Data is becoming a more vital to businesses as they become more dependent on digital tools and programs. In many instances the storage and communication of data is vital to the relationships that businesses have with their customers and clients as well as their other partners. If the data gets stolen or damaged it could deprive these parties of trust, and result in business losses.
Enterprises require a reliable platform for data and communication storage to avoid losing valuable information. Platforms must be able to handle massive amounts of information in real-time and also be able to keep this data forever. They should also allow multiple systems to access data.
Direct area storage and network-based storage are two of the most popular types. Direct-attached Storage, or DAS is stored on hardware connected to a computer. Examples include hard disk drives, USB flash drives, optical discs and solid state drives such as compact discs or digital video discs. DAS devices can be more expensive than networked data storage however they offer faster access and greater local backup capabilities.
Network-based data storage is stored on servers that are connected to a network, typically within the data center. This type of storage allows for more information sharing, and offers greater redundancy and disaster protection than DAS. It can be more affordable dependent on the storage option. Common solutions include network-attached storage (NAS) storage area networks (SAN) and object storage platforms.