How Cold Data Storage Works

For companies with high volumes of data and digital records, cold data storage is a cost-efficient solution for holding on to everything from legal documents to compliance data. If your company or enterprise operation requires additional data storage but doesn’t need to access files actively, cold data storage can prove to be a valuable asset. You’ll need to speak with a reliable cloud services provider to get started. Beyond the difference in cost, there is a range of benefits to using cold data storage over alternative solutions. 

This article will discuss the value of cold data storage for businesses and identify how to find the right data storage options for your company or organization. It’s essential to note that not all data is eligible for cold storage. The access speeds and relative availability of what’s in storage mean that this cloud service only applies to certain forms of files and information. To better understand this infrastructure, let’s first define what cold data storage is and how it works. 

What is Cold Data Storage?

Cold data storage refers to public or private cloud storage that operates from inexpensive hardware in order to keep overhead costs as low as possible. The physical hardware for storage stays in the provider company’s data center, held under strict physical and virtual security protocols. In many cases, cold data storage uses hard drives, which contrasts directly with a dedicated server storage solution, often operating from NVMe SSD drives. 

Not all cold data storage products are created alike- before selecting an option that matches your business, compare the technical specifications related to hardware and access times. The access times refer to how quickly you can access a particular media file or document from the server. In the case of cold storage, it takes significantly longer to access your data. Hot data storage, by contrast, usually has little to no delay. Data volume and access frequency are typically significantly lower for cold data storage than other alternative solutions.

What Do Companies Use Cold Data Storage For?

Given the delay in data access and availability, most companies only store files in cold data storage that they’re required to keep but unlikely to access. An example of this type of file is a legal compliance document. Another example would be sales records from several years ago, or perhaps simply old files that are still necessary to keep. 

How your company or employer might use cold data storage depends significantly on its industry and scale. Regardless of what the data actually contains, it’s typically referred to as “inactive data.” Cold data storage is a simple, low-cost option for companies that need to clear out their primary storage, reduce costs, and optimize their server’s computing resources. The price of moving the data is also lower, making setting up backups and data archives significantly easier. 

What’s the Difference Between Hot and Cold Data Storage?

Hot data storage uses high-end hardware for servers so that the data stored within is accessible with the press of a button. Hot storage can handle high-volume requests with ease, which can be particularly useful for paid media providers. A dedicated server is usually a solid base for your hot storage solution requirements, whether you’re storing video files, eCommerce data, or other larger files. 

The files that companies store in hot storage are essentially “active data” because they are more frequently accessed than what’s stored in cold data storage, commonly referred to as “inactive data.” The downside to hot data storage is that it costs the company significantly more money per month. Not every company needs private cloud hot data storage- cold data storage on public cloud infrastructure can sometimes be considerably cheaper and just as safe. 

What Are the Primary Benefits of Cold Data Storage?

Cold data storage can offer a range of benefits depending on the size and scale of your company’s operations. For enterprises and large-scale corporations, this form of data storage is often necessary to improve primary storage infrastructure performance. Here are a few of the critical advantages of finding a cold data storage solution for your business or organization. 

Cost

Cost-efficiency in storage is the number one reason to purchase cold data storage. If your company’s existing resources are strained by data that you aren’t frequently accessing, then it’s time to make the switch. Remember, the data you keep in cold storage is files and information that you’ll rarely need to access. Integration can take time, particularly if you need to sort your existing data to clear it from your primary drives. Cold data storage is often less than half the price per GB compared with hot storage. 

Security

Cold storage offers companies high-level cyber security for their information, compliance records, and other dormant data. If you’re purchasing a cold storage solution, ask the provider company about their data-loss prevention protocols. Most cloud services providers can also let you know your options for making additional back-ups, just in case.

The right partner for your business’s data understands the essential nature of your information and can offer you assurances against DDOS attacks and other forms of security threats that might affect your in-house servers. 

Reliability

Cold data storage is a reliable, safe public cloud infrastructure product that allows companies and organizations to pay a lower price for their digital storage of inactive data. The reasonable cost, security, and reliability of these cloud services ensure that your legal records and compliance data are safe while your primary storage is freed up for other, more active uses. 

Conclusion- How Cold Data Storage Works

Cold data storage is a reliable, high-security option for saving data that you or your business doesn’t need to access with regularity. To get started with this infrastructure, speak with a cloud services provider. Many companies offer flexible storage solutions, so you can continually expand your existing data storage as your company operations continue to grow.