The generative AI revolution argues that data has become one of the most precious assets for a business to acquire. With the amount of data in the world set to grow more than 180 zettabytes in just over a year businesses are urged to identify where and how to store the information they use on a daily basis. Lee Thatcher, head of cloud and innovation, answers the questions in his latest feature in News in the Channel. Here’s the full insight, in case you missed it…
1. Are increasing numbers of businesses, especially SMEs looking to move their data to the cloud?
Yes, a growing number of businesses, especially SMEs, are moving their data to the cloud. This shift is driven by the decreasing costs of cloud storage and an increased emphasis on cybersecurity. As the price of cloud storage continues to drop, businesses find it cost-effective to leverage cloud solutions for data storage. Cloud service providers offer specialised security measures, addressing the rising concerns in the digital landscape. The appeal of cloud storage is further heightened by its scalability and flexibility, allowing businesses to seamlessly scale storage needs without data size limitations. This scalability is particularly beneficial for SMEs with dynamic growth or fluctuating data requirements.
The migration is also fueled by the benefit of having less management and overhead associated with traditional storage. Cloud solutions streamline IT management, providing an efficient and simplified approach.
2. How difficult is to move data from being on premise to the cloud?
Moving data from on-premise to the cloud is now no more challenging than transitioning to another server. The process is continually simplifying, facilitated by the increasing number of individuals migrating their storage to the cloud. However, before making the shift, certain factors need consideration when comparing the cloud to on-premise solutions.
3. What role do resellers have in helping customers to make the move to cloud?
In our role as a trusted partner, it is our responsibility to design and provide guidance on the most suitable solutions for our customers contemplating a move to the cloud. Our process involves thorough validation, considering factors such as the volume of data: How much data needs to be moved to the cloud, and how quickly? The bandwidth and speed of their network are critical considerations, impacting both the migration process and the chosen migration type. Security is a paramount concern, and we work towards designing a solution that is not only secure but also compliant with relevant standards. Additionally, ensuring data consistency is a key focus, guaranteeing the maintenance of data integrity and consistency to prevent any loss or corruption of data during the transition.
4. What are some of the solutions that customers can use?
Customers have a range of solutions at their disposal for migrating services to the cloud, provided by leading hyperscale platforms. Notable examples include:
● Amazon Web Services (AWS):
● AWS DataSync
● Snowball
● Microsoft Azure:
● Azure Site Recovery
● Azure Data Box
● Google Cloud:
● Transfer Appliance
● Transfer Service
In addition to these platform-specific tools, customers can explore third-party tools that offer versatile solutions for data migration. These options provide businesses with a diverse set of tools and services to meet their specific needs when transitioning to the cloud.
5. What do you expect the future trends in this market to be?
Looking ahead, I anticipate a shift towards the adoption of hybrid cloud as the standard
among organisations. Embracing this hybrid solution offers a flexible and dynamic approach to cloud integration. Also, the future landscape is likely to be shaped by the increasing influence of automation and AI, particularly machine learning. These technologies are poised to play a pivotal role in streamlining processes and shaping policies related to the storage and utilisation of data. The integration of automation and AI not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to a more intelligent and adaptive framework for managing data in the evolving digital landscape.
Are you an SME looking for the cost-effective answer to storing data?
Contact our team today to discuss tools and services offering versatile solutions for data migration.
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