How can you ensure data availability during storage?

1 Choose a reliable storage system

The first step to ensure data availability is to choose a storage system that is reliable, scalable, and compatible with your data needs. There are different types of storage systems, such as local, cloud, or hybrid, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. You should consider factors such as cost, performance, capacity, security, backup, and recovery when selecting a storage system. You should also evaluate the availability level of the storage system, which is usually measured by the percentage of time that the system is operational and accessible.

2 Implement data redundancy

Data redundancy is the practice of storing multiple copies of data in different locations or devices, to prevent data loss or corruption due to hardware failure, natural disaster, human error, or malicious attack. Data redundancy can increase data availability by allowing you to access alternative copies of data if the primary one is unavailable or damaged. There are different methods of data redundancy, such as replication, mirroring, RAID, or erasure coding, each with its own trade-offs between performance, storage space, and complexity.

3 Monitor and maintain data quality

Data quality is the degree to which data is accurate, complete, consistent, and relevant for its intended purpose. Data quality can affect data availability by influencing how easily and effectively you can access and use data. Poor data quality can result in errors, delays, or inefficiencies in data analysis and decision making. To ensure data quality, you should monitor and maintain your data regularly, using techniques such as validation, verification, cleansing, standardization, and enrichment.

4 Protect data from unauthorized access

Data security is the protection of data from unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. Data security can affect data availability by preventing data breaches, leaks, or thefts that can compromise or damage your data. To ensure data security, you should implement measures such as encryption, authentication, authorization, firewall, antivirus, and audit. You should also follow the principles of data minimization, retention, and disposal, to reduce the exposure and risk of your data.

5 Plan for data backup and recovery

Data backup is the process of creating and storing copies of data in a separate location or device, to restore data in case of loss or corruption. Data recovery is the process of retrieving and restoring data from a backup or other source, to resume normal operations after a disruption. Data backup and recovery can ensure data availability by allowing you to recover your data quickly and effectively in the event of a disaster or emergency. You should plan for data backup and recovery by defining your recovery objectives, selecting your backup strategy, testing your backup and recovery procedures, and updating your backup and recovery plan regularly.

6 Train and educate data users

Data users are the people who access and use data for various purposes, such as analysis, reporting, visualization, or decision making. Data users can affect data availability by influencing how data is stored, managed, and shared. To ensure data availability, you should train and educate data users on the best practices and policies of data storage and security, such as how to store data securely, how to access data appropriately, how to handle data responsibly, and how to report data issues or incidents.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?