Top 3 tips for SMB Storage

Data breaches and security are a big concern for small businesses, and along with that come concerns and questions about how best to secure and store their data. From employee information and tax forms to actual customer data, one expert offers his top 3 tips.

by Kristina Knight

First, think physical.

"Physically storing your data on-site on physical hard drives is still a viable backup option for many companies," said David Zimmerman, CEO, LC Technology. "With physical storage, the equipment costs are depreciable and the expense of physical storage continues to fall relative to the amount of storage available. Redundancy is also simplified - companies just need to purchase more hard drives and keep them safe and organized. Security from hacking is not a concern when physical hard drives are disconnected from computers and the internet. These devices can still be lost or stolen, which does expose them to risk."

Second, think cloud.

"As the costs of the cloud fall, companies are flocking to cloud environments to serve as data backups. Doing a "pure cloud" backup removes a time-consuming task from the IT department, giving them more time to focus on revenue-generating projects," said Zimmerman. "The cloud brings several other benefits for companies that need a backup solution. Physical servers take up space, so smaller offices can free up room for additional staff or equipment by eliminating server rooms. Equipment failures are also no longer a concern - there's nothing in the office to break. So the risk of data loss from hard drive failures is eliminated."

Third, think hybrid.

"An option for companies is the "hybrid cloud" which blends an on-premise component that might be virtualized or physical, and a virtual cloud component. This type of arrangement reduces the bandwidth requirements of a cloud-only approach, and provides more continuity to the business," said Zimmerman. "Consider using a mix of public and private clouds. The public cloud is ideal for less sensitive data, and the most important or confidential data can reside within a private cloud inside your own organization."

Image via Shutterstock

Tags: business storage, cloud storage, LC Technology, small business, SMB tips