octobernovember2022 - 8

FEATURE
The Pros and Cons of
Offsite Data Storage
By Richard Bailey
ENTERPRISE-GRADE STORAGE IS the lifeblood of cloud computing.
As a result, global businesses have an insatiable appetite
for data storage, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, and it
is estimated that there will be over 200 zettabytes of data by
2025. A zettabyte equals one billion terabytes.
Since the COVID-19 global pandemic, offsite
storage has become the go-to place for data
storage. Demand for centralized storage services
has grown exponentially. Join us as we
discover the pros and cons of offsite storage,
learning why demand is so high along the way.
WHAT IS OFFSITE STORAGE?
Offsite storage is storage hardware relocated
at a remote, geographically disparate location.
Popular examples include:
* Leasing storage at a remote data center.
* Leveraging a managed service provider's
data center.
* Consuming cloud storage from a cloud provider.
PROS:
Let's jump straight into the pros:
* Scalability and Efficiency: Offsite storage
provides unlimited scalability; there is no cap
on the amount of storage available, and you can
consume as much or as little data as you desire.
Automated schedules automatically archive
data after a pre-defined period. For example,
typical plans may include archiving all data over
90 days old. A computerized routine will copy
the relevant data to archive storage, perhaps
to another provider, to ensure data integrity.
* Cost and Value: Offsite and cloud storage is
an affordable way to acquire enterprise-grade
features (e.g., encryption and data protection);
low cost is why users are switching to offsite
storage en masse. Storage is often sold on a
pay-as-you-go cost model, with free incentives
to encourage users to join. There is no initial
outlay for expensive storage hardware and no
complex maintenance or support contracts
to maintain.
* Instant Availability:
Offsite and cloud data
storage are available
now. You can be up and running within a few
clicks. Files can be uploaded or downloaded
via a cloud console, a command line interface,
or using an app created by the provider. With
offsite cloud storage, the infrastructure is
already in place, and the platform is already
available. As a result, there are no extensive
lead times when procuring the hardware and
no waiting for employee availability to rack
and install hardware. Instead, the client can
plug directly into the cloud storage and start
working immediately.
* It's a Managed Service: The storage solution is
a managed service, so you expect everything to
work perfectly as a consumer. These services
have been around for several years, so the
platforms have had time to bed in. Most cloud
providers offer up to 100% service level agreements
(SLAs) on cloud storage, enforcing the
view that cloud storage reliability is exemplary.
The managed service providers handle
hardware failures and manage the complex
operations needed to keep the service running
efficiently. For example, engineers address
problems at the storage layer and, if required,
can allocate data between clients and devices
on demand. In addition, the managed service
provider is responsible for the storage lifecycle
and upgrade planning.
* Flexible Connectivity: You only need an
internet connection to access offsite storage;
perhaps a dedicated virtual private network
for added security. Data is easy to get to,
private by default, and can be shared with
whomever you like.
8 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
CONS:
* Security and Privacy Concerns: Although cloud
storage is exceptionally secure, incorrectly
configured solutions are possible. There are
numerous examples of a misconfigured storage
bucket exposing sensitive personal data. Protect
offsite storage from unauthorized access and
always encrypt.
* Compliance and Data Governance: There
are complex data pr ivacy laws to follow
when securing or destroying data. General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Cisco
Certified Network Associate (CCNA) are just two
examples. Consider the location of data; many
businesses are forbidden to store sensitive data
outside the U.S.
* Long-Term Costs: Offsite storage is often
affordable; however, there may be a risk of
vendor lock-in, so research the long-term costs.
* Noisy Neighbors: Choose wisely between
dedicated or shared storage. Will there be
contention for resources from yourself and other
clients? Most good storage providers offer QOS,
but this risk is vital to remember.
So that is our top pros and cons for offsite
data storage. We are witnessing a paradigm
shift toward cloud computing, and offsite cloud
storage is making a real difference for business
and personal users worldwide. ■
Richard Bailey is the Lead IT Consultant at Atlantic.
Net, a growing and profitable cloud hosting company
that specializes in HIPAA compliance.
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