Data is essential for running modern businesses smoothly and efficiently. However, without the right storage infrastructure, that data can become difficult to organise, access, and protect. In this article, we will look at 10 enterprise storage solutions that can help businesses better manage their data and streamline day-to-day operations.
1. Centralised Data Storage
One fundamental way to get data under control is through centralised data storage. Rather than having mission-critical files scattered across individual employee computers and devices, a centralised enterprise storage solution houses all business data in one secure location. This centralised repository makes it simple for authorised employees to access the same files from anywhere, minimising data silos that slow workflows. It also eases backup and disaster recovery procedures since everything is backed up by a single source.
2. Cloud Storage
Cloud storage removes the need to maintain expensive on-premise servers by leveraging remote cloud infrastructure. Services like these provide scalable storage that grows alongside business needs without requiring hardware purchases or upfront expenditures on capacity. Automatic synchronisation across devices gives teams consistent access to the latest files from any internet-connected location. And with advanced security, file sharing, and collaboration tools included, cloud storage fuels more efficient remote and distributed teamwork.
3. Shared Storage
Shared enterprise storage solutions carve out sections of network-attached storage (NAS) into virtual shares that different teams or departments can use. This allows groups to have their own dedicated work areas while still pooling resources more cost-effectively than separate, isolated systems. Shared storage also simplifies file transfers between teams since everything lives on the same volume. And administrators can control access permissions on shares down to a granular, user-level level to maintain security and privacy as needed.
4. Object Storage
Object enterprise storage solutions manage data as unstructured “objects” stored in buckets rather than rigid filesystem hierarchies. This makes it much more scalable for enormous and rapidly growing datasets compared to block- or file-based solutions. Objects can include any file format, from videos to images to documents. Plus, object storage systems provide HTTP access, simplified developer tools, and are optimised for big data analytics on massive unstructured file collections.
5. Continuous Data Protection
Rather than periodic snapshots, continuous data protection (CDP) records every single change made to production data in real-time. If a crash or error occurs, it can restore the exact state of files from seconds earlier, versus having to recover from a backup that is potentially hours old. This gives a comprehensive point-in-time view to minimise data loss. CDP enterprise storage solutions are indispensable for mission-critical 24/7 systems that can’t afford extensive downtime during recovery and need the highest level of data integrity assurance.
6. All-Flash Storage Arrays
Traditional hard disc drives (HDDs) have moving parts that can slow performance for input/output (I/O)-intensive workloads. All-flash storage arrays instead use faster solid-state drives (SSDs) with no mechanical latency. They deliver much higher IOPS, lower latency, faster response times, and greater scalability than HDD-based platforms. As prices come down, all-flash has become feasible even for general-purpose primary storage needs for databases, virtualization, and other demanding enterprise applications.
7. Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) enterprise storage solutions collapse previously separate components like compute, storage, and virtualization into an integrated appliance. It streamlines deployment and management while delivering cost savings compared to building independent servers, networking, and storage. With HCI, resources scale on demand together in lockstep as usage grows, avoiding waste from overprovisioning certain elements. Its unified management console also eases the manageability of complex infrastructure that may otherwise require training multiple administrators.
8. Disaster Recovery as a Service
For recovering vital systems in case of outages or disasters, disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) replicates production data to cloud-based failover sites. Should the primary location go down, operations can seamlessly resume on redundant cloud resources within recovery time objectives (RTOs). Subscription-based DRaaS plans eliminate the costs of maintaining secondary physical disaster recovery centres and hardware. The cloud provider assumes responsibility for availability, enabling always-on business continuity without substantial upfront CapEx.
9. Massive Scale-Out File Storage
Web giants and enterprises with truly enormous unstructured data needs require exabyte-scale file storage solutions. Rather than monolithic storage systems, massive scale-out file storage uses distributed architectures leveraging hundreds or thousands of commodity servers. Low-cost hard drives deliver petabytes of effective capacity, while distributed management optimises performance across nodes to reliably sustain file workloads numbering in the millions of IOPs. Scale-out storage serves as the dependable backbone for humongous public object stores and data lakes at hypergrowth organisations.
10. Block Storage for Virtualization
As virtualization becomes pervasive, virtual machines produce their own discrete storage blocks, equivalent to physical discs. Dedicated block enterprise storage solution arrays consolidate these blocks into high-performance resource pools. These pools are specifically designed to accelerate the I/O demands of densely packed virtual infrastructures. Features like thin provisioning, automated tiering, and caching optimise shared block storage for server virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) workloads at large enterprises.
Conclusion
From centralised data repositories like NAS to scalable public cloud options, modern businesses have plenty of choices for gaining control over their most critical asset—data. The right storage infrastructure streamlines workflows through simplified access, collaboration, and management of files. It also safeguards information through data protection, security, and business continuity features. Whether on-premises or in the cloud, leveraging these enterprise storage solutions lifts productivity while future-proofing operations for tomorrow’s changing data demands.
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