Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Storage for CCTV

In these competitive times, businesses need to be looking at some of the best ways of being able to boost efficiency and productivity. There are many changes that you can make in order to enhance the way your business comes across, and it is so important to be able to focus on this, and to make the most of the way you choose to run your business. 

Technology has developed incredibly in the last 20 years and there are so many programs you can use in a bid to help improve how your company operates. Cloud-based storage has become far more popular and commonplace these days, and there is a lot to think about if you are considering this for your business.

In the business CCTV sector, too, Cloud-based storage is becoming an increasingly common way to securely back-up security footage so that even if the physical equipment stops working (or is vandalised) you can retrieve video evidence.

These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud based storage. 

Advantages

There are plenty of advantages to cloud based storage as a modern business, and this is definitely something you need to consider when looking to make this a part of your business. These are some of the key advantages you need to consider when it comes to cloud based storage for your company.

Security

Security is one of the key reasons to implement cloud technology in your business, and being able to protect your files and data as well as possible is really important. The cloud provides a safe and secure environment, where users can be sure their information and data is safe and protected. This is so important a business as you are going to need to look after people’s sensitive and important information. 

Recovery

Recovery is another vital element to think about here, and this is something you need to keep in mind when you are looking to protect the business. Cloud based storage allows for simple back ups and is the perfect backup plan as it creates saved copies of your files that you can use for disaster recovery. Unlike a camera or security system backs up just to physical hard drives and these fail or are destroyed you’ll have no CCTV records, cloud data can always be recovered, so this is definitely a massive plus point for using these services. 

Accessibility

Accessibility and usability are so important when it comes to making the most of this right now, and you need to make sure you get this right. Try to consider the best ways of being able to take this forward in the right way, and your employees can use a simple drag and drop method in order to store things in the cloud, which is definitely something you should consider.

Cloud storage also means you can access security footage and data from anywhere you have an internet connection and by multiple team members, so you can be sure your property is protected.

Cost

Cost is always a factor when running any business, and this is definitely a key advantage of cloud based storage – it is cheap to use. And, as a broader advantage, it can offer so much by way of making savings in other areas of the business, such as the lack of power and resources required to store important data and information.

Disadvantages

There are also some disadvantages to cloud-based storage for your business. It’s always good to have a balanced viewpoint, and this is something you need to consider when you are looking at the best options for your business data storage.

Requires Internet Connection

Of course, the main drawback with cloud storage is that you need a reliable superfast internet connection to upload, save, view and re-download anything stored in the cloud. This means if there are ever any issues with your connection, or you are somewhere where you can't get a fast enough broadband connection, it is going to be tough to be able to use this effectively. For this reason, you may wish to come up with an alternative form of data storage, or have contingencies in place just in case you encounter problems and issues when it comes to your internet connection. 

Privacy

Privacy is crucial especially when dealing with potentially sensitive data, and this is one of the potential disadvantages of cloud based storage. When you use a cloud based server to store data you are handing it over to a third party and are no longer fully in control of it. Giving information access to a third party provider can be something of a grey area in terms of your business, so you need to make sure the suppliers you use have a strong security and privacy policy. It is crucial that any third party has a strong track record and robust security protocols to ensure that you data remains safe.

Hard Drives

The main appeal of using cloud based storage is the fact that it means we don’t need to rely on local hard drives. It is a more effective and appealing option, and makes life significantly easier from a business perspective. However, one of the key things to keep in mind is that a lot of the providers when it comes to cloud storage actually require you to have and use physical hard drives in order to make use of their services. So this needs to be considered when opted for a "cloud-based" solution.

Compliance

It might not be possible to work within the cloud depending upon the levels of regulation and compliance present in your industry, and this is something to keep in mind as much as you can. There are so many things that you need to consider, and there are a lot of grey areas when it comes to some of the ways in which you use the cloud for storage. You need to be clear about what compliance regulation in your industry does and does not permit you to do, and in some industries, such as healthcare, this is definitely an area where you might be restricted.

As you can see, these are some of the key ideas that you should be looking to use that will help you make the most of this right now. Try to ensure that you are fully focused on being able to make the best choices that will improve your business. This is definitely something you are going to have to ensure you look into before you are able to make an informed decision. Try to use these advantages and disadvantages to make sure you have a balanced viewpoint of the advantages and disadvantages of cloud based storage.