Pros and Cons of Cloud Backup and the Companies Best Suited For It
Cloud Backup
Cloud Storage
Every year, the number of companies using cloud storage is increasing. According to the "2021 White Paper on Information and Communications (2021 edition) from the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications," the percentage of companies using cloud services in 2020 was 68.7% (39.4% for "company-wide use" and 29.3% for "use in some offices or departments"), up by four percentage points from 64.7% in 2019.
In regards to cloud services, there is a strong perception that "cloud services = online file servers." However, there is a great deal more to cloud services than that. In this article, we will compare cloud storage with file servers and explain how cloud storage can provide a comprehensive solution to current data-related issues that many companies face.
Traditionally, file servers are used to share documents and data within companies and organizations. However, it has gradually become clear that file servers have limitations when it comes to accommodating remote work and other time- and location-independent work situations.
For example, according to a survey conducted by Keymans Net, an IT product information site for businesses, from December 2021 to January 2022, 38.8% of respondents answered that they only use file servers in the workplace, down approximately 14 percentage points from 52.3% the previous year. In contrast, 48.8% reported they use cloud storage in conjunction with files servers, up by nine percentage points from 39.8% in the same year.
For corporate needs, here are some of the limitations and challenges that file servers face:
Conventional file servers basically do not allow for collaborative editing of a single file at the same time. For example, if two people are working on the same Excel file and numerical values in a cell need to be changed, they have to go through the tedious steps of one person editing first, then saving it and closing the file, and then the other person opens the spreadsheet and repeats the process. With online tools that allow free collaborative editing, such as Google Spreadsheet and Office Online, becoming more widely used, this kind of workflow can be stressful and unproductive.
With file servers, access from outside the office or from mobile devices can require complex preparations and can result in a complicated system to use. As a result, many users who want to check documents while they are out of the office end up copying them to local storage in advance, which can have a negative impact on business productivity. This is becoming even more of a serious shortcoming now that remote work has become commonplace.
Unlike cloud storage, file servers require companies to provide their own in-house servers, which can be time-consuming to manage and operate. If a serious problem occurs, and a quick response is essential, this could easily overwhelm a company's IT engineers. With cloud storage becoming a more common option, it makes less sense for companies to spend time and money operating their own servers.
As you know, cloud storage is a service that provides online storage for files and data. However, it is important to note that “cloud” does not simply mean “cloud = online file server.”
By transitioning to cloud storage, many of the issues discussed above can be avoided, and various benefits in terms of cost and security can be gained. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of using cloud storage.
File servers can be very costly to install, and unexpected costs can occur due to breakdowns and other problems. In comparison, cloud storage requires only a monthly fee, making budget calculation and reducing unnecessary expenses much easier. This makes Tsukaeru FileBako from Tsukaeru.net an attractive option as it can be installed for only 10,780 JPY per month (tax included, three-year contract).
Cloud storage is a much safer option than maintaining in-house servers as they are professionally managed by experts in server management and security measures. Furthermore, the physical server is located away from the company, playing an important role in Business Continuity Planning (BCP) preparation in the event of a disaster.
According to the “White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism 2021” by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, in addition to being a disaster-prone country in general, Japan is especially at risk of earthquakes, with 20% of the world’s major earthquakes occurring in this small country. In addition, flooding from torrential rain is becoming more severe and frequent. The cost of flood damage in 2019 was 2.18 trillion JPY, the largest amount of non-tsunami flood damage in a single year since record-keeping began.
The above white paper also describes future risks, such as Nankai Trough earthquakes and earthquakes directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area, a warning that companies cannot simply ignore. The time has come for all companies to prepare and implement BCP.
Tsukaeru.net’s Tsukaeru FileBako is more than just an online file server. It is a file server-type cloud storage service that offers a comprehensive solution for a variety of potential problems, with low-cost fees, advanced security, a wide range of functions, and ease of use. Below are some of the unique features of Tsukaeru FileBako.
With Tsukaeru FileBako, it is easy to create a shared link from the right-click menu to share files both inside and outside the company. In addition, shared links can be created with passwords, as well as expiration dates, for additional security.
It is also possible to create folders to share files only with specific users. In this situation, a group can be created in advance for easier sharing, or individual users can be selected and added as desired.
Since the number of users is unlimited, not only full-timers but irregular part-timers or outside business partners can be freely invited as needed without additional costs.
Adding users is also very easy, and permissions can be set for access or creating shared folders.
This functionality allows the entire team, both internal and external, to securely share files, dramatically increasing work efficiency.
Click here for details about Tsukaeru FileBako!
Tsukaeru FileBako can be described as a “virtual drive” that virtualizes a conventional external disk, i.e., the online data can be used in the same way as a USB memory stick. Since important data can be easily stored in the cloud instead of on a physical device, it can be accessed in exactly the same way as a conventional file server. Common tasks, such as moving and copying files, creating new folders, etc., are all completed through an intuitive interface that is simple and easy to use. There is no need to synchronize as with other services, and since the cache retention period can be specified for each user’s PC client, even laptops with low-capacity SSDs can always access all company files and data without having to log in to a web browser.
With Tsukaeru FileBako, files can be restored for up to 999 days. This useful function is handy for restoring old versions before they were edited. Additionally, even if data is accidentally deleted, it will be saved in the Trash folder for seven days and can be restored within the retention period.
Tsukaeru FileBako, with all of the above features, can be installed with a default capacity of 1 TB, starting at 10,780 JPY per month (tax included, three-year contract). A free trial is also available, so please feel free to contact us below for more information.
Click here to learn more about Tsukaeru FileBako.
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Cloud Backup
