EDITOR’S QUESTION
OSAMA AL-ZOUBI, CHIEF
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, CISCO
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
s businesses continue
to accumulate a wealth
of data, it becomes
increasingly important to
recognise the potential
challenges that may arise
as a result of improper storage. Long-term
data storage solutions can help provide a
solid foundation from which organisations
can successfully aid their growth
strategies, in a responsible manner.
A
Here are some of the most common
obstacles businesses face when it comes
to storing data:
1. Suitable infrastructure
When organisations possess a wealth
of data, they need the right structure
in place to house it. This can often
result in companies investing in high-
tech servers that inevitably take up a
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Issue 04
considerable amount of office space.
An ideal solution is cloud hosting and
cloud storage, which utilise advanced
architectures to not only save space
but also the hassle of installing and
maintaining physical servers on-site.
2. Degree of scalability
Our world is changing, fast. We can
no longer predict a company’s future
needs but what we can anticipate
is how prepared we are for such
change. Every data storage solution
needs to be invested in with an idea of
volume and scale in mind. Whether a
company’s needs in the future increase
or decrease, they should have a wealth
of options available to help meet their
business objectives with ease.
3. Cost efficiency
At its core, a business must remain
cost effective. Running a data centre
can cause costs to spiral – from
investing in initial setup, to addressing
maintenance issues and even hiring
the skilled workers needed to keep the
centre running. Rather, companies can
pay a monthly fee and outsource their
data storage needs for greater cost
efficiency and peace-of-mind.
4. Remaining secure
One of the biggest issues with data
storage is the topic of security.
Greater connectivity is also resulting
in greater risks – a reality which we
cannot avoid. Any data that is stored
is subjected to an element of risk, with
cybercriminals keen to obtain and
exploit sensitive information. Securing
infrastructure is vital in terms of
helping organisations function,
monitoring and acting fast to respond
to cyberthreats.
5. Environmental considerations
In addition to external threats,
elements as small as dust and fine
particles can also interfere with data
storage capabilities. If not housed in
the appropriate environment, data can
also be corrupted by electromagnetic
interference – an element often
overlooked by businesses when
choosing where to store their data. As
data centres age, they also begin to
degrade and require several backups to
avoid future mishaps.
6. Level of accessibility
With data being vital for analysis
and the future plans of any business,
its accessibility also needs to be
considered. A simple, yet intuitive
user interface can give access to a
wide range of functions and insights.
Data needs to be easy to interpret
and available at a moment’s notice
for businesses operating within
today’s fast-paced economy. More
importantly, if using multiple systems,
businessowners need a strong data
storage partner and open API for
increased compatibility.
At Cisco, we believe in championing a
multi-cloud world, to make life simpler.
From public clouds, to on-site premises,
our cloud solutions vary from applications
to infrastructure. We bring together
networking, security, analytics and
management to help businesses connect,
protect and consumer clouds in a multi-
cloud world.
www.intelligentdatacentres.com