By Storage services are a class of software and hardware solutions that enable companies to access data stored remotely, without needing to invest in on-premises infrastructure. The leading use cases for storage services include backup and disaster recovery (DR), collaboration and file sharing, archiving and primary data storage. A public cloud storage service is owned and operated by the provider, typically suitable for unstructured data, using inexpensive commodity drives with multiple nodes for redundancy and accessed through Internet protocols, such as representational state transfer (REST).
This type of cloud storage involves moving files to and from an online file store, where they’re securely encrypted during transmission and at rest. Popular examples of this type of storage are Google Drive and Dropbox.
With this approach, users place the files they want to protect in a folder on their device that’s automatically synced with the provider’s servers. The provider then storage services the files in their online storage, where they’re instantly available to be accessed from other devices connected to the same network. Many of these services, such as IDrive, also provide features like file sync and share.
While it’s possible to store unstructured data with this type of storage, it doesn’t offer the performance and accessibility required for enterprise applications, which typically require a block storage service. This type of storage, also known as object storage, uses descriptive metadata to efficiently retrieve unstructured data from flat space. It’s the preferred storage format for APIs and IoT devices, for example, and is the least expensive way to store large amounts of unstructured data.
Another key feature of a storage service is the ability to manage file retention and lifecycle policies. This includes defining when to move files into long-term storage, when to delete them, and how often to reclaim lost space. It’s important to consider these policy management options before choosing a storage service, because they can impact how quickly you can retrieve files from the platform.
StaaS is a storage service model that lets you buy storage capacity as a monthly subscription, rather than purchasing hardware outright. This makes it easier to scale your data storage up or down as needed, without the need for additional hardware or software. It’s also a better way to manage your capital expenditure (CAPEX) budget, since you can pay for what you need when you need it.
Pure Storage offers a flexible STaaS service, with 25 percent buffer capacity for burst growth, so you can avoid the risk of under-provisioning or paying for excess capacity. You can also choose to purchase more storage space at any time, allowing you to take advantage of the full benefits of STaaS.
