More and more companies are joining the data migration to the cloud, a process that was a pipe dream until a few years ago. However, the need to save physical space – computers, hard drives and servers… – has led to a veritable cloud explosion worldwide.
What Is Data Migration?
But what exactly is data migration? In a digital context, it is any process in which data is transferred from one specific system to another. That is when a company decides to change how information is stored. For example, when you stop saving your files on a CD to an external hard drive or, in this case, when you decide to export them to a server outside the organization.
What Are The Advantages Of Data Migration For A Company?
The most immediate advantage data migration can bring to companies is space savings. This is the last step in the natural evolution of data storage since the analogue era, with folders, files and boxes stacked on endless shelves.
And due to the very high volume of information that companies deal with today, the growing need for hosting data external to the organization’s IT equipment is unquestionable: with millions of terabytes circulating daily in the network – between videos, images or even emails – storing all this information locally requires larger hard drives and servers ever.
Because in the age of streaming, data is increasingly imponderable: according to a recent Business Intelligence study, just over three petabytes – around 3,000 terabytes – of information are moved across the world via the Internet in one minute, about 160 million emails are sent, and nearly four million searches are performed on Google. Undoubtedly, saving space is the main advantage of data migration … but it is not the only one.
Permanent Availability
Another strong point of migrating data to the cloud is the high availability of the service by the user, which does not depend on a physical device that can fail (such as a hard disk ) or on a fully decentralized infrastructure of the local system., generally much more reliable.
Mobility
Furthermore, due to the increasing relocation of work, it is beneficial not to depend on local storage spaces. With the information in the cloud, any worker in the company can access it from virtually anywhere on the planet. You only need an Internet connection and don’t worry about the rest.
Greater Scalability
Another advantage of the cloud is that it is scalable at all levels, unlike other storage systems tied to obsolete devices and software. For example, according to Kaspersky, nearly a quarter of PC users worldwide still use Windows 7 as their operating system (which was discontinued in 2020). However, data migration to the cloud will potentially not expire, as the way of working will remain similar to the current one regardless of the volume of information. It will only require minor improvements and more powerful servers.
Cost Savings
The space savings add up to another variable that is quite relevant for the company: cost savings. Centralizing everything in one place means you don’t have to allocate large amounts of money to purchase devices, software, and other hidden expenses.
Multiple Layers Of Security
On the other hand, security is another crucial aspect, as the cloud allows the company to ‘forget’ this aspect. Information protection is the responsibility of the cloud provider, which is very useful for two reasons: on the one hand, the end user (the employee ) does not need to be a cybersecurity expert; on the other hand, working with physical devices in which the information itself is storage always carries more risks, both because they can be damaged and because security layers tend to be smaller and weaker.
And Can Migrating Data To The Cloud Pose Risks?
Of course, several risks are also inherent in migrating data to the cloud. In particular, those that have to do with data loss or information quality ( we do not have direct storage control), interference or unwanted duplication, as well as legal aspects such as non -compliance with data protection laws ( which he did not pass on to third parties, for example), something that in some countries is still a problem today.
Therefore, we can conclude that although data migration to the cloud implies an almost absolute dependence on the cloud service provider, it is an ideal solution for companies that deal with large volumes of information, which are in the process of digital transformation.
Also Read: Cloud Hospitality: How To Ensure Guest Data Security?