cloud computing

Consumer data is a helpful tool for planning advertising campaigns, creating marketing strategies and developing new products. However, many companies take it too far by becoming data hoarders. These companies try to store and analyze every piece of data produced or accessed, which leads to an overuse of resources and a lot of wasted time. In fact, companies that store too much data often become so overwhelmed that they lose sight of their goals. Instead of hoarding all data collected, companies need to learn to sift through the data they encounter, store what is important and use the information gained to their benefit.

Analyzing your data storage procedures

If your company is already storing data, begin improving your procedures by asking yourself the following questions:

Do I know what data I have stored? If the answer to this question is no, you aren’t using your data as well as you could be. It’s impossible to organize and analyze data without first understanding what it is and where it came from. Search through the data you have and categorize it.
Why do we need this data? For each category of data you collect, ask yourself whether you actually need it. Will it help you accomplish any of your business’s goals? If not, delete it and free up the space for something more important.
What problem am I trying to solve? The purpose of this question is to determine your ultimate goals regarding data storage and analysis. Once you know what you are working toward, you can perform more effective data analyses. Massive amounts of information won’t benefit you at all if you don’t know your goals.
Am I using all of my data storage capacity? This question is especially important if you store your data in-house. In-house storage systems contain a finite amount of space. If you are already using all of your space, you may need to downsize your data or purchase more storage. Conversely, if you are utilizing cloud storage, you don’t need to worry as much about how much space you use. Most cloud storage providers offer scalable services that allow you to alter the amount of storage space you own based on your needs at the time.

Taking control of your data

After you know where you stand, it’s time to get your data under control. Clean out the data you don’t need and organize the rest in a way that makes sense. If you find this task overwhelming, hire a data consultant to perform an audit on your company’s databases. A consultant will be able to help you improve your analysis methods and put your data to more effective use. Finally, make changes to your storage solutions if necessary. Unused space can cost you a lot of extra money, so consider investing in a scalable data storage solution.

Big data can be a wonderful tool, but it can also hinder your business’s progress if you don’t use it correctly. Not every piece of data is worth saving. Take the time to figure out what will help you the most, organize it, analyze it and watch your business grow.

Whether it’s an enterprise-level company or a brand-new startup, email is an essential tool for any business. Consumers use email to ask questions and provide feedback, and professionals use email to communicate with employees, colleagues and other organizations. Being able to efficiently and reliably send and receive messages is crucial to a business’s day-to-day functions, so it’s important to choose a reliable email hosting solution that fits your company’s needs.

The types of email hosting

Two main types of email hosting exist: server based and cloud based. A server-based systems involves an in-house server your company launches and maintains on its own. This server stores all your email accounts and their contents, and your IT team is responsible for repairing server problems and keeping your accounts safe from external attacks. This kind of hosting requires a great deal of involvement from your IT team, so be sure your department is well staffed and knowledgeable before choosing this option.

Cloud-based email hosting, on the other hand, involves sharing space with other companies on a server provided by the hosting provider. Here the host is responsible for maintaining the server and ensuring that your email is accessible and secure. This kind of service requires little to no involvement from your staff, but when you trust a third-party with sensitive data, inherent risks are involved, so choose your hosting provider and plan carefully.

Finding a provider

Not all email hosting providers are created equal, and the cheapest provider isn’t always the best choice. When selecting an provider, consider the following characteristics:

Security: Emails often contain confidential information, so be sure to choose a provider that offers a high level of security. Otherwise, your customer’s sensitive data may be vulnerable to hackers, identity thieves and other such criminals.
Customer support: When you have problems accessing or utilizing your email account, your hosting provider will be the one to resolve them. For this reason, you’ll need a hosting provider that offers continuous customer support.
Reliability: Take some time to research each candidate’s reputation. Choose a provider known for reliable service with few incidences of server failure or other malfunctions.
Price: After narrowing your choices down to a few providers using these criteria, consider each provider’s price and choose one that will be affordable for your company.

Choosing a package

After selecting a hosting provider, the next step is choosing the best service the provider offers that will match your email needs. Packages may offer varying levels of storage, bandwidth, customer support options and security measures. Expensive packages may even offer you your own private server. If your company receives thousands of emails on a daily basis, you’ll probably need a large plan, but if you use email infrequently, paying for the biggest available service is a waste of money.

Every organization has different requirements when it comes to email hosting. While a small server-based hosting system may be sufficient for some, others will need a large plan on a dedicated server in the cloud. To choose the best option, simply consider your preferences, usage history and ultimate goals. With so many options available, you can easily find an affordable package that works for you.