When you are a business you will want your information to be secure but not to take up too much space. This is because space costs money. The solution is to trust computer files and digital storage spaces to take care of your information. This article will look at the different ways that information is stored to consider just how space-saving and secure it is.

Filing Cabinets

Filing cabinets are the traditional way to store data. They can be locked for security and so have their access restricted. However, they take up a lot of space and are not fireproof. Thankfully, computer technology has come along to help us manage the vast amounts of data that continues to be produced and needs to be managed effectively and confidentially.

Memory Cards v Memory Sticks

Memory cards are smaller than memory sticks and more associated with digital cameras. However, it is another format in which information can be stored. The principal difference is that USB memory sticks or flash drives are removable, while memory cards are more often than not left inside the device. You can also find memory cards on mobile phones and game consoles. The memory stick is more likely to be used in business or for academic studies but there is no reason why a memory card cannot be considered as it performs the same function. As long as your computer or device has a card slot. However, card reader devices can be purchased which plug into a USB socket.

In terms of capacity, SD memory cards will range from 8GB to 256GB. Where a photo’s resolution is 6MB, a 32GB card will hold 17,800 photos, whereas a 22 MB resolution will mean it can only hold 4,700 photos. So, how many photos or images you can store will depend on the quality that you need. If you are taking standard, and in particular high definition videos, you will be able to store a lot less of them. However, a lot of textual information can be stored even on an 8GB card.

USB memory sticks can hold essential files and contacts that a business needs to keep and refer to. If the information is sensitive, then a drive can be encrypted to protect the data, should it be lost and end up in a rival’s hands.

Portability is a definite advantage with both these forms of memory. It means that that the information can easily be kept off-premises. Although, you have to consider if the place that you are then keeping it is any safer. In a way, it is easier to lose something small.

Cloud Computing

It is advantageous for businesses to be able to store their information in a central online place where it cannot be damaged by fire or stolen. This is what cloud systems offer. Cloud computing offers on-demand availability in terms of computer system resources. This includes data storage and computing power. It is available without direct active management from the user. Should anything happen to your computers or your premises, the data is protected because it is not held by the business but held in internet space. It is always accessible by those who know the password. Moreover, one of the benefits of using cloud technology to store sensitive data is that you can easily discover the stored data with the help of AI-enabled Automation offered by the likes of Privacera (those interested to learn more about this can have a peek at this website of the company).

Key Takeaway: Cloud computing provides with a new way of storing information that can prove to be beneficial to businesses across the globe.

That said, there are three types of cloud computing that a business can opt for. They are SaaS, iaas service, and PaaS.

SaaS (Software as a Service) is where the software will be deployed over the internet that businesses then pay a subscription for. It is pay-per-use. It is ideal where a lot of web or mobile access is required. It is managed from a central location, so businesses do not have the hassle of managing or maintaining the system themselves.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is the most common. It is reliable, flexible, and scalable. It eliminates the need for expensive hardware inside the office. This makes it perfect for small and medium-sized businesses as a cost-effective IT solution to handle their information. More information about IaaS can be found at https://www.mirantis.com/blog/infrastructure-as-a-service/.

PaaS (Platform as a Service) is where users deploy the software framework and infrastructure. Businesses can develop and run web applications that are individual to them. They can be created easily and quickly via PaaS. The service is robust enough to support them. PasS systems are scalable and ideal for businesses where multiple developers are working on single projects. It is perfect where existing data sources such as a CRM require leveraging. However, such web applications can be vulnerable to online threats like hacking and data breaches. To prevent this, businesses can contact providers like Radware or similar others who, with the use different tested security measures, can ensure the protection of the data travelling within these web applications.

Other Ways of Storing Data

You can, of course, still use the paper method to record and store your data, but combining cloud storage with something small and prortable such as a memory stick or card, that can be encrypted, would seem to be the ideal combination in a digital world. Cloud computing is ideal for storing vast amounts of information securely in a place that is always accessible from any computer anywhere in the world.

So, maybe it is time to let the scrap metal dealer have your filing cabinet. However, make sure first that anything no longer required in paper form is shredded before you give it to them. Cross-cut shredders are the most secure form of shredder when it comes to destroying unwanted data in paper form.

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