The Importance of Proper Server Data Storage

Your server data storage is a prime target for attacks. If there’s anything that IT departments and companies should agree on – regardless of industry – it’s the fact that safe server data storage matters now more than it ever has.

Big data is a big deal, and more companies are switching over to the cloud than ever before. Even industries that were once paper-based and relied on antiquated systems to store their data have come around.

The question now for companies is not whether they should be utilizing the best server data storage solutions, it’s a matter of which solution is right for them. The biggest concern, of course, is safety – and it should be.

With more and more sensitive data being transmitted than ever before, companies have to take responsibility. They don’t just owe it to themselves, but to their clients as well.

If data isn’t safe, it can have big long-term consequences and it can be expensive to clean up after. It’s crucial to have a system in place that’s easy to use, but also safe to use as well.

What Are the Biggest Concerns with Server Data Storage?

Here are some of the biggest concerns that companies still have regarding server data storage:

• Organizing Unstructured Data – Keeping tabs on the bits and pieces that arise through typical planned business operations like social media and video.
• Data Breaches – Big data breaches are reported all the time and it’s always concerning to hear about stories in which sensitive information is leaked and exposed.
• Searchability – Being able to access important information when it’s needed by the people who need it is the whole point of effective server data storage. Not all systems are created equal in this capacity.

Safety Should Not Be Sacrificed

Fortunately, with programs like Microsoft Azure and custom solutions, businesses do not have to choose between safety and access. There are more software solutions than ever for server data storage that can bring everything together and keep it safe.

Services like Dropbox simply do not go far enough for organizations big and small. Sure, it’s centralized, but it’s not able to be adjusted for each businesses’ needs in terms of security and accessibility. When it comes to search, Dropbox simply doesn’t cut it like many custom alternatives do. It’s just not user-friendly for most businesses.

In terms of privacy, it’s tough for IT professionals to feel like they should hang their hat on Dropbox’s privacy policy. It’s more than a bit loose and when it comes to protecting sensitive data like legacy archives, litigation data, and surveillance data, they can’t afford to take the risk.

Many companies do choose to rely on Dropbox for heavy lifting, but in the end, if sensitive data is breached or lost, it’s simply not worth it.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

Choosing a solution and never adjusting or customizing is not an option. The data you’re using now is not finite. It’s going to keep growing

Many companies have to play a bit of catch-up to get their server data storage system to baseline, but it’s not enough to stop the process there.

For example, law firms have very different needs than HR consultancy firms do. Here are a few questions to ask to assess the need:

• Is the documentation that’s being passed through the cloud image based?
• How large are the files that are passing through?
• Are you backing up social media content? Video content?

Security is always important, but in some cases, it’s vitally important – especially when the information that’s being protected has personal information attached. That’s all the more reason to choose the absolute safest option in server data storage.

Authentication Is Key

Literally, the way that access is authenticated is the key to keeping data safe. Data breaches frequently happen upon entry so if the authentication process is lax, data is in danger.

Without multi-factor authentication (MFA), data simply isn’t safe. It’s an integral part of a good server data storage system. It shouldn’t be that easy to break in. More than one lock is necessary for peace of mind. Even the keys themselves need to be protected.

The API Needs to Be Protected

In order to make sure that the API is not hacked into, certain measures must be taken. This process needs to include threat modeling applications, data flows, and architecture/design.

They’re an integral part of the development life cycle and should absolutely be a key component to data solutions.

Protect Data from An Inside Job

You wouldn’t hand a key over to a disgruntled former employee, would you? Well, that’s exactly what you’re doing when you don’t have safe server data storage solutions at your company.

Malicious insiders may be the biggest threat there is because they know how to use the data they’re accessing. They may even use it to steal clients, blast a company on social media, and cause a PR nightmare. It’s not worth the risk to find out.

How can this be prevented? The safest road is to segregate access and duties for existing employees. Don’t give them keys to areas that they don’t need to access.

Accurate logging, regular monitoring, and audits are also good ways to mitigate the risk of this type of potential data breach.

Prevent The Loss of Data

Preferably, your server should know where every piece of data is all the time, and it should be able to be accessed by those parties that need to access it.

The added measure that should be taken, of course, is encryption. If data is saved across multiple zones and the encryption key is protected, the only way that data will be lost is if the encryption key is lost.

Essentially, you should be able to access data when you need it, and it should be very apparent when it is missing. This should never be an issue if you choose the right server data storage solution.

Are you ready to learn more about server data storage solutions that are safer than Dropbox and include the search, analytics, security, and data governance you’re looking for? Contact Veritas. The public cloud does not have to be a scary place.