By 2025, global data storage will be tens of zettabytes, with much of it residing in the cloud. Many companies consider cloud storage to be the best platform, but there are situations where data center storage is best.
Review the pros and cons of data center and cloud data storage, including scalability and cost, and decide what works best.
Why choose cloud storage?
Most businesses choose cloud storage for two main reasons: reliability and scalability. But it’s more than that. Cloud storage reduces operational, IT, maintenance and hardware costs because the cloud provider shoulders everything. Vendors ensure their storage services are running for all of their customers. However, backup cloud storage data in case of failure or other incident.
Cloud storage can be faster for users as it usually uses VMs and spreads data across different servers. This process reduces the likelihood of bottlenecks and application delays.
Why Choose Data Center Storage?
Sometimes there’s nothing quite like hosting data on your own infrastructure and network. Users keep their data separate from others.
However, data center storage requires in-house staff and technical expertise to deploy, operate and maintain the data and infrastructure effectively. Deploy it in any configuration, maintain tight control over performance and security, and ensure strict regulatory compliance for the business or industry. This setup costs more in the long run, but may be worth it depending on your business.
Differences between cloud and data center
The main differences between cloud storage and data center are scalability, security, and cost, but they’re not the only ones.
scalability
Cloud storage is easily scalable as it runs on virtual servers that administrators can quickly spin up or down.
The storage capacity of the data center is limited to the existing infrastructure in the facility. Increasing capacity means investing in more hardware and staff to handle it all.
security
Cloud data storage can offer strong security in its infrastructure. However, since it is accessible to anyone from anywhere with the right credentials over the internet, it poses a security risk. Cloud customers cannot change the security provided by the cloud provider.
Data center storage is inherently more secure because only authorized accounts with the correct credentials from the corporate network can access it. Increase security with additional measures such as role-based access control and identity management applications.
budget and investments
Deploying a data center requires a large upfront investment and significant ongoing maintenance, staffing, and facility costs.
Cloud storage, whether in a public or private cloud, costs less upfront since the cloud provider covers deployment and maintenance costs. The provider invoices regular running costs for use and other user-dependent costs.
speed
Cloud storage is generally faster because the data is decentralized across the various servers dedicated to storage.
Data center storage depends on the speed of the corporate network for processing requests and the amount of data storage.
Update
Cloud providers can handle infrastructure updates more easily because they have the available staff or happen automatically.
Data center storage users are responsible for all updates. When the IT team is overwhelmed with other work, they can unknowingly deprioritize those updates.
Analyze cloud storage vs data center based on many factors such as budget, workload, headcount and industry needs.
data recovery
Recovery is easier with cloud storage as the data is spread across the cloud environment. Administrators can restore it quickly and efficiently.
Data center recovery can be frustrating as it can take a long time. Moreover, users may not even be able to recover all lost data.
Which data storage should you choose?
Analyze cloud storage vs data center based on many factors such as budget, workload, headcount and industry needs.
In general, small businesses and startups should opt for cloud storage – it doesn’t require a large upfront investment since it’s a subscription. Businesses that need specialized storage or have regulatory requirements can choose a private cloud to ensure data stays segregated from customers of other cloud providers.
Larger businesses and enterprises can use either cloud or data center storage depending on their needs. For example, if the business has no regulatory requirements and a small IT team or budget, public cloud data storage might be right for you. Businesses with specific regulatory requirements and small budgets can choose between private cloud or third-party data center storage.
