Data has been growing exponentially for the last few decades. According to the Data Center Services Market Report, the main drivers of growth are remote work, the digitisation of existing processes, the growing industrial sector using digital technologies, a rise in the number of SMEs adopting digital technologies, growing used of Over-the-Top (OTT) services (a method of delivering film and television directly via the internet, without the need for traditional cable or satellite broadcasting), and the development of data-generating and data-hungry technologies, such as IoT or Machine Learning (ML). 

The International Data Corporation predicts that by 2025 the total amount of digital data created worldwide will rise to 163 zettabytes. As a result, the demand for storage space has increased significantly, leading to massive growth in data centres. For example, the world’s largest data centre in China spans 6.3 million square feet of space! Worldwide there are an estimated 7.2 million data centres, so clearly, there is also a physical impact from the data we produce. With this fast-moving landscape in mind, here are some questions you should be asking your business: 

Can your data storage systems keep up with the demand? 

As data volume grows, businesses will need to adapt to stay efficient. For example, companies may find it challenging to keep up with the ever-growing demand for data without the right tools and infrastructure in place. This could result in slower data access times, which could lead to increased costs. Other challenges might arise if your business is not prepared for the increase in data. For example, if your data storage systems can’t keep up with the demand of high data volume, your employees will have difficulty accessing the information they need to do their jobs. Here at 101 Data Solutions, we work with the most advanced data storage providers who operate on a 24/7/365 basis, ensuring our customers don’t have to worry about data issues. 

Do you have an effective data management strategy? 

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data at your disposal. This can lead to a host of problems, including data sprawl, inefficient backups, and a lack of visibility into where your data is located. While it might seem like there’s no way to keep up with the massive amount of data you’re generating, there are a few best practices you can follow to keep things manageable. To start, you should evaluate your current data management strategy. This means analysing where your data is being stored, what type of data is being stored (structured vs unstructured), how it’s being secured, how accessible it is, and how easy it is to manage. These are the key factors 101 Data Solutions considers when helping clients implement the right solutions from leading providers. 

Are you tracking the different types of data you’re storing? 

When managing your data, it’s essential to understand the different types of data that could be stored in your systems. Data comes in a variety of types, including unstructured data (like documents, images, emails, and video), semi-structured data (like log files and database records), and structured data (like data used in business applications). You will likely store all these different data types within your IT systems. Therefore, it’s important to understand the role of each type of data within your enterprise to determine what needs to be managed and for how long. For example, you’ll want to choose the retention period for each file type when it comes to unstructured data. This will help you determine how long you should keep the files so that you don’t accidentally store them longer than necessary, which in turn would increase your data storage needs and associated costs. So, you must figure out what data you want to keep longer than others, determine who has access to which data, how long it should be stored, and develop a plan for securely disposing of data when it’s no longer needed. 

Are you adequately protecting your critical data? 

It’s also important to know where your critical data is stored. This includes the data that you absolutely need in the event of a crisis. You don’t want to lose data that could negatively impact your company, such as customer information, employee records, financial data, or critical business applications. Knowing where your critical data is stored will also help you determine which data storage options you should consider. This includes having the right data governance policies and procedures to monitor and protect your critical data. 

101 Data Solutions helps businesses with all aspects of their data management, from assessment to planning, implementation, and 24/7/365 proactive monitoring and support services. We work with leading data solutions providers to ensure that organisations can protect their data now and in the future. 

About Brett Edgecombe, Managing Director, 101 Data Solutions

Even as a child living in Canada, Brett always had an interest in technology, so starting his career within the technology industry was a natural progression in 1998 when it began at the UK’s first ISP, Compuserve Interactive Services in Bristol.   

He has first-hand experience in modern Enterprise Storage Infrastructure solutions, having worked at Sun Microsystems in 2000, where he worked with large commercial and education customers across the UK.   

Brett created 101 Data Solutions in 2008 with a focus on Data Storage centric delivered through high-quality technology solutions direct to businesses throughout the UK. His strategic vision and sector knowledge allows him to bring excellence to 101’s customers through experience, technical foresight and relationship building.