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Originally Posted On: https://ventsmagazine.blog/affordable-options-top-data-storage-technologies-for-small-business-on-a-budget/
Data management is essential to running a business and affects many parts of your brand. Nearly 95 percent of companies in the United States use cloud services for at least one aspect of business operations. While cloud data storage is one of the best solutions for your data needs, it’s not the only one to consider for security and continuity.
Exploring data storage technologies is essential to running a successful small business. Determining if an external hard drive, physical server, or cloud storage is best for your brand will guide you toward the necessary solutions.
Luckily, your journey has brought you to this guide on the eight options you should try for data management. Continue reading to improve data security and peace of mind today!
1. External Hard Drives
External hard drives are a popular storage option for small businesses in the United States. They’re small in stature and a cost-effective way to ensure data security. Your data will remain secure unless a malicious actor takes your external hard drive from the office.
You’ll also love the short learning curve for using external hard drives for your business needs. Despite their benefits, they have drawbacks to consider before settling on this option for data storage technologies.
External hard drives are prone to suffer damage during their lifetime. You could lose your data if the hard drive becomes damaged. It’s also extra work to consistently back up your data to the hard drive.
2. Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is the most popular option for small and large companies nationwide. It’s a versatile option that saves your business space, time, and money. The best cloud solutions are offered by services that will manage and maintain the server for you.
Cloud data storage is essential if you allow your employees to work from home or remotely. Its most significant benefit is that your employees will have access to documents and data from anywhere in the world. These individuals can work from anywhere as long as they have a secure internet connection.
Cloud storage is also one of the most secure options for data storage. Encryption is a fantastic way to secure and protect your data from hackers and malicious actors.
It’s worth noting that cloud storage is the least cost-effective data management option for your small business. The other perspective is that it requires the least work and maintenance for your employees. Combine it with ISCSI to bolster your storage solutions.
3. Network Attached Storage
Network-attached storage is a popular storage solution for small businesses. It’s an effective way to share data between users and devices at your company. Network-attached storage is also scalable, helping you keep up with your brand’s growth and evolving needs.
You’ll always be able to add more storage as needed when your small business takes off. The drawback is that it can be a more costly option than other data storage technologies.
4. USB Flash Drives
USB flash drives were one of the top storage options years ago, but technology has evolved and improved data management processes. Still, they’re a popular option if you need to store small amounts of data in a convenient tool.
USB flash drives are small and easy to transport, making them an excellent option for small businesses or self-employed individuals. The primary drawback of flash drives is that they’re easy to misplace. You may also face thievery when storing and transporting data using a USB flash drive.
5. SD Cards
SD cards are your best bet if you’re looking to store data on mobile devices. They’re small and easy to use with your devices, and you can use them to improve your brand’s data safety.
The drawbacks with SD cards are similar to those you’ll encounter when using flash drives for your business technology and data. Small storage devices are easier to lose than external hard drives or physical data servers.
SD cards are also more fragile than other storage options. You must be cautious when handling these data storage devices to prevent damage and corrupted data.
6. Optical Media
Optical media is not the most effective business technology for data storage, but it will cover your needs if you’re running a small business on a tight budget. They’re best when used as CDs and DVDs to contain data and information for future use.
While optical media storage options are effective, you must handle them with care. Heat and scratches will make the data inaccessible, so it’s best to store optical media in a case until you need to use it.
7. Solid State Drives
Solid-state drives are one of the most recent developments in business technology and data storage. You’ll enjoy peace of mind with SSDs because you won’t need to handle them with the same level of caution as optical media and SD cards.
Another benefit of investing in solid-state drives for your company’s data storage needs is the access to data. SSDs save significant time and energy when backing up or restoring data to your network and devices.
The only negative you’ll encounter with SSDs is the cost. They’re one of the most expensive devices for data management.
8. RAID
RAID is an effective and innovative data solution for your small business. The device combines several hard drives into one storage unit for data security and accessibility.
Expect increased network speed and performance when you purchase a RAID device for data storage. It’s also one of the most secure devices for sale. The drawback of RAID is that it’s a costly storage option that requires substantial IT maintenance.
Invest in the Best Data Storage Technologies Today
Data security is a top priority of small and large businesses nationwide, and exploring your options for data storage technologies is essential to protect customer data and your brand’s reputation.
Cloud data storage is best if you have remote workers, while solid-state drives are best for network speed and quick access to data. You can also use smaller options like USB flash drives and SD cards for your data management needs.
Keeping up with technology changes is vital to help your brand stay ahead of the competition. Check out our blog content for insights and news about technology today!
