The term “Big Data”, and what it means to the security of an organisation, is inescapable at the moment and has become a hot new trend in boardroom debate. But buzz-word aside, big data is everywhere and is growing at an exponential rate. And it’s not just big data – the bring your own device (BYOD) movement is also taking organisations by storm. Couple these two trends with the increased mobility of the work force and the ramifications for IT organisations to store data and keep it safe, grow exponentially. They have a wide array of devices distributed across numerous systems, locations, and geographies, so getting a handle on how to manage it and keep company data secure can prove challenging. The question becomes – how can businesses store and manage data effectively and reap the business benefits? In truth, the traditional onsite data centre is no longer the practical answer for many, it’s far too costly and the majority of companies simply don’t have the IT budget they used to.

Enter the cloud.

Historically vendors have focussed on the service enabling side of cloud. However, according to analysts at the 451 Group, cloud based storage will soon play the starring role in cloud development - and I for one agree. The consumerisation of IT, for example, has played a huge role in managing and storing all kinds of data – not just big data. With the exponential rise of unstructured content and the growing need for access to data from any location, there is now a huge demand for device and location independence. Smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly ubiquitous and are enabling a more mobile workforce. For companies to keep up with this trend they need to adopt solutions which support the BYOD policies of today. As demand grows it becomes more and more evident there has been rapid evolution of storage technologies that are location independent. Indeed, many technology providers have brought more mature, scalable and reliable solutions to the market.

For business owners and IT decision makers, increasing storage needs have long posed a headache. There have been too few options, particularly too few flexible and economical options to choose from. Today companies need not worry about the considerable expense of traditional storage. There are a number of opportunities and benefits to storage in the cloud that IT departments can use to build a strong case to present to decision makers. The cost savings alone can be a key influencer for adoption but there are a lot more benefits beyond cash savings:

• Secure data back-up and recovery

• Remote and secure storage archiving

• Mobile file sharing and multiple device access

• Scalable, on-demand growth

There has been widespread acceptance of cloud storage within the consumer space, especially since the emergence of cloud storage applications such as Dropbox - the easy to use app that’s integrated with native OS constructs. The new generation of applications that are OS independent can take full advantage of the capabilities provided by the cloud, from a compute perspective as well as a storage perspective and with applications that make accessing the cloud as easy as ever, who wouldn’t adopt? Fleeting are the days when people walk around with USB sticks (and lose them!). The driven demand from the consumer market as well as the trends in businesses moving to a mobile workforce are creating new demands within the storage space and it has become evident that cloud storage is evolving to provide solutions that meet the needs of both enterprises and consumers.

I believe that cloud storage, just like the cloud is here to stay. The flexibility and scalability it offers companies brings an abundance of advantages. Of course, just like the cloud, it’s not for everyone. However with the multitude of offerings within the market at the moment and the emergence of new technologies such as the hybrid cloud, cloud storage is a market set to soar.