Although no business wants to think about it, disaster can strike at any time, crippling important systems, creating significant chaos and causing essential data to potentially be lost in the process. For this reason, organizations have increasingly been looking to protect their data with the best solutions possible. Whether the threat comes from malware or severe weather conditions, sensitive files must have a backup available at all times to ensure that employees are able to get systems running again. However, if the company hasn’t observed data archiving best practices, they will be considerably set back in these efforts and will expend additional expenses to fully recover.

With the number of devices entering the workplace, organizations are generating more data than ever before and it’s becoming more difficult to keep track of it all. However, because of the rise of big data, storage devices are constantly improving and becoming more accessible, according to ITWeb. Decision-makers are no longer just considering the capacity of their solutions, but are now factoring in how to efficiently handle the data they are collecting. This element will be critical to ensuring that they obtain a solution that meets their needs without compromising their important files. In addition, many solutions will have automated backup capabilities which enable users to have the most recent information available at all times. This will create less chaos in an emergency and will make the data readily available for use.

“Furthermore, placing this data automatically on the right performance level results in organizations having a storage system that offers optimal performance without them having to manually manage the data sets daily,” ITWeb stated.

Leveraging cold storage for backup and recovery
It’s important to note that storage solutions are not one-size-fits-all, and there are numerous standards that must be adhered to. For these reasons, cold storage makes the most sense for many businesses. With four different levels of storage, organizations can choose the one that makes the most sense for their requirements, according to InfoStor. Polar collection, for example, takes hold of data that may never be used, while chilly collection often needs up to 10 percent of its data back throughout a one-year period. Icy collection involves data that will not be used very often and cold collection has a return rate of 2 to 5 percent of its data over a year. This amount of specificity, along with several other options, shows that businesses can easily find the type of cold storage they need without too much customization required.

Another reason that cold storage is becoming so popular is the amount of control that management has over its own data. Much like other physical storage options, cold storage can be accessed quickly but does not have the same threats as online platforms, making it less likely to be breached by malware or other third-party attacks. Numerous organizations, including Facebook, are taking advantage of this approach to recover information and ensure that it remains secure.