
Wholesale USB And Beyond: 3 Storage Solutions For Your Business Data
Whether you’re an independent retailer or a large enterprise, there are several options you can choose from to safely keep your data. Business data are critical to all business types, whether it’s retail, wholesale, business-to-business, business-to-consumer, or any other kind of enterprise.
Data stored would allow you to have a backup for your business information. So in case your data become compromised, you have a restore point from your stored data. If you’re an indie retailer, this article offers you several options for data storage suitable for your business type.
Internal Computer Storage Media
The gadgets you use for your independent retailer business have internal storage space, whether it’s a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. This internal memory is important not only for storing data but also for running your tasks. Besides, internal storage houses your applications and the operating system.
Internal computer storage media are divided into two categories:
Primary storage
Also called random-access memory (RAM), this is the part where all computer processes are stored during execution. It includes processes such as the opening of applications, editing your documents, playing music, and loading web pages. Once you turn your computer off, this information is lost, so all data must be saved before turning off your computer.
Secondary storage
Storage media in this category are hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). These two types of storage media could store data permanently. SSDs are faster in operation compared to HDDs.
External Storage Devices
Aside from your computer’s internal memory, you can use external digital devices. They’re good at expanding the storage space of your computer and allow you to save internal space. They also give you portability and quick transfer of data from one computer to another. Examples of external storage options are as follows:
Flash memory devices
These are portable devices with memory cells fitted with millions of transistors for data storage. The most common type is the USB flash drive, also called a memory stick or thumb drive. You can use a flash drive on any computer with a USB port. However, for some newer computers, you may need an adapter to use one.
Flash drives vary in storage capacity, with large ones having a 2-TB capacity. From this guide, you can learn how to use your flash drive effectively on your computer.
Besides USB drives, you can also consider using an SD memory card. This is a type of flash memory card that can be used not only on computers but also on digital cameras for storing data.
Optical devices
Also called optical media, these include CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Aside from using them to store music and other media, they’re also good for data storage. Information is stored on the disks in the form of minuscule bumps in a track that spirals from the center of the disk outward.
DVDs can store more data compared to CDs. DVDs use dual layering, which increases their capacity. On the other hand, Blu-ray disks store information on multiple layers using smaller bumps. CDs can store data up to 700 MB, DVD-DL up to 8.5 GB, while Blu-ray between 25 and 128 GB.
Cloud Storage
The cloud is the newest method of storing data, which refers to a group of servers located in huge data centers across the world. When they say your data are stored in the cloud, it’s referring to these servers.
Cloud storage doesn’t require any external space as the storing of data is done online. Also, with cloud storage, you can get quite a large space for your data. This helps you save a lot of computer space, unlike with USB flash disks or other physical storage media.
Aside from that, this technology is known to be more secure than physical storage systems. Cloud storage providers use security measures to ensure your data are safe from hackers and malware. They have additional layers of security to their service to enhance the safety of your data.
Also, cloud storage could protect you from the vulnerabilities of data loss. Information stored in the cloud is permanent. It can also be your backup in case data on your physical storage or local business server are compromised.
Furthermore, you can access your data from anywhere using any kind of gadget. Because of the transition of many businesses to a remote setting, cloud computing now seems to be a suitable technology for work-from-home employees. Through the cloud platform, you can collaborate with your remote workers comfortably and with ease.
Conclusion
Data storage for your indie retailer business is crucial for the continuity of your business operations. Therefore, ensure you adopt a storage option that guarantees both safety of data and ease of access to them. External storage media are usually better than internal computer storage. However, cloud storage is thought to be a great option as data are permanently stored, the technology is very secure, and it can be accessed from anywhere with any device.