Tip of the Week: Managing your Cloud Data

There’s no denying the importance of data management for businesses, but companies that utilize cloud-based data storage and infrastructure access have to be extra aware. How can your business ensure that your data storage methods are working for you, and not against you? For this week’s tip, we’ll discuss some of the ways that businesses can best use their cloud-based data storage without compromising efficiency.

Identify Your Business’ Specific Needs
Businesses often implement a cloud solution without thinking about the options that are available. For example, you might make a spur of the moment decision to implement a solution thinking that it will offer great flexibility and dynamic access to your business’ data, and in the heat of the moment, you’ll forget how important security is. While this is true, you’re foregoing a major step in the implementation process--research and consultation. The best way to implement a cloud solution is to make sure that you’re getting the solution that best suits your business’ needs.

That being said, there are three major types of cloud solutions that your business will be choosing from. The public cloud allows small businesses to take advantage of the cloud on a limited budget, but often falls short in terms of customized service and network security. On the other hand, a private cloud is hosted in-house and is tailor-made to suit the needs of your organization, security and all. Finally, the hybrid cloud is a melding of the two, allowing for maximum customization and flexibility without the need to sacrifice security.

Ensure Your Data Is Organized
The important thing to remember about cloud-based data is that you’re essentially moving data from one location to another over the Internet. Therefore, it makes sense that you want your data to be organized so that the process goes as planned. When your data is organized, applications and other components that communicate with your cloud work much better, so it’s critical to keep this particular tip in mind.

Of course, you can also think of cloud-based data storage and integration as a second chance to improve the way that your business functions. Look for ways that your business can optimize data storage and organization, or ways that your data storage has been lacking until now. It’s a great opportunity to assess what mistakes you have made in the past and take steps toward resolving them for your future infrastructure needs.

Determine the Migration Process
Depending on your business’ needs, you’ll have to determine which data, and how much of it, will be migrated to the cloud. You’ll need to determine just how much interaction there will be between your business’ applications and cloud storage, as well as what you’re using this data for. There are all kinds of uses for cloud data--it’s just a matter of figuring out how best your business can take advantage of it.

If you don’t know which information your business needs to focus on, SCW can help. We’ll not only help you implement a cloud solution but ensure that you know how it’s contributing to your business’ success. To learn more, reach out to us at (509) 534-1530.