Tip of the Week: Best Practices for Cloud Data Management

Data management is exceptionally important for any business, and companies that use the cloud in any sort of capacity need to be considerably more cautious in the way that it’s managed than a business that only hosts data on an internal server or network. The cloud makes things more complicated at times, but if managed correctly, it can lead to unprecedented efficiency for your organization.

Identify Your Needs
The cloud is a great way to take advantage of various technologies, but only when it’s implemented with your business’ specific needs in mind. Sometimes a company will implement a cloud solution without thinking about whether it’s the best fit for the organization. While it might be tempting to jump the gun and implement a solution as soon as possible, there is value in research and consultation. Essentially, it’s important that your business implement a solution that’s designed to meet your specific needs, whatever they may be.

Generally, there are three types of cloud solutions that your business can choose from. The first is the public cloud, which can provide cloud access to businesses with limited budgets. On the more flexible and customizable side is the private cloud, which can shore up weaknesses in security that might be concerning for your company. Finally, a hybrid cloud is a melding of the public and private cloud that can provide the hands-off approach of the public cloud combined with the features and benefits of a private cloud.

Data Must be Organized
When you place data in the cloud, it’s important to recognize that you’re taking it from its location on your network and moving it to a location on the Internet. Therefore, you need to make sure that your data stays organized so that this process can go as smoothly as possible. When your data is organized, applications and other parts of your network will be able to access this data much easier than it would otherwise, allowing you to get the most value from your cloud as possible.

In essence, you can think of your cloud-based data storage as a chance to make everything about the way your business’ network functions even better. It’s a rare opportunity to optimize the way that your data is stored and organized. In other words, don’t let the mistakes you may have made in the past get in the way of improving things moving forward.

Outline the Migration Process
Every business is different, so you’ll need to create a specialized approach to cloud migration. It’s also critical that your applications are able to communicate with the data in an effective way. Figuring out how your business is going to utilize cloud data is half the battle on its own, so take some time to think about how you are going to use it.

Any information that your business needs about cloud management can be provided by Washington Works. We want to be your go-to cloud management professionals. To learn more, reach out to us at 301-571-5040.