Enterprise Data Storage for Backups

The average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute, underscoring the urgent need for robust data storage and backup solutions to avoid catastrophic data loss and financial ruin.

Discover how enterprise storage solutions can safeguard critical information, ensure seamless operations, and provide peace of mind in a data-driven world.

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What Is Enterprise Data Storage?

Enterprise data storage is a centralized repository designed to manage, protect, and share large volumes of business-critical information. This type of storage is connected to various computer systems, which ensures scalability for workloads ranging from hundreds of terabytes to petabytes.

Within this broad category, a critical subset is enterprise storage for backups, dedicated to securely storing backup data for businesses. These solutions must be ransomware-proof, featuring immutability and robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access and data corruption.

Enterprise Data Storage Approaches

Direct-Attached Storage (DAS)
Direct-attached storage (DAS) connects directly to a computer or server, offering fast and straightforward access to data. While affordable and easy to implement, DAS lacks scalability and network accessibility, making it ideal for smaller setups where immediate access is essential.
Network-Attached Storage (NAS)
Network-attached storage (NAS) connects to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access data centrally. NAS is cost-effective and offers features like RAID configurations for data redundancy.
Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Storage Area Networks (SANs) connect and share storage resources across multiple servers using high-speed networks. They are scalable and offer robust performance, making them suitable for large enterprises with high-demand applications such as databases.
Software-Defined Storage (SDS)
Software-defined storage (SDS) decouples storage management from the physical hardware, allowing for flexible and scalable storage solutions. SDS can run on various hardware platforms, reducing vendor lock-in and enabling easier management of large data centers.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage provides scalable, remote data storage solutions managed by third-party providers. It offers flexibility and disaster recovery capabilities with public, private, or hybrid cloud setup options.

Types of Backup Storage for Enterprises

From cloud to on-premise to hybrid solutions, understanding the options will help you make the best choice for your organization:

Cloud backup storage involves storing data on remote servers managed by third-party providers. This type of storage offers scalability and flexibility, allowing businesses to adjust storage needs as they grow.
Examples include Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, and Google Cloud Storage.

Crucial Challenges for Enterprise Storage

Storing data is a significant hurdle for companies as they navigate numerous challenges that impact security, availability, and cost efficiency.

Here are some of the most pressing issues enterprises face:

Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks can endanger businesses by encrypting critical files and demanding ransom payments for their release. These attacks can lead to significant downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Disaster Data Loss
Natural disasters, hardware failures, and human errors can result in catastrophic data loss. Such events can disrupt business operations and negatively impact customer trust and revenue.
Reducing Infrastructure Costs
Managing high-performance storage while staying within budget constraints is a constant challenge. High infrastructure costs can strain financial resources and limit the ability to invest in other areas.
Scalability Issues
As data volumes grow, enterprises often struggle with scaling their storage solutions efficiently. Inadequate scalability can lead to performance degradation, increased management complexity, and higher costs.
Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
Many businesses must adhere to continuous data protection regulations and compliance standards. Failing to meet these requirements can result in hefty fines, legal issues, and damage to the company's reputation.
Performance Bottlenecks
Slow data access and performance bottlenecks can hinder business operations, reducing productivity and efficiency. In addition, performance issues can impact critical applications and services, leading to operational delays.

Why Is It Important to Have Enterprise Storage for Backups?

Regardless of the primary storage solution, having a reliable backup system is essential to protect against data loss from ransomware attacks, hardware failures, natural disasters, or human errors.

Robust backup storage ensures that businesses can quickly recover their data, maintain continuity, and minimize downtime and financial losses in the event of a primary storage failure or data breach.

It also helps companies avoid losing vital information, preventing operational disruptions and long-term damage to their reputation and financial health.

Features That Enterprise Storage for Backups Must Have

Given the significant data storage challenges—from security threats to cost constraints—enterprise backup storage must have specific features to safeguard businesses effectively

Here’s what to look for:

Immutability
Immutable storage ensures that once data is written, it cannot be altered or deleted. This feature protects against ransomware attacks, assuring backup data's integrity, making it tamper-proof and secure.
Security
Robust security features, such as encryption and access controls, guarantee that backup data is secure and compliant with data protection regulations and industry standards.
Simplicity
A simple and user-friendly backup storage solution reduces the complexity of data management, allowing IT teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than dealing with complicated storage configurations.
Scalability
A scalable backup storage solution allows enterprises to expand their storage capacity seamlessly without compromising performance or requiring significant infrastructure changes.
Reliability
Reliable backup storage minimizes data loss risk by ensuring backups are successfully completed and restored when needed.
Cost-Effectiveness
Cost-effective backup storage balances necessary features with performance while meeting budget constraints, maximizing return on investment, and ensuring data protection.

Ootbi - Best Immutable Storage for Veeam

Ransomware-proof and immutable out-of-the-box, Ootbi by Object First delivers secure, simple, and powerful backup storage for Veeam customers. Ootbi is the best storage for enterprises that use Veeam because it delivers S3 native immutable object storage designed and optimized for unbeatable data backup and recovery performance.

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Download a white paper to learn three reasons why Ootbi by Object First is the best storage for Veeam.

A brief description of the benefits of a secure, simple and powerful data warehouse for Veeam users.

FAQ

What Is an Enterprise Data Strategy?

An enterprise data strategy is a comprehensive plan outlining how an organization manages, stores, and utilizes data, including data backup and recovery processes. It ensures data is effectively protected, accessible, and leveraged for business insights.

What Is Enterprise Storage Management?

Enterprise storage management involves overseeing and maintaining an organization's storage systems to ensure data availability, security, and efficiency. It includes capacity planning, performance monitoring, and data security.

What Is the Best Storage Type for Backup?

On-premise storage is often the best option for backup due to its controllability, security, and reliability. It provides faster data retrieval and enhanced security measures, making it ideal for protecting critical business data.

Why Is Immutability Important in Enterprise Backup Storage?

Immutability ensures that once data is written, it cannot be altered or deleted, protecting it from ransomware attacks and unauthorized modifications. This feature guarantees the integrity and security of backup data.

What Are the Key Considerations When Choosing a Backup Storage Solution for an Enterprise?

Key considerations include scalability, security, simplicity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. It is essential to select a solution that can grow your business, protect your data, and fit within your budget.