Cloud
Best Practice: Use object storage for scalable and durable data storage
Sep 12, 2024
As businesses increasingly rely on digital assets, the need for scalable and durable data storage solutions becomes paramount. Object storage services are designed to handle vast amounts of unstructured data, making them an ideal choice for storing images, videos, logs, and backups. With features such as replication, lifecycle management, and cost-effective pricing, object storage has become a cornerstone of modern cloud architecture.
Why Object Storage Matters
- Scalability: Object storage can seamlessly scale to accommodate growing data volumes without the need for complex configurations or hardware upgrades.
- Durability: Most object storage services offer high durability through built-in replication across multiple locations, ensuring data is safe from hardware failures or disasters.
- Cost-effectiveness: Object storage solutions are typically more affordable than traditional block storage options, especially when dealing with large quantities of unstructured data.
Implementing This Best Practice
- Choose the right object storage solution: Utilise object storage services such as AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, or GCP Cloud Storage to store your unstructured data efficiently.
- Enable versioning: Activate versioning to keep track of changes to objects, allowing you to restore previous versions if needed, which adds a layer of data protection.
- Use encryption: Protect your data at rest and in transit by enabling encryption features provided by your object storage solution. This helps safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access.
- Set lifecycle rules: Implement lifecycle management rules to automatically transition objects to lower-cost storage tiers or delete them after a defined period. This helps manage costs while maintaining necessary data availability.
Conclusion
Using object storage for scalable and durable data storage is essential for businesses managing large volumes of unstructured data. By leveraging the features and capabilities of object storage solutions, organisations can ensure their data is secure, accessible, and cost-effective.
