Data storage systems: free or paid?
One of the first decisions we have to make in the company when we need to take advantage of data storage systems is whether to use free or paid options. It is the big doubt which occurs in the IT department and which we must be able to respond to before it is too late, since key moments will soon arrive in which this technology is essential. At first glance we might imagine that no company could sustain itself with a free system, which is counterintuitive in certain aspects, but perhaps it is something we should think twice about.
A justified rivalry
Let's not be afraid or feel bad as experts for thinking that maybe our company has enough with the free version of platforms specialized in file and data storage. There is nothing wrong with that. The reality, and the first point to keep in mind, is that cloud storage services offer good subscription options for free. It's not that we are investing few resources in the good of our company, but that the platforms strive to ensure that even in the free version the service they provide is of a first class. That does not, however, ignore the fact that the free version of the platforms has a series of limitations that can end up becoming a major obstacle.
One of the main drawbacks of free access is related to the space limit that is provided to us. If we have intention to work with large files and keeping them active for a long period of time can become a serious problem. The same thing happens with the limitations which also impose a maximum weight for each of the uploaded files. In other cases, storage platforms do not limit themselves to offering us a limited amount of space, but rather provide it for free for a certain period of time. These systems, obviously, are completely ruled out because they are not measures that can be relied upon for free in the medium or long term.
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Safety first
There are many companies, perhaps more than we can imagine, that do not complicate things and opt for the free versions of these storage systems. In some cases it is under the supervision of the IT director, while other times it is the employees who choose to resort to it, skipping the need to contact the technical department. It is possible that in your own company you have suffered from an employee who has opted for one of these services and then has asked you for help when he has encountered a problem due to lack of knowledge. You will know, as an expert that you are, that one of the obstacles of the free versions is that they do not have a support level that can be trusted.
Companies like Google, Dropbox or Microsoft offer versions of their storage systems There are no subscriptions, but they are not responsible if something goes wrong in the process of use. And what can go wrong when using storage systems? Of course, since 100% infallible technology rarely exists. Paid editions incorporate much more in-depth customer support aimed at covering users in everything they may need. This is a good reason to consider this subscription method. It is also good that among the features of paid versions, access to modified versions of each of the files as a history is usually included. This can be a great advantage when working with stored files, especially if our company fits into a sector that can benefit from it.
Actively valuing these characteristics some conclusions can be drawnFree versions of file and data storage systems are frequently and commonly used. Companies benefit from them within the limitations they provide and they can be a good option to get by. But they should be used as a test or in situations where the requirements and needs are not high. For all other cases, especially considering that the rates for these systems are leaning towards reasonable prices, it is preferable to have the full versions. This is how you can squeeze out the potential of what a good data storage system can give.
