Computer storage: what are the best solutions for preserving your data?

Over the years, computer storage has become a key issue for businesses.
This is mainly due to the fact that the amount of data we produce continues to grow exponentially. Some experts even estimate that by 2025, humanity will be storing 163 zettabytes of data... a colossal figure! (Source: Futura Sciences).
On the other hand, data takes on another dimension for businesses: with the digital transition, it is a precious and marketable business asset, which needs to be protected just like any other product.

But given the increasing complexity and proliferation of IT data, how can you be sure you're opting for a storage method that's both suited to your working environment and secure?

Here's a quick overview of the solutions that guarantee effective data backup.

See all software Backup

The objectives of IT data storage

What is electronic data?

Computer data is all the information that circulates on a computer network. In today's digital age, this amount of data is multiplying considerably.

For example, around 2.5 exabytes of computer data are generated every day (photos, videos, texts, etc.), the equivalent of 90 years of videos in HD format.

(Source: Futura Tech).

And when it comes to manipulating data, businesses are not to be outdone. In fact, they have to produce several types of data, including :

• technical data. This covers all information relating to the characteristics, production and maintenance of a product;
• Data mart. This is defined as a subset of data that meets the specific needs of a business or area of activity;
• e-commerce data. This is essential for running a successful online business. It is characterised by a set of data collected (purchase history, purchase intention, etc.) and used for marketing and advertising purposes;
• Big data. This can be translated as megadata. This is a set of data so large that a conventional information management tool cannot process it.

In this digital ecosystem, one injunction comes up time and time again: businesses must put IT storage at the heart of their priorities. But why is it so important to store your IT data correctly?

Why store your IT data correctly?

As we mentioned earlier, your data is a powerful business and marketing lever. As a result, a faulty IT storage system can lead to considerable losses.

You need to think about this before it's too late, because there are many causes of data loss:

• human factors: unintentional overwriting, deletion by mistake, etc,
• Accidental causes: natural disasters, internal failures, etc. or simply the famous spilt cup of coffee on the computer,
• malicious intent: hacking, viruses, theft, etc,
• ageing computers: obsolete equipment, lack of updates, etc.

Accidents like these happen far more often than you might think, and they have a very negative impact on your business:

• reduced productivity due to a lack of access to information for your teams,
• legal risks associated with confidential data leaks,
• reduced turnover caused by the loss of data essential to your company's strategic management.

And there are some chilling figures to alert us to the dramatic consequences of poor data management! It is estimated, for example, that application downtime due to data loss costs French businesses around 17 million dollars in lost revenue and productivity every year. The worldwide average is 20.1 million dollars! (Source: Programmez.com)

So with so much at stake, you're probably wondering what solutions are available to ensure that your information is properly archived and protected.

What IT storage solutions are available?

Physical storage media

Hard disks

Hard disks are still an essential part of computer storage. We use them every day, whether it's the hard drive in our computer or an external hard drive.

There are three types of hard disk:

• mechanical hard drives
• SSD hard drives. Unlike their predecessors, these contain no mechanical parts, but use flash memory technology,
• hybrid hard drives, a "fusion" of the two previous systems.

One of the advantages of the hard disk is that its technology is familiar to everyone and easy to learn. What's more, it requires no Internet connection to use. Finally, it should be noted that they are constantly improving, offering ever more storage space. On home computers, for example, it can offer up to 4 TB (Source: Futura Tech).

The USB key

It also uses flash memory technology, so there are no mechanical components. It is therefore highly resistant to shocks.
And even if its storage capacity is limited, the USB flash drive remains an essential medium. We particularly like the fact that it's mobile, easy to use and takes up very little space.

Optical disks

We know these as CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs or Blu-rays.
Although these are classic media, they are being used less and less by businesses...

Memory cards

We generally use memory cards for our phones and cameras. Lightweight, inexpensive and removable, they are not the preferred storage medium in the professional environment (except for very specific professions).

In fact, today's businesses are relying less and less on physical storage media, because they have a number of limitations.

The limitations of physical storage media

Although physical storage media have proved their worth for years in the professional sphere, they are increasingly being restricted to domestic use. And with good reason! Let's not forget that businesses have to handle sensitive data in ever-increasing quantities!
However, physical storage media have security limitations.

Firstly, they have a limited lifespan. For example, the average lifespan of a hard disk is around five years if used intensively. The same applies to a USB key (Source: Silkhom.com). Faced with this situation, companies have to multiply their physical storage media and make regular back-ups. Quite costly and time-consuming!

And let's not forget that these are 'objects'. An external hard drive or USB key can easily deteriorate, or even be lost in transit. Your computer's hard drive can be damaged if your machine breaks down. And let's not forget that an accident or a malicious act can lead to the destruction or disappearance of your computer equipment.

