| Backup and storage are two of the most important | | | | are limited in capacity and is not really that |
| factors in the search and selection of a colocation | | | | appropriate for large-scale storage needs. If your |
| facility. Mission-critical information that cannot be | | | | business is booming, it may serve as a temporary |
| compromised needs to be stored and backed up in a | | | | solution, not a permanent one. |
| very secure environment, whether it is in your own | | | | NAS works by having additional capacity on your |
| servers or in a colocation facility. | | | | server while keeping it separate from your running |
| With the number of choices in the market, it can be | | | | applications. It is perfect for businesses that use |
| a tough decision considering that it can be difficult | | | | networked computing. |
| accessing your storage and backup needs. | | | | The big selling point for NAS is enhanced productivity |
| Fortunately, these systems can be integrated with | | | | and cost efficiency. With NAS in place, your server |
| one another and can still work seamlessly. | | | | can be managed centrally without affecting the other |
| To ensure you make the most suitable choice, it is | | | | networked servers that run your applications. |
| best to first determine your system's storage needs. | | | | Among the three, SAN is the more advanced data |
| Determining the solutions (and combinations of | | | | storage and backup system. It is best for larger |
| solutions) that meet your requirements would come | | | | businesses that require a system's ability to transfer |
| easier, especially in a colocation setup. | | | | multiple files in more stable fiber connections. |
| Fortunately again, there are three basic types of | | | | However efficient it is (and becoming more popular), |
| storage and backup solutions for your servers - DAS | | | | SAN is one solution that is relatively new. Moreover, it |
| (direct access storage), NAS (network attached | | | | lacks the compatibility needed to make it more |
| storage) and SAN (storage area network). Knowing | | | | appealing to more customers. |
| them and what they can do by themselves and in | | | | As it is, SAN is greatly more complex and expensive |
| tandem can help in making your decision. | | | | compared to both DAS and NAS. Today, only the big |
| Most of today's businesses use DAS in the storage | | | | companies who can afford it are using SAN as their |
| and backup system of their data. For comparison, | | | | main storage and backup system. The biggest reason |
| DAS is basically similar to most external hard drives | | | | is its ability to handle the high volume of traffic that |
| of personal computers where they can be attached | | | | is becoming the norm of the internet business at |
| at will. | | | | present. |
| This is one storage system that is best for smaller | | | | Ultimately, the choice of your company's storage and |
| businesses which do not have demanding storage | | | | backup system depends largely on the size of your |
| needs. The major downside, however, is that your | | | | present needs and costs. In a colocation facility, your |
| system is slowed down while storing files and running | | | | company's continuing expansion can be supported |
| your applications all at the same time. | | | | with the right storage and backup system. |
| This is simply caused by the fact that DAS solutions | | | | |