TwinStrata

If you are considering cloud storage for storing business data, you may have questions regarding control and security. The truth is that not all cloud storage solutions are created equal, but when you choose an enterprise-class gateway solution to enable on-premise access to cloud storage, you not only stay in control of your data — you benefit from a level of security that rivals local storage.

With today’s cloud storage solutions ranging from consumer-grade to enterprise-class, offering huge variations in security, availability and performance, it’s really no wonder why confusion persists. In the interest of clearing the confusion, I think it’s time to debunk a number of common myths and misconceptions about cloud storage deployments for businesses. To do that, I’ve listed 5 familiar objections and myths about cloud storage that are addressed by enterprise-class cloud storage gateways:

Myth #1: It’s not secure enough

Data in the cloud can’t be safe, can it?

With cloud storage gateways offering the option of at-rest AES data encryption with locally managed keys along with fully encrypted data transfers, your data may be safer stored in the cloud rather than stored locally without encryption. Additionally, by storing encryption keys locally and separately from the cloud provider, you can even protect against an attempted breach on the cloud provider side (by let’s say a rogue employee) without exposure of data.

But what if your organization’s compliance requirements prevent you from storing any data outside your firewall? In that case, there are a number of private cloud offerings that can be deployed on-premise – EMC, Mezeo, Nirvanix, Scality and OpenStack to name a few. Even if your data must stay within your firewall, there is no reason to overlook the benefits of cloud storage.

Myth #2: It’s too complicated

I need to invest time learning new cloud storage APIs and porting applications.

With a cloud storage gateway solution, particularly one that is software-based, you can access storage capacity that will accommodate multiple Petabytes of data within minutes. There are no APIs to learn and no required changes to existing applications.

Think about that.  Traditionally, if you want to bring multiple Petabytes of storage capacity into your existing environment, you arrange a “fork-lift” of racks of storage equipment. Not only is that complicated, but what’s worse is that that infrastructure will only typically last 3-5 years. Soon, you’ll be right back into the next storage hardware upgrade cycle.

Myth #3: My data will be locked into the cloud

At least if I wait, I won’t run the risk of locking into the wrong cloud provider.

With dozens of cloud storage providers ranging from public to private to open-source clouds available today, cloud storage gateways offer you the flexibility to choose the provider that’s right for you.  In fact, you can even choose multiple providers simultaneously or switch from one to another. With open access to a growing ecosystem of providers, there is no reason to wait.

Be sure to invest in a gateway that is not locked into a single provider and is not single purpose. Instead, look for a gateway that can store backups, archives or even copies of primary data across a broad choice of providers simultaneously.

Myth #4: Why add risk? Maintaining the status quo is the safest bet

The folks who designed our existing storage environment didn’t need the cloud. Why do we?

Often, the status quo is a compromise that doesn’t include a robust disaster recovery solution, placing your entire business at risk. Perhaps the status quo involves shipping unencrypted tapes offsite as a first line of disaster recovery.  Think about the last time you ran a disaster drill and ask yourself – how quickly can I get my business back up and running? With enterprise-class cloud storage gateways, it’s simple to store data offsite for disaster recovery, with instant access from virtually anywhere.

You may consider local storage infrastructure relatively risk-free. However, the continuous purchase and retirement of on-premise storage arrays creates business risk on a regular basis, introducing complex and costly migration operations into the business. Maintenance windows, long migrations, and even policy changes can be particularly disruptive.

Myth #5: What if I work myself out of a job?

No one ever lost their job sticking with local storage infrastructure.

This particular argument has a knack for resurfacing with all new technologies. While cloud compute and storage have become very powerful tools for augmenting existing IT infrastructure, they still require skillful deployments that follow IT best practices.  The benefit of offloading the infrastructure to the provider is that it significantly reduces some of the more cumbersome IT tasks around infrastructure management. However, the task of architecting and deploying a supportable solution still remains.

Consider instead the consequences of inaction. Ignoring cloud infrastructure options available today may put your business at risk of being overtaken by more nimble competitors who are, in fact, leveraging the cloud, streamlining their operations, and improving their productivity. You may indeed work yourself out of a job in a way you may not have quite envisioned.

Bottom line? Enterprise-class cloud storage gateways have come a long way and address the risks of cloud storage deployments, making integration seamless and enabling huge cost and administrative savings. If you haven’t kept abreast of recent advances, you may want to set some time aside to revisit how enterprise-class gateways, like CloudArray, are making it amazingly easy to start augmenting your IT infrastructure.

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