Here are the main reasons why today's businesses are turning to another model of IT storage: online data storage.

Cloud storage media

The benefits of using the cloud

Online storage, or the cloud, is a form of computer storage that records and stores your information via the internet. With this system, your data is stored on servers housed in ultra-secure data centres. Google, for example, offers this service with its famous Google Drive, but also with Google Cloud Storage. The latter, which is better suited to R&D teams, hosts and backs up much more than just documents, such as applications.

This type of storage offers a number of advantages for your business:

• the lifespan of the cloud is virtually infinite. Its storage capacity, depending on the budget you wish to allocate to it, is also unlimited;
• the cloud enables your business to become more agile. If you grow, and your storage requirements increase, your cloud solution will adapt quickly and easily;
• your data stored in the cloud is available everywhere, all the time, making it easier for your staff to move around;
• by centralising data and making it easily accessible, the cloud encourages collaborative working and document sharing;
• last but not least, the cloud guarantees the security of your data. Thanks to the cloud, you no longer have to worry about your IT equipment being damaged or stolen!

The private cloud and NAS servers

The private cloud

Do you handle sensitive data and are therefore a little reluctant to store it on a public cloud such as Google Drive (which reserves the right to access your information!)? You should know that there are private cloud solutions. Managed by external service providers, they provide you with a dedicated server.

NAS servers

Many businesses also use NAS (Network Attached Storage). This system is similar to a private cloud, except that you manage your servers yourself.

You benefit from centralisation and easy access to your data. But unlike a traditional cloud, NAS allows you to manage your data yourself, rather than having it stored by a third party.

Nevertheless, bear in mind that with this type of installation, you are responsible for the security of your servers. To avoid your system crashing, we recommend that you use a redundant architecture. This consists of several hard disks that replicate the data. So if one of your hard disks fails, another will take over. At the same time, make sure you keep your NAS in a safe place, away from all sources of humidity and heat.

The hybrid cloud: an increasingly popular solution for businesses

The hybrid cloud is an IT system that combines both a public cloud and a private cloud. Many businesses use this system, in particular to meet the following objective: to use the private cloud for computer storage of sensitive data, and the public cloud for sharing data that needs to be easily accessible and modifiable.
On the other hand, the hybrid cloud offers great flexibility, because it makes it easy to modulate workloads according to changes in the business and IT needs.

In short, you have a wide range of options when it comes to IT storage, but the cloud is undoubtedly the most practical, flexible and secure.
However, here too there are many solutions. But don't panic, we're going to help you see things more clearly by suggesting the best computer backup solutions for your needs and your working environment.

The best computer backup solutions

There are many computer backup solutions. We have selected three that have proved their worth.

Beemo Data Safe Restore: the solution of choice for VSEs and SMEs

Beemo Data Safe Restore is perfectly suited to the needs of VSEs and SMEs, while guaranteeing enhanced security. In order to maximise the security of computer storage, the software does more than simply synchronise your data in a data centre. It backs them up in three different locations (in a NAS placed within your company, and in two highly secure data centres).
Beemo Data Safe Force also offers other valuable advantages:

• it is complete and quick to implement, but does not require any technical skills (which makes it ideal for VSEs and SMEs),
• Backup management is fully automated and alert,
• all your data can be restored whenever you want,
• access to your data is uninterrupted thanks to the Beemox box located in your company.

NetBackup: the preferred solution for hybrid cloud environments

According to a study carried out by NetBackup, 34% of respondents said that managing multiple cloud environments was one of their main challenges (Source: Veritas Technologies). That's why the solution is now moving towards a data replication model for the hybrid cloud, covering all configurations.
And the benefits of NetBackup are still numerous:

• it offers rapid data backup and recovery, and one-click file restoration,
• It constantly optimises performance to keep pace with the demands of modern, scalable workloads,
• It protects hundreds of nodes storing several petabytes of data,
• it's easy to administer thanks to a simple web user interface with optimised workflows.

Oxibox: data security in a cloud environment

Based on its own cloud infrastructure, the Oxibox turnkey solution enables you to back up up to several petabytes of data. How does Oxibox do this? By securing your information in data centres located in France that are highly protected against physical and IT risks.
Its many features include

• immediate data security, from the very first GB,
• complete real-time traceability of all your backup processes,
• the ability to define the source of data to be backed up (cloud, remote sites, etc.),
• hot file backup, which requires no special configuration.

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What does the future hold for IT storage?

Ultimately, IT storage is an issue that you need to look at carefully in order to choose the solution that suits you best. But despite the multitude of data storage options, the cloud is undoubtedly the best alternative.

However, using a public cloud system such as Google Drive isn't always optimal, particularly when it comes to handling confidential data or very large amounts of it.

That's why it may be essential to use online solutions, or back-ups, tailored to your objectives and your company's structure. Time, security, performance... you've got everything to gain!