Cloud storage can be great for your business because it allows you to scale up whenever you need it and the network interface is often very flexible. At the same time, there are many things that you need to think about and prepare before your files can be moved to the cloud network.
You need to think about security and pruning your current files to ensure that you save money. You must also think about finding the right provider for your needs.
Finding the Right Provider
There are various cloud storage providers that have many different features, but you need to find the right one for your needs. Cost is obviously a major factor when choosing a provider, but there are many other things that you should consider. The first thing that you should think about is the provider’s storage capacity. If you have many files, then you will need a provider that can easily accommodate your data. You will probably have to call the provider to see how much data can be stored.
Security should be another consideration because you will be moving most or all of your files to the service provider. Make sure that all of the data is encrypted and that it’s difficult for hackers or disgruntled employees to break into your cloud server. Another thing to think about is the user interface. For example, if you aren’t very skilled at working with servers, then choosing a service provider with a complex interface would be a bad idea.
Every business has different needs. Make sure the cloud storage company caters to your business.
Prune the Network
Since you are charged for every file that you store, it’s a good idea to look through your network and remove all unnecessary files. For example, do you really need outdated order forms from 10 years ago? This is also beneficial because is will improve transfer speeds between your network and the cloud storage servers.
While it’s best to be cautious before deleting a file, the truth is that about 70 percent of businesses have a substantial number of files that they don’t need. You may not even need cloud storage if you are able to delete enough files.
Consider Security
You should obviously use a cloud service provider with adequate security, but you need to consider security again before transferring your files. For example, is it a good idea to send critical files to the service provider? If there is a problem and the files are lost or stolen, then this could seriously damage your business.
It might be best to keep a few files stored on your own network that aren’t transferred to the service provider. This ensures that you still have complete control of the files without worrying about somebody stealing the data.
Set Log Rotation Policies
A log file keeps track of everything that happens to your cloud storage space. For example, the file will record users that enter the storage space, what they add or remove and other information that is important for security purposes. You need this information to establish blame if something happens, but the problem is that log files can become very large.
If you want to quickly access your cloud storage space without any lagging, then it’s best to set a log rotation policy. This will rotate the log file so that it stays fairly small. A smaller log file ensures that the storage space loads quickly and that you don’t have to pay for storing additional data.
Create a Backup
The final thing that you should do before transferring your files to a service provider is to create a backup of all of your files. While the service provider will probably create backups, it’s still a good idea to have your own in case something happens. This ensures that you can easily recover your business’s data even if there is a catastrophic problem.
Conclusion
Moving your files to a cloud storage center will help your business function, but you need to prepare for this transition if you want things to be smooth and simple. It’s a good idea to review your data, prune unnecessary files and create a backup for yourself. These steps will ensure that transition is as easy as possible when you migrate your files to th
About the Author: Rosa Smith uses a Virtual hosting cloud servers from Profitbricks.com cloud computing solutions when working remotely on her personal blog and online for business!
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