop is a DAS. DAS is fast, easy to use, and inexpensive but has limited capacity, scalability, and accessibility.
- Network-attached storage (NAS)
In NAS, the storage device is connected to a network and can be accessed by multiple users or devices. For example, a NAS device can be a dedicated server or a specialized appliance that provides file-level storage services. NAS is more flexible, scalable, and accessible than DAS, but it has lower performance, higher latency, and higher complexity.
- Storage area network (SAN)
SAN is where the storage device is connected to a dedicated network and provides block-level storage services. For example, a SAN device can be a cluster of disks or a specialized appliance that offers high-performance, low-latency, and high-availability storage. SAN is more suitable for applications that require fast and reliable access to large amounts of data, such as databases, virtual machines, or video streaming. However, SAN is also more expensive, complex, and difficult to manage than NAS or DAS.
Public data storage
Public data storage refers to storing data on a third-party provider’s servers or devices, usually over the Internet. This reduces your burden of managing the hardware, software, and maintenance costs but also exposes your data to potential security and privacy risks. Some of the common types of public data storage are:
- Cloud storage
Cloud storage is where the data is stored on a service provider’s servers and can be accessed from anywhere, anytime, and from any device. For example, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive are some of the popular cloud storage services. Cloud storage is convenient, scalable, and cost-effective, but it also depends on the internet connection, the service provider’s reliability, and the data protection policies.
- Colocation service
Colocation service caters to renting space, power, cooling, and network connectivity aspects. A colocation provider facilitates you with the above elements, which you can utilize to store your data on your own servers or devices in their facility. For example, Equinix, Digital Realty, and CyrusOne are some of the leading colocation providers. Colocation service gives you more control and security over your data than cloud storage, but it also requires you to invest in the hardware, software, and transportation costs.
Hybrid data storage
Hybrid data storage refers to storing data on a combination of private and public data storage solutions, depending on the data type, usage, and requirements. This gives you the best of both worlds, as you can leverage the benefits of each solution while mitigating their drawbacks. Some of the common types of hybrid data storage are:
- Cloud storage (Hybrid version)
It is a combination of public and private data storage. For example, you can store your frequently accessed or less sensitive data on a cloud storage service and your rarely accessed or more sensitive data on a NAS or SAN device. This way, you can optimize your data storage costs, performance, and security.
- Nimble storage
The Nimble storage method employs a software-defined platform combining flash and disk storage, offering smart data management features. For instance, it represents a hybrid solution providing high performance, ample storage, and efficiency. It includes features like data protection, analytics, and seamless integration with the cloud. Nimble Storage is well-suited for applications needing swift and dependable access to extensive and varied datasets, like big data, artificial intelligence, or machine learning (AI and ML).
Key components of effective data storage
Choosing the right data storage solution for your business needs is not a one-size-fits-all decision. You need to consider various factors and trade-offs, such as:
- Data storage needs
Evaluate your current and future data storage requirements, considering factors like data volume, variety, velocity, and value. Additionally, define the data lifecycle by establishing policies for creation, usage, retention, and deletion. This comprehensive assessment ensures a tailored approach, aligning your data storage strategy with the evolving needs and lifecycle stages of your business data.
- Cost and budget
When assessing data storage options, it’s important to look at upfront and ongoing costs like hardware, software, maintenance, power, cooling, network, and personnel expenses. This helps you understand the overall financial investment. Also, compare the return on investment (ROI) for each solution; this approach ensures you not only consider costs but also recognize the strategic value and practical benefits of the data storage solution you choose for your business.
- Security and compliance
Making sure your data storage follows industry rules is crucial and should be a part of your data strategy, too. This involves key elements like encrypting data, verifying users, setting permissions, keeping track of actions, and having strong backup plans. To protect against unauthorized access or cyber threats, use tools like firewalls and secure login methods. This way, your security strategy not only meets rules but also builds a strong defense to keep your data safe from evolving threats.
- Performance and management
It involves the speed at which data transfer occurs, along with the associated delays, availability, reliability, and flexibility. After setting it up, it’s important to keep an eye and make improvements for long-term efficiency. Using tools like dashboards is key to keeping everything running smoothly. This way, your data storage not only meets but goes beyond what your business applications and users expect.
- Business integration
Data integration with your existing business infrastructure is paramount. It is equally crucial that your chosen solution aligns seamlessly with established processes and workflows. Beyond integration, your data storage solution should be tailored to support and enhance your overarching business goals and strategies, be it fostering growth, driving innovation, or achieving differentiation. It is imperative that you opt for a trusted enterprise integration service for this purpose.
- Scalability
Scalability, measured in terms of data volume, variety, and velocity, is a critical factor to consider. Contemporary options like cloud storage and nimble storage stand out in this regard, surpassing traditional choices such as DAS, NAS, or SAN. Their ability to dynamically adjust storage capacity and allocate resources in response to evolving data requirements ensures a flexible and efficient solution, aligning seamlessly with the dynamic nature of business data.
- Data accessibility
Ensuring simplified access to your data storage solution from any location, at any time, and across diverse devices is pivotal to meeting both business requirements and user preferences. Equally critical is the compatibility of your chosen solution with the data formats and platforms integral to your business applications. These advanced alternatives facilitate data access over the internet or networks and offer support for a myriad of data types and standards, ensuring a versatile and user-friendly data storage environment and assisting in the organization’s digital transformation journey, too.
- Backup and recovery
Safeguarding your data storage solution against potential loss requires a robust backup and recovery plan. This ensures a resilient infrastructure capable of maintaining business continuity even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Conclusion
Data storage plays a pivotal role in the success of any business, and the selection of an appropriate solution demands a nuanced understanding of available options and a thorough assessment of organizational needs. By navigating through the diverse types of data storage, weighing their advantages and drawbacks, and embracing the key components of an effective data storage strategy, businesses can make informed decisions that align with their unique requirements and aspirations and move further on the ladder to achieving data maturity.