Any company inevitably encounters lots of data that needs to be stored somewhere. Renting a storage server is one of the best solutions to this problem. However, many companies (especially beginners) prefer to use cloud data storages for this purpose. We have already explained the difference between the server and the cloud in one of our previous publications and considered these two concepts in a generalized way. Today we are going to talk about a narrower topic. So, from this article you will get to know in what cases a storage server may be needed, and why such a choice is superior to cloud storage when it comes to business.
What is a storage server?
A storage server is a specific type of server hardware that is used as a data storage. It makes it possible for you to store a certain amount of information in one place and access it through the Internet. The storage server is relatively less powerful than the standard one. However, the lack of power is offset by additional space, a storage access interface, and specialized utilities for managing and retrieving data. Storage servers can also be used to back up data. Optionally, users access it via the GUI control panel from their own remote devices.
In what cases is it profitable to use a storage server?
It is beneficial to use them primarily for corporate purposes when it is necessary to organize centralized and secure storage of a large amount of information. They serve only as a repository, still playing an important role in business processes, providing the proper level of information security.
Let's highlight several key business benefits of storage servers.
Centralized storage of corporate information
You can store data in the old way on stationary computers. But this is often inconvenient since all the information is scattered among individual devices. Storage servers make it easy to keep all the necessary data centrally. A person who needs access to any file is able to retrieve it easily by himself, so there is no need to copy documents or mail them. So, you may not worry that important information will be deleted.
If management is worried about confidential information leakage, you can simply open access to specific employees. In this case, only authorized users can view the data.
Remote access
At this point, you will have to compare a stationary server in the office and renting a remote storage server. In the first case, you can only access the data at the workplace. Speaking about the storage server, it allows you to work with information in any convenient location. In addition, there is no need for allocating a separate place in your office for the equipment installation.
Backup and recovery capabilities
When storing corporate data, it is important to preserve not only its confidentiality but also its integrity. In order not to lose important information, it is necessary to conduct regular backups. There are many possible reasons for data loss, so mind it. Even a mistake of a user who accidentally deleted a document with critical information can cause problems.
If you rent a storage server, you can immediately recover lost information when an error occurs. Business processes will not be disrupted.
Data storage reliability
Storage servers are securely protected and are not subject to external hacking (such cases are rare). Only you or trusted employees you've selected can access corporate information. Besides, files can be tracked because they are all stored in one place. Therefore, it will be possible to prevent the leakage of insider information. This is also an important factor since, in 80% of cases, data loss is caused by employees.
An additional plus is legal security. In some industries, such as medicine or finance, it is necessary to store personal data of customers. In cases of leakage of such information, problems with the law may arise. Sometimes it is impossible to solve those just by paying a fine, as in some cases, criminal liability threatens for confidential information disclosure.
If the Internet connection leaves much to be desired in your office, then neither a cloud nor a storage server in the remote data center is suitable for you. In this case, it is advisable to deploy the storage server in the local area network at the capacity of your office.
However, speaking about information security, storage servers definitely benefit from other methods. If you are interested, just keep reading, as we will dwell in more detail on the dangers that cloud storage users are exposed to.
Why it is better not to store enterprise data in a cloud?
Cloud technology has become very common in recent years. IBM reports that more than 65% of Russians use public clouds for personal purposes.
A vivid example is Google Drive, which is available to all registered users of the site. There are also some alternative options, such as Dropbox or iCloud. This is convenient because those provide online access to your own files, allowing you to work with texts, presentations, or images using any devices, including mobile ones. Certainly, it's great, but when it comes to business, the situation changes.
Cloud storage is a really good option for storing information, but this option is great only when it comes to personal data or non-confidential information. We all understand that even personal information leakage is at least unpleasant. In some cases, this can seriously harm the owner's reputation, especially if hackers hack into celebrity accounts. Back in 2014, a sensational incident occurred when intimate photos of popular stars were stolen from iCloud several times.
Since that time, cloud service developers have strengthened protection to avoid such cases in the future. The clouds are really a little bit more secure than they used to be several years ago. In 2019, there were 14% fewer information leakages from cloud storage, compared to the previous year. But even having such a tendency, clouds remain insufficiently reliable. In 2019, hackers stole approximately 9 billion files from cloud storage. In most cases, the reason was not the careless attitude of users to data storage, but the vulnerability of the software. According to IBM, almost 60% of thefts occurred due to software weaknesses. Google turned out to be the most hacked, which is terrible, as we know that cloud storage of this company has approximately 1 billion users.
So, understandably, the theft of personal photos, videos, or other files is simply an unpleasant situation, the loss of corporate data can lead to devastating consequences. Important information, including personal data of customers, can fall into the competitors' hands. In addition, data leakage seriously hits the reputation of the business. This may result in a distrust of potential customers and investors, which will ultimately lead to a decrease in revenues or bankruptcy altogether. In the worst case, there may be legal problems. Those clients whose personal information has become public have the right to file a lawsuit.
Here are some recent statistics to summarize all we have discussed. According to a survey by Ermetic, about 80% of companies that use cloud storage experienced at least one cloud data leakage between January 2019 and June 2020. These statistics apply not only to public cloud services but also to private ones.
The unreliability of cloud storage for business is a strong argument in favor of storage servers. King Servers strongly recommends choosing this option as an alternative. Taking into account all advantages of storage servers, you can be sure of the confidentiality, integrity, and 24/7 availability of important information.
King Servers storage server rent
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of storage servers, just contact King Servers. We offer storage servers from SuperMicro and Dell with 100% manageability. They are reliably protected from hacker attacks, so customers can always be sure of data security.
Our customers can also count on the following:
- Flexible rates for businesses with different data needs (from 32 to 144 TB)
- Round-the-clock monitoring of server performance.
We have been working with customers around the world for more than 14 years. You can have a look at their reviews on this page. Contact us in any way convenient for you to communicate with the manager and clarify all the details.
