Backup and storage are two of the most important factors in the search and selection of a colocation facility. Mission-critical information that cannot be compromised needs to be stored and backed up in a very secure environment, whether it is in your own servers or in a colocation facility.
With the number of choices in the market, it can be a tough decision considering that it can be difficult accessing your storage and backup needs. Fortunately, these systems can be integrated with one another and can still work seamlessly.
Choice
To ensure you make the most suitable choice, it is best to first determine your system’s storage needs. Determining the solutions (and combinations of solutions) that meet your requirements for inexpensive web hosting would come easier, especially in a colocation setup.
Fortunately again, there are three basic types of storage and backup solutions for your servers – DAS (direct access storage), NAS (network attached storage) and SAN (storage area network). Knowing them and what they can do by themselves and in tandem can help in making your decision.
Direct attached storage (DAS)
Most of today’s businesses use DAS in the storage and backup system of their data. For comparison, DAS is basically similar to most external hard drives of personal computers where they can be attached at will.
This is one storage system that is best for small business web site hosting which do not have demanding storage needs. The major downside, however, is that your system is slowed down while storing files and running your applications all at the same time.
This is simply caused by the fact that DAS solutions are limited in capacity and is not really that appropriate for large-scale storage needs. If your business is booming, it may serve as a temporary solution, not a permanent one.
Network attached storage (NAS)
NAS works by having additional capacity on your server while keeping it separate from your running applications. It is perfect for businesses that use networked computing.
The big selling point for NAS is enhanced productivity and cost efficiency. With NAS in place, your server can be managed centrally without affecting the other networked servers that run your applications.
Storage area network (SAN)
Among the three, SAN is the more advanced data storage and backup system. It is best for bigger businesses that need a system’s ability to transfer multiple files in more stable fiber connections.
However efficient it is (and becoming more popular), SAN is one solution that is quite new. Moreover, it lacks the compatibility needed to make it more appealing to more customers.
As it is, SAN is greatly more complex and expensive compared to both DAS and NAS. Today, only the big companies who can afford it are using SAN as their main storage and backup system. The biggest reason is its ability to handle the high volume of traffic that is becoming the norm of the small business web site hosting at present.
Ultimately, the choice of your company’s storage and backup system depends largely on the size of your present needs and costs. In a colocation facility, your company’s continuing expansion can be supported with the right storage and backup system.