Types of Data Storage & Backup Solutions for Businesses

It would be no exaggeration if we say that data is the lifeline of modern organizations and businesses whether small or large. Losing data for whatever reason can cause almost cataclysmic consequences for any organization. It has been estimated that 60% of businesses that experience data loss cannot even survive 6 months if they don’t have storage & backup infrastructure. Therefore, it is crucially important for businesses to design and implement data backup and disaster recovery plans. This article has been written to provide you with some insight into various options available on the market in this regard.

 

Storage & Backup

Storage is keeping the data in a secure location so that it can be accessed and utilized readily, therefore, files are thus stored in working copies. Whereas, backup is the maintenance of additional copies of data that are kept separately in physical or cloud locations. Data backup is the copying of data from a primary to a secondary location so that data remains protected in case of disaster, accident, or malicious attacks. Storage & backup solutions are deployed to protect all kinds of data including documents, media files, configuration files, machine images, operating systems, and registry files. In short, all necessary data for which you have deployed servers for workload management is preserved as backup data.

Additional Benefits of Data Storage & Backup:

Apart from the obvious advantage of having in place an effective disaster recovery arrangement, robust data backup infrastructure accrues many additional benefits as well.

  • It can help recover old data when there arises some difficulty in editing current data or invalid files;
  • Data backup helps prevent damage to storage media;
  • You can put in place effective security mechanisms to deny space for the hackers to launch any malicious attack.
  • Reliable data storage and backup is now a regulatory requirement for companies to show compliance with the laws of the land.
  • The robust storage infrastructure makes sure that your firm doesn’t suffer from reputational damage and consequently protects itself from lawsuits.
  • Data management becomes an easy and productive task, thus streamlining the overall operation and decision-making of the organization.

Types of Data Backup Solutions:

Given the fact that data protection is given utmost priority, manufacturers and service providers offer many kinds of data back and storage options. Some of them are discussed below for your guidance so that you can navigate the market with ease and confidence.

Direct Attached Storage(DAS):

DAS is a type of digital storage that is connected directly to a computer/ server/ workstation without any network connection. DAS storage devices can be internal like SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and sometimes, DAS can be external. External DAS device is connected to the host computer through multiple interfaces like Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS), FC, or Internet SCSI (iSCSI). DAS offers both advantages and disadvantages:

  • DAS is not a complex IT solution, nor does it require any upfront cost. It is easier to operate, manage and maintain than network-based storage options. This feature makes DAS the most suitable storage solution for small businesses.
  • DAS provides better performance because the server works offline and it does not have to use network access data. That’s why many businesses and modern organizations deploy DAS solutions for demanding and high-performance applications
  • It is deployed as file servers in many small and medium-sized organizations and used as private storage in data centers as well.
  • The downsides of DAS are also multiple. Since DAS is connected to a single computer or server and is not attached to the network, other computers/servers cannot access the data stored on it.
  • Limited scalability is another drawback. If your business is growing rapidly, DAS cannot be scaled as quickly as your business grows.
  • In case the server crashes or abnormal termination of the previously active application, DAS does not provide failover that is switching to reliable backup seamlessly and automatically.

These limitations mean that large organizations and many medium-sized enterprises do not deploy DAS as standalone storage &backup solution. Other network-based storage solutions are also implemented.

Network Attached Storage(NAS):

NAS is an effective, scalable, and low-cost storage solution that provides ease of operation, particularly useful when you have a small IT department, and ease of data backup. Putting aside all technical jargon, NAS is an enclosure with a couple of hard drives inside it that can connect to your computer via an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi network. You can use your mobile phone or web browser to access files stored on NAS and enjoy various services provided by NAS via the internet. NAS storage has been designed to handle unstructured data like audio, video, websites, text files, and Microsoft Office documents. NAS offers some distinctive pros and cons:

  • NAS is a more suitable storage solution for distributed employees who often need remote access. Remote workers can access centralized file-sharing and data storage, thus, contributing to the overall productivity of the organizations. Employees can access data via any mobile phone or desktop/laptop that has an internet connection. They can easily transfer, drag, and drop files between computers, no matter whether it is MAC, OS, or Windows PC.
  • NAS provides data protection through redundancy. NAS devices available on the market with at least two drive bays. Once data is stored/written on one disk, it is automatically copied to a second disk, which makes sure that data remain safe and protected even if one disk is wiped out. This is called RAID (Redundancy Array Independent Disk) data recovery technique. So you will continue running business applications, files, and other critical data despite experiencing a disaster.
  • NAS devices are designed for both large-scale enterprises and home offices or small businesses. For small businesses, NAS devices come with two drive bays- with a single (obviously more cost-effective) as well if you are looking for a storage solution for non-critical data- are popular among small businesses. But for large organizations, NAS devices with four drive bays with high-end data features are also available for aiding effective storage management.
  • Scalability is another major advantage. You can scale NAS storage as per the needs in sync with the expansion of your business.
  • Enterprises deploy NAS storage solutions for performing multiple tasks: archiving and disaster recovery tools; testing and development of web-based applications; hosting messaging applications; hosting and management of open source applications like CRM (Customer Relationship Management, HRM (Human Resource Management), and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications; and other vital tasks.
  • Downsides are also there. First, it cannot support the transfer of block-level data or structured data, that’s why large organizations don’t deploy it. Secondly, network issues can sometimes cause latency (delay in transmission of data).

Storage Area Network(SAN):

SAN is a network of storage devices, cabling, host bus adapters, and SAN switches that are interconnected and accessed by multiple servers and computers. SAN provides a shared pool of storage space. It is an independent, dedicated, and high-speed storage solution that is deployed for running mission-critical and processor-heavy applications. Each server/computer access storage on SAN as though hard drives was connected to the computers. SAN solutions are available on the market with different specifications to cater to the varying needs of organizations. Some features of SAN are enlisted below:

  • SAN perfectly combines the speed of DAS and the reliability and security of NAS storage solutions. The performance and reliability of this solution are matchless.
  • It is deployed for block-level data transfer which makes this solution suitable for large-scale enterprises that run data centers or require a Virtual Computing environment for industry-standard business operations.
  • SAN storage is utilized for improving application availability; enhancing application performance and increasing storage utilization and effectiveness.
  • Downside of this solution is the steep upfront cost. This solution requires massive costs for buildings both human and material resources for installation, maintenance, and operation of SAN.

How can we Help You?

Morgan Ingland LLC is a vendor-neutral value-added reseller acting as a worldwide source of cost-effective acquisition of ICT products and availing IT services. We offer a full portfolio of hardware, software, and IT skills linked with Storage & Backup. Solid State Drives, RAID controllers, Tape Drives, Data Tapes, SSD docking stations NAS, and other storage devices, we offer everything you may need to address your growing demand for storage & back infrastructure. Contact our solution designers and product experts at 415-704-8713 or email us at info@miatlantic.us info@miatlantic.us24/7 for further detail and information.