Digital Storage: An Introduction
Digital data storage is now the norm for all businesses, allowing you to store all of your most important data without having to archive reams of paper. It also gives you a vital insurance policy against data loss, since all your most important information is securely backed up and recoverable the most catastrophic of circumstances. There are now a wide range of companies offering digital data storage solutions, who will take on the responsibility of backing up your data so you can free up valuable gigabytes on your own data storage systems.
Digital storage has come a long way from the old DAT data backup tapes. Data storage companies can now set up a direct feed to your IT systems, so every single piece of data that passes through your network can be stored on their servers. Data is backed up either “live” (as a constant feed), or at times designated by you (for example hourly, or at midnight every day). This simplicity works in the other direction too, so any lost data can be retrieved from your digital storage provider. The best services will provide a web interface for you business, allowing you to log in and access the data you need with having to even contact the company. This is especially beneficial if your business is based in several locations, or your staff spend a lot of time on the road. Digital storage means that everything gets saved to a single location, so no need to worry about forgotten laptops or USB sticks.
Needless to say, security will be of the highest priority when it comes to the storage of your data. With that in mind, any information that is sent to the digital storage provider is encrypted and kept safe from prying eyes behind sophisticated firewall technology. Even the staff at the data storage company themselves are unable to look at what they’re storing, giving you complete peace of mind. Your data will also be stored in more than one location so that the chances of you losing it, even in the very worst case scenario, are virtually zero. To make sure you are completely happy with the levels of security and privacy offered by the service, ensure you go through the process of recalling data before you sign on the dotted line, so you know exactly how secure your data is and exactly who is able to access it.
Other things to take into consideration before choosing a digital storage include the compatibility of your current IT software, your internet bandwidth (is it large enough to transfer all the data you want stored?) and, obviously, the cost of your backup (based upon how much data you will be storing per month).
Prices vary from company to company, but your business will be charged for the amount of memory your data requires, as well as one-off fees for set up of the system and user licences. You can either pay a set amount for a certain amount of memory allocated to your company, or you may opt to have unlimited (within reason) digital storage space and pay per GB you use. Prices are usually around £2-£3 per GB per month, or £25-£30 per month for a 10GB account. Setup usually costs around £100, and user licences can cost up to this much again.
It is always wise to shop around for the best possible price before choosing a digital storage provider, but bear in mind that while costs might seem high, your data is priceless. Data is the basis of a business, and to lose it will have disastrous consequences that far outweigh the cost of a reliable data backup company. To find the best price for an expert digital storage provider, simply fill in the form above to receive free, no obligation quotes from a range of companies.
