One of the very first cloud technologies adopted by companies (before they even really knew what “cloud” meant) was cloud storage. Being able to store files in a way that makes them easy to access from anywhere and share with others was a huge evolution from having them all stored on just one computer or server’s hard drive.
Cloud storage and cloud services have come a long way since the early 2000s, and the ability to store files offsite has become a necessity for business continuity and data loss prevention.
The use of cloud storage is one of the main cloud needs that just about every company has, and thus the industry is continuing to evolve to meet new security and performance requirements.
Following are some of the interesting and helpful cloud data storage trends that you’ll see happening in the near future or may have already noticed from your own storage provider.
The Edge Will Become a Bigger Factor
The “Edge” or “edge computing” is a popular term used for bringing data storage geographically closer to the systems that need to access that data.
For example, if your business is in Charlotte and the server that Dropbox assigns you when you sign up for its cloud storage is in Sydney Australia, this can cause problems. It will mean more bandwidth needs to be used to transmit that data over the roughly 9,500 miles between the two locations.
This causes issues with delays in reaction times when you’re searching for or trying to access your files.
So, cloud providers use edge computing, which means Dropbox would assign you the closest available server, say one that was in Atlanta, GA. This use of Edge will become a bigger factor for cloud data storage, meaning that you should see better service and performance from your cloud provider as it works to locate resources closer to needs.
Ransomware Protections Will Become a New Key Feature
Ransomware attacks have been on the rise for a few years now, and 2021 was no different. We saw an increase of 105% in ransomware activity last year.
This particularly damaging type of attack can be very costly because it essentially brings a company to a standstill. And if it doesn’t have ransomware protections in place, it can mean high costs for recovery.
Cloud storage is not immune from being infected with ransomware, and one client’s infection could potentially spread throughout a cloud storage server, impacting multiple customers of the service provider.
To combat this risk, you’ll begin to see cloud storage platforms introduce new anti-ransomware features. They could be features such as turning on a requirement for a passcode to be entered before allowing any file changes in certain folders.
These new protections may not be turned on by default, so it’s a good idea to work with your IT provider. We’ll be happy to help you configure those properly.
Look for AI to Help with Storage Organization & More
The more users that you have sharing a common cloud storage system, the more chance there is for files to end up disorganized. People may waste time just searching for a file folder or create a new folder for a topic because they didn’t know one already existed.
With the use of AI and machine learning, your cloud storage system is going to help you and your team stay more organized. It will be able to look at your current file structure and do things like make suggestions on where a file should be saved.
Other uses for AI in cloud storage will include tasks that can help you automate manual administration tasks, such as:
- Provisioning
- Managing data
- Handling data retention policies
Cloud Storage Costs Per TB Will Come Down
Companies are creating digital files at a dizzying pace. We create roughly 1.7MB of data every second, and that’s per person. Multiply that by the employees in a company and cloud storage needs are only going up.
As this happens, companies may expect to pay more for cloud storage, however, with optimizations using AI and the realization that businesses can only afford to spend so much, the actual cost per TB for cloud storage should come down in the future.
Many large cloud service providers, like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are also looking to reduce their carbon footprints and costs through the use of sustainable strategies. This will further help them fill the need for more data storage without pricing small businesses out of the service.
Looking for a Better Way to Store & Secure Cloud Data?
Rocky Knoll Technologies has cloud experts on staff that can help your Charlotte area business optimize your use of cloud storage and ensure all your data is properly protected from ransomware or data loss.
Schedule a consultation by calling 704.594.7292 or reach us online.
