Never has there been a greater argument for keeping your head in the clouds. Cloud computing has revolutionized the way data is created, stored, and shared. Why is it then that in-house server storage hasn’t been overshadowed completely by Cloud Storage Services?
Well the answer to that question lies in the specific individual use case for any one company and their network management.
Run > elucidation.exe
If you are a business that does not find uptime to be of vital importance to the data your looking to store, perhaps an in-house solution will suffice. However, if you’re a business that is expecting quick and large growth, and enjoys the convenience of being able to access your data from anywhere with virtually any device, cloud computing may be the solution you are looking for.
With cloud computing your options are markedly quicker to customize than a regular dedicated server or an in-house solution, increasing disk space, RAM, and CPU can be updated significantly quicker than the previous solutions.
Now with any list of solutions comes some clear pros and cons:
Cloud Servers
Pros:
- Automatic updates
- Reduced Cost
- Easy Setup
- Don’t need to manage hardware
- Well suited for companies expecting quick growth
- Easily scalable, typically options are changed on-demand.
- Workers can connect from anywhere (desktop, phone, or tablet)
- Businesses can implement ‘Bring Your Own Computer’
- Data can be backed up regularly on set intervals
Cons:
- User Experience limited by speed of internet connection.
- Loss of control.
- Third party services may have access to your data in rare occasion.
- Internet Reliance. If the internet goes down on either party’s side you lose access to your data.
- Cost may be steep for businesses not concerned about up-time.
In House Servers
Pros:
- Provides full and sole physical control over your server/information.
- Nobody but your designee’s and you have access to your data.
- No need to rely on an internet connection to access your data.
- Can be more cost-effective long-term if uptime is not vital.
Cons:
- Requires capital for setup of infrastructure and hardware.
- Needs designated room/space for server hardware.
- Requires an IT specialist to troubleshoot problems.
- May be more susceptible to data loss during disasters or hardware failure.
- No uptime guarantees.
Full disclosure, we offer a comprehensive cloud computing solution ourselves! You can check out our cloud services right here.
With these two primary solutions being said, there is also a third solution to file and network management, and that is the Hybrid solution.
The Hybrid
Colloquially known as ‘The Fog’ (In-between Ground & Cloud), the hybrid server model involves utilizing both types of server storage solutions. If your serious about having the convenience of the cloud and simultaneously having sole control of specific data that only you can ever access, a hybrid solution is also an avenue to explore.
Diversifying your data between both the cloud and in-house solutions also has the benefit of providing greater security against data loss.
A typical workflow in a hybrid solution might look like the following example:
- A business has an in-house server with local backup storage.
The business’s employees access their files and applications using the in-house server & network. - This data is also backed up to the cloud server on an interval of 15 minutes.
- The Cloud provides and allows computer management to the employee from any location, using their desktop, tablet or mobile devices.
Hopefully this has helped illuminate a solution for your business data management, but if not, no worries. If you have more questions please get in touch with us at 604-595-1605 or by email at
rleroux@tetheredns.com. Lastly you can also use our contact page and receive a free consultation.