3 transformative ideas to redefine your search for cloud storage systems
| December 4, 2019
It’s scary to think companies and consumers upload sensitive files to cloud storage systems without radical evaluation of the different options available. Popular cloud storage searches are limited to things like price, performance and security – all important details – but they’re failing to even scratch the surface of your TRUE needs. Here are three dynamic tips to help revamp your entire search process for the best cloud storage system available.
1. Storage is important but retrieval is infinitely more valuable
We’ve let the name ‘cloud storage’ fool us into thinking its most important aspect is the storage. Not even close. The retrieval is way more important! In fact, you should begin your search with the words ‘cloud retrieval’ at the front of your conscious.
If we made a deposit into the bank and it took them a while to store our money, it would be frustrating. However, a slow retrieval would be way worse. Imagine waiting hours for the bank to get your money out to you. The same applies with your sensitive cloud-stored files. Make sure they can get it to you fast. And make sure you can find it easily because it’s organized effectively.
One crucial element to the retrieval process is metadata, a type of data that describes other data. Finding a system that effectively utilizes metadata goes hand-in-hand with efficient retrieval of stored files. Metadata assigns keywords stored files, allowing users to search specific files for instant recall.
2. Seek security from lesser-known threats
The innocuous threats to your stored files are the biggest danger. Most cloud storage systems offer security measurements against outside intruders, such as hackers. This is certainly valuable but it shows a lack of outside-the-box thinking by cloud storage companies. Here are two lesser-known threats that should be addressed in your cloud storage search:
Users within your own company
The cloud storage system you choose should boost security with your own company users. Administrators have classified files and sometimes the most dangerous intrusions are from their own employees. Ensure your next system effectively restricts employee usage based on your preferred settings.
Security from the storage company themselves
The threat companies fail to prepare against is the storage company themselves. Companies can be trusted and backed by reviews but company integrity isn’t the issue. Without measures against their own employees, the cloud company puts your sensitive files at risk. They should be private, even to the hosting company. Make sure end-to-end encryption is a part of their features to prevent this.
3. Rankings are for the masses. You have different needs.
Most articles written about best cloud storage rank top systems based on some kind of algorithm that measures security, price and popularity. If you put your faith into these vanilla, generalized rankings you’ll buy the wrong system altogether. If you wanted to buy a truck specifically for driving in the snow, reading a “Top 5 Trucks” list would be useless, because it would rank things that you don’t personally value.
Instead, you want your searches to feed into your main concerns. Compile a list of the most important needs to your company, then refine all search parameters around it. Ignore what works best for others and instead focus on what will work best for you.
Some example cloud storage systems
After you take in the three tips above, it’s time to put them to good use. When selecting a cloud storage system, be aware of which systems will truly meet your personal needs. Examine whichever system you might select using the above metrics in order to obtain the best results.
Some common cloud systems include Dropbox, Box, Microsoft OneDrive and Sync. Though these all have their merits, they don’t all meet the needs of the modern user the way a digital asset management (DAM) does. In fact, DAM is the only one that implements metadata tools, provides fast retrievability and offers end-to-end encryption. Though some of the other cloud systems do this, they don’t do everything else the right way.
Ultimately, you need a cloud storage system designed uniquely to help you. Put in the time and effort to determine whether your next system has everything you need to succeed.