Take a look at the last fifteen years of data storage and it’s clear that this is an area that has evolved into sophisticated systems and management. We all know that data has exploded; data storage companies have responded to this explosion with a complete change in how data storage services are structured. We try to anticipate what the next 3-5 years will look like, but scaling storage systems to meet exact needs is difficult. Companies are hesitant to invest in a storage system that does not accommodate an ever-changing data environment.
Many storage companies offer lease options to alleviate anxiety around investing in storage systems. Let’s take a look at two types of storage structures: Storage as a Service (SaaS) and capacity licensing, both of which offer an alternative to purchasing a storage system outright.
SaaS is a model that has broad appeal, from small businesses to enterprise organizations. This model reduces upfront investments and management costs. In a SaaS partnership, the storage provider handles implementation and management of disk storage. Companies are often reluctant to give up control of their data. Typically, SaaS models allow organizations to easily access stored data without going through a “middleman.”
Beyond the initial upfront cost savings of implementing a purchased storage system, there are other significant perks to a SaaS model. Storage technology is constantly evolving, becoming more efficient and less costly. A SaaS model provides organizations the best storage solutions at a lower industry cost.
Installation of a SaaS system is typically faster because implementation can take place as needs occur, reducing installation time from months to weeks, with less disruption to the network. Storage systems can be scaled overnight, as more capacity is required.
Capacity licensing allows flexibility in choosing the right backup storage system, while allowing flexibility in adding licenses as needed. Clients are billed at the end of each cycle based on storage bytes used. The capacity model is attractive to organizations that want increased control over data storage systems at a lower cost and greater flexibility in scaling features. As needs grow, clients are billed based on what they need and use.
Alternative pricing options have become enticing to organizations that would like to keep data storage backup solution costs low, while reaping the benefits of technological advancements in equipment and software.