More and more companies are joining the migration of data 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, servers…- has led to an actual cloud explosion worldwide.
For example, by 2023, 77% of companies will use the cloud for their backup, according to the 2021 Data Protection Report prepared by Veeam, a multinational software expert.
A forecast seems to put an end to the main obstacles that companies face today. As the data collected in Statista indicates, complying with regulatory obligations and dealing with hidden costs are significant obstacles that have slowed down migrating data to the cloud in recent years.
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 given system to another. That is when a company decides to change the information storage method. For example, when you move from 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 your organization.
What Advantages Does Data Migration Have For a Company?
Of course, the most immediate strength that data migration can bring to businesses is space savings. Since the analog era, it has been the latest step in the natural evolution of data storage, with folders, filing cabinets, and boxes stacked on endless shelves.
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And due to the extremely high volume of information handled by companies today, the growing need for data hosting external to the organization’s computer equipment is unquestionable: with millions of terabytes circulating daily on the network – between videos, images, or even emails-, saving all this information locally requires increasingly larger hard drives and servers.
Because in the era 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 worldwide via the Internet in just one minute.
- Some 160 million emails are sent.
- Nearly four million Google searches are performed.
Without a doubt, saving space is the main advantage of data migration… but it is not the only one.
1. Permanent Availability
Another strong point of data migration to the cloud is the very high availability of the service by the user, who does not depend on a physical device that can fail (such as a hard drive) or on an infrastructure, which is fully decentralized from the local system. , generally much more reliable.
2. Mobility
In addition, due to the increasing relocation of work, it is pretty useful not to depend on local storage spaces. With the information in the cloud, any employee in the company can access it from almost anywhere on the planet. It would help if you had an Internet connection and did not worry about the rest.
3. 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, almost a quarter of PC users worldwide are still using Windows 7 as their operating system (which stopped receiving support in 2020). However, data migration to the cloud will not potentially expire since 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.
4. Cost Savings
In addition to space savings, another variable is quite relevant for the company: cost savings. Centralizing everything in a single place means you don’t have to allocate large items to acquire devices, software, and other hidden expenses.
5. Multiple Layers of Security
On the other hand, security is another essential aspect to consider since the cloud allows the company to ‘forget’ about this aspect. Information protection is the responsibility of the cloud provider, which is quite helpful for two reasons: on the one hand, the end-user (the employee) does not have to be a cybersecurity expert; On the other hand, working with the physical devices in which the information itself is stored always entails more risks, both because they can be damaged and because the security layers are usually smaller and weaker.
And Can Data Migration to the Cloud Have Risks?
Of course, several risks are inherent in migrating data to the cloud. In particular, those that have to do with the loss of data or the quality of the information (we do not have direct control over storage), unwanted interference or duplicity, as well as legal aspects such as non-compliance with data protection laws (which are not transferred to third parties, for example), something that in certain countries continues to be a problem today.
For all these reasons, we can conclude that although the migration of data to the cloud supposes an almost absolute dependence on the cloud provider, it is an ideal solution for companies that handle large volumes of information and are digital transformation. , who have relocated part or all of their work thanks to tools such as teleworking, or who want to save costs by investing in one of the most innovative ecosystems of the century.
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