Are you looking to expand your business soon? Are you wondering how and where you can store your companys data? Cloud storage is something you should seriously look into.
Cloud storage is a service model that facilitates the transmission and storage of data. Cloud storage keeps the data on remote storage systems. From there, the storage provider manages and maintains the data accordingly.
With so many cloud storage choices, how do you pick the best cloud storage option for your business?
Continue reading below as we discuss some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a cloud storage provider.
Theres no doubt that cloud storage offers several benefits to businesses. A recent study revealed that 87% of businesses accelerated after using cloud services. Moreover, 52% of organizations enjoyed an improvement in IT security.
To find the best cloud storage option, you must first understand cloud computing. Youshould know the key characteristics of great cloud storage providers. What exactly are they?
Lets take a look at some of the most important factors to consider when scouting for providers:
One of the first things you can do as you begin your search is to do some basic comparisons. You want to compare the basic features, the storage options, and the cloud server costs.
If you are a small business and you only want the bare minimum, you may first look into the cost-free options. There are a few cloud storage companies that offer free storage. However, expect the very limited storage space.
If you need something more substantial, its the paid plans that you want to look into.
As for the other capabilities, you may want to consider something that offers a high level of functionality. You want to invest in something that offers mobile app capabilities.
This is crucial especially if you want to stay on top of your data even if youre outside of the office.
Meanwhile, price comparisons can be tricky. Though its tempting to go for the cheapest option, its not always the best move to make. You must weigh the offerings that come with the plan.
Strike a balance between the features and what your business can afford.
Another key factor to consider is the storage providers level of security. Keep in mind that hackers continue to improve their techniques. Thus, you need to invest in a cloud plan that comes with top-notch security features.
One of the basic features to look for is superb encryption. Encryption must cover data while its at rest or in transit.
Moreover, find a provider that offers other additional security features. One example is two-factor authentication. This works perfectly against brute force attacks.
Even if a cloud storage provider offers notable security, you must also determine if they are capable of maintaining a high level of service. Find out of the companies you are comparing are financially stable.
Avoid companies that are still establishing a successful business model. You also dont want to bank on a company that has a small customer base.
Though there are newer providers that may offer excellent services, there is a risk of them losing steam. When this happens, they may end up folding sooner rather than later. If you have enough money, go for a reputable provider.
Another option is to go for managed services. This is perfect for companies that wish to have their private clouds. Its also a great choice for businesses looking for more flexibility.
On top of excellent security, you also want your cloud provider to be available all the time. Find a provider that reports at least 99.9% uptime.
Dont believe the companies marketing ploy. Almost all of them will claim 100% availability. Hence, you need to do some research on the numbers and uptime records.
Furthermore, check the data centers. You want to make sure the provider distributes these data centers geographically. This is an important element in ensuring the availability of cloud services.
Proper distribution of data centers plays a role, especially during natural disasters. Geographic distribution helps massively in diversifying risk.
Generally, companies use cloud storage for data backup purposes. Some also keep copies of on-premises backup. What several companies fail to realize is the importance of cloud-to-cloud backup.
This involves backing up your active data from your Software as a Service (SaaS) environment. SaaS pertains to your cloud-based software.
Its a common notion that cloud providers conduct long-term backup by default. The truth is, cloud storage providers do not offer this service upfront. You will need to pay extra fees for this premium service.
What you want to get is to get a cloud storage plan that copies cloud-based data to another cloud. The target destination can be a cloud from a different provider or another region.
Additionally, practice keeping two local copies of your data on different backup media. Also, keep at least another one as a remote copy.
Last but not least, go for a cloud storage provider that comes with accreditations and validations. There are third-party groups that conduct periodic audits of different cloud storage providers. These third-party assessors check the security procedures of the providers.
They conduct audits to ensure the safety and quality of the hosting and processing of data.
One of the most notable auditing standards is the SSAE 16. Another is the ISO 27001 certification that ensures the provider meets international standards in information security management systems.
By using these key factors as a guide, you can find the cloud storage option that suits your requirements best. And once you get the cloud storage plan that you need, your next goal is to maximize its benefits.
Check out our other articles on cloud storage solutions. We discuss tips that will help you get the most out of your cloud services.
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