Finding the right tools to manage data in today's modern world

A common concern among companies is if their resources are being used wisely. Never before has this been more pressing than when considering data storage options. Teams question the inherent worth of their data, and often fall into the trap of viewing it as an expense that weighs too heavily on the budget. This is where wisdom is needed with respect to efficient resource use and the task of successful data storage. Companies must ask themselves how storing particular data will benefit their business overall.

Incorporating a data storage plan into a business budget has certainly proven to be easier said than done. Many companies fail at carrying out their desires to store data once they recognize the cost associated with the tools that are needed. You may be wondering why the failure to follow through on these plans is so common. After all, who wouldn’t want to budget in such an important part of company security? The truth of the matter is that it can all be very overwhelming once the VAST amount of data that actually exists is considered, and it can be even more stressful to attempt to manage it all.

When considering what tools to use for management of one’s data, many administrators think about using either the cloud or virtualization. Often times during their research, teams question the ability of these two places to successfully house their data. Truth be told, both the cloud and virtualization are very reliable, but are equally limited with respect to actually managing data well. What companies really need is a system that can effectively manage huge amounts of data, and place it into the right categories. In doing so, the data becomes much more valuable.

Companies must change their mindsets regarding their stored data. It is time to put away the thoughts that data being stored is creating a money pit. Many times, people adopt an "out with the old, in with the new" philosophy, and this is no different with respect to storing old data. The truth is, teams eventually want new projects to work on, especially since some of the old data storage projects can appear to be high maintenance. After all, old data generally needs lots of backups and archiving, and is actually quite needy. These negative thoughts need to fade away however, especially in light of the fact that this data being stored and protected is a staple to company health and security. Did you know that old and tired data actually holds the very heart of a company? It is probable that many forget that fact, since they are so quick to criticize it! Also notable is the fact that this data is the source of a chunk of any given business’s income. Good to know, isn’t it?! Poor management of data would very likely be eradicated if more teams would keep the value of this data on the forefront of their minds. It is clear that the task of managing huge amounts of company data can be intimidating and overwhelming, but with the right attitude and proper focus, it is not impossible.

The best news yet is that there are excellent TOOLS that exist in order to help companies take on the magnanimous task of managing company data. In other words, administrators don’t have to go at it alone! The resources out there will assist users with classifying and organizing data, which is a huge relief NOT to have to do manually. When teams readily combine these tools with their understanding of business, they have a sure recipe for success when it comes to management. To break it down even further, let’s use a more concrete example. Imagine you are attempting to find out information about all the chemical engineers in the world. You must ask yourself how you would go about doing this in the most efficient manner. After all, you would clearly need to narrow down your search since there are more than 7 billion individuals that exist on this planet. Obviously, you wouldn’t need to gather information on every single human being, as this would be a huge time waster. On the contrary, to make things more streamlined, you would likely scope out and filter through various groups of people and categorize them by profession. Maybe you would consider a simple search in engineering graduates. The above example in organizing information is probably the method most people use to organize simple things in their life on a daily basis. Keep in mind, having these tools to help streamline data is one thing, but one must also possess a good understanding of business plans, as this will assist for a better grasp on corporate data. With these things in line, businesses can be assured that their data management systems will be in good hands and running smoothly.

What a great gift to be alive during this time, with the easy access to modern tools which help make management of data much more understandable to those in charge. These valuable resources also help to create confidence in administrators so that they feel well-equipped to navigate the sometimes harsh IT world. For example, during the changes with data types and volumes, these tools assist in helping to lower the storage capacity needs, lower costs on backup and recovery, and aid in the passing of compliance with flying colors. In fact, many in charge can rest their heads at night knowing their companies are totally in line with modern-day regulatory compliance rules.

In the end, the value of wisdom with respect to making various decisions in an IT department is incredibly important. Arguably one of the most areas which this applies to is in the sphere of data management. The truth is, dependence upon tools alone to navigate the sometimes rough waters of the IT world will not be enough to get teams through. As stated above, wisdom and the right attitude regarding data and its importance to company health and security are vital to proper management. In addition, clients ought to be looking for resources to assist them with organizing and classifying their systems of files. The point is clear: intelligence paired with the proper tools will give companies exactly what they need for efficient and effective data management. At the end of the day, users can rest easy with the knowledge that their data -- which is the bread and butter of their companies -- is in good hands. What more could you ask for?

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Amedee Potier joined Rocket Software in 2003 and is currently Senior Director of R&D, where he oversees several Rocket products in the Data Protection space. His focus is on solutions for data protection and management in heterogeneous multi-vendor and multi-platform environments.