Tidying Up Your Network

Every day, we’re constantly swimming in a sea of data–phone calls, commute times, steps 

taken, words written. This extends to businesses, too, that use data to improve their services and thus achieve higher profit margins. With this abundance of data comes the question: do we need to keep all of it? Businesses, concerned with storing large quantities of data, may want to delete some in order to reduce risk. Businesses should practice good data stewardship by being mindful of regulations, laws, industry standards as they relate to information privacy and information security.

Knowledge, at its core, is data and information. Knowledge is how we know the progress of our businesses—what we’ve done well, and where we can improve. Deleting this data that still holds organizational purpose creates an unnecessary blind spot in our self-knowledge that might otherwise prove valuable to business development. A more knowledgeable mind lends itself to greater self-awareness and a more well-informed existence.

Technology is advancing faster than we can keep up. Breakthroughs happen every day, and they’re often hard to predict. Future tech critical to running a successful business may be able to use the data that, today, appears unhelpful. By keeping this data, companies have a more fruitful resource for tomorrow’s technology. For example, machine learning processes discover patterns in bodies of data and use these to create accurate models. The bigger this body of data, the better the model will be. Imagine what we’ll be able to achieve with future improved versions of machine learning or any other technology.

Data also serves another purpose: proof and accountability. As demand for business transparency rises in the wake of social media privacy scandals, being open about data collection becomes essential. If businesses appropriately retain their data and present it in a show of transparency, they’ll be paid back twofold as consumers and employees express their appreciation for the effort.

The storage of your data need not be expensive and complicated. By using cloud storage, data can be stored easily and securely. Cloud storage removes the onus of physical storage and maintenance from the business, which allows the business to use resources on more important matters. It also alleviates some of the inherent risk as it relates data storage since the risk is shared with the cloud storage service provider. Cloud storage can be accessible from almost any device with access to the Internet, which increases productivity and collaboration across the company. Additionally, in the event of a natural disaster, data stored in the cloud will remain safe and unaffected. Keeping data doesn’t need to be a trade-off between cost and readiness–a balance can be achieved.

As a top managed services and cloud provider in the Washington, D.C. area, ATS achieves that balance, helping businesses avoid costly mistakes and ensure a seamless and smooth data migration to the cloud. ATS understands the need for a well-constructed and comprehensive cloud strategy, using a phased approach to develop a plan that works best for your business. ATS delivers an enterprise-class hosting environment that is secure and affordable. Learn more about our U.S.-based cloud infrastructure and support services.

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