Whatever your company’s industry, information drives the productivity, security, and success of your operations. Ecommerce businesses depend on their data to be easily and quickly available whenever they need it; effective IT systems make this happen in virtually any circumstance. But when information systems aren’t designed to back up important files and documents, it can result in catastrophic consequences, including lost time, money, and data security.
When it comes to Windows cloud hosting, redundancy is the keyword to helping companies retain access to their information in situations from natural disasters to server failures. Although redundancy can have negative connotations in a literary or conversational sense, it represents a smart and proactive approach to web hosting. Read on to learn how redundancy can work for your company.
An Overview of Windows Cloud Storage
Whether you’re implementing cloud storage for the first time or looking to amp up your existing services, a basic understanding of how the cloud works can help you make smart decisions and fully utilize the service.
Although hundreds of types of cloud storage systems exist, they all share the same essential structures. Hosted in facilities called data centers, cloud storage systems can range from one data server to a whole warehouse full of them. Using the internet, the client sends file copies to the data server, which records this data. The client can access this information at any time by using a web-based interface to access the server.
Although cloud storage systems can consist of as few as one data server, they typically employ hundreds of servers. When multiple devices use the same cloud, information needs to be duplicated among several machines; this way, when one device needs repair or maintenance, the data is still available to the client. This concept is what we understand as redundancy, or the built-in duplication of systems, data, equipment, and other components.
What Happens without Redundancy?
When cloud storage servers don’t store important information on more than one device, it opens clients up to potential data losses. Consider what would happen if the one computer containing the information you needed suffered a hardware failure, rendering the data unavailable. Or if the power supply failed, taking out the whole server. That vital information would be inaccessible until the problem was resolved, losing you valuable time (and possibly money).
Some of the components that could fail include memory units, power equipment, and physical disks. Those represent too many variables to leave their continued viability up to chance.
But physical apparatuses aren’t the only aspects prone to failure. Cloud computing represents a relatively new approach to storage, and developers are still working out potential glitches. As such, users still experience occasional setbacks to security and data protection.
Such potential catastrophes are exactly why most systems now employ redundancy, storing data on multiple servers, so equipment and power failures don’t hinder data access. By distributing their proverbial “eggs” among several baskets, companies stand a better chance of having access to at least one of them, no matter what happens to the others.
How Can Redundancy Help My Company?
By now, you understand that while incorporating cloud hosting into your storage and data security strategy is a smart move, it doesn’t encompass the whole solution on its own. Implementing a cloud platform with built-in redundancy poses countless benefits, including:
- Convenience. Remote computing resources, storage space, bandwidth, and additional IT tools are available to users whenever and wherever they need them.
- Data security. Information stored in the cloud cannot be subject to losses due to on-site incidents.
- Data backup. In case of power failures, the redundancy offered by cloud storage systems ensures information can still be retrieved off-site.
- Less physical infrastructure. With cloud-based storage, companies don’t need to designate additional space to house secondary servers. Maintenance and management takes place off-site by experienced professionals whose primary job is to manage your resources.
Building Your Company’s Disaster Recovery Plan
Whether your company deals in physical products, services, or intellectual property, information plays a crucial role in your success or failure. Any organization hosting large amounts of sensitive information should have a plan in place in case of a catastrophic event such as equipment or server failures. When you implement a disaster recovery plan that incorporates redundancy, you prevent your company from being crippled by IT failures from manmade or natural disasters.
With a redundant disaster recovery plan, you will duplicate your files and programs onto a secondary server, allowing a better chance at a seamless transition between servers if the primary one should encounter problems. Not only does this improve the productivity of your whole team by eliminating lengthy downtimes, it also makes your primary system’s complete restoration faster and more likely compared to other data recovery methods.
Although redundant disaster recovery plans play a crucial role in companies’ data security and productivity, several factors can prevent them from implementing a plan before disaster strikes. These elements include:
- Space. Secondary systems require additional space, which could result in higher costs to the company or lost work space for employees.
- Expense. A secondary IT system represents a considerable investment, which may or may not fit into an organization’s budget.
- Maintenance. Beyond installation and setup, additional IT systems also require regular software updates, upgrades, and other maintenance considerations.
However, with cloud computing virtualization services, businesses can put disaster recovery plans into motion without using space and resources on their own secondary backup systems.
Implement a Cloud-Based Storage System to Protect and Store Data
As cloud-based storage systems continue to grow in scope and sophistication, more companies will continue to adopt them. By incorporating redundancy into their strategies, cloud hosting services provide an additional layer of protection for clients wishing to keep data safe, secure, and easily accessible.
Whatever your company’s storage needs, you can benefit from introducing a fully redundant cloud hosting server into your IT strategy. With full access to your systems and data in case of power or equipment failures, space-saving off-site locations, and the expert management of qualified IT professionals, you can be sure you’ve made a wise investment.
When it comes to computing, if redundancy is wrong, we don’t want to be right! There are a plethora of options when it comes to investing in a cloud-based storage system. AccuWebHosting is here to help formulate the best strategy for you. Contact us today to learn more.
