Cloud Storage: The Hidden Costs That Might Surprise You

As someone who’s spent decades in the data protection and storage industry, I’ve seen technology trends come and go. But few have been as hyped as cloud storage. Don’t get me wrong – cloud storage has its place. But the idea that it’s always cheaper than on-premises solutions? That’s a myth we need to bust.

Let’s break down why the cloud isn’t always the cost-saver you might think it is:

1. Deep Archive Request Fees. Glacier Deep Archive is cheap, as long as you don’t touch it. If you do, pulling data out of that archive costs extra.
2. Egress Fees: This is the big one. Whilst putting data into the cloud is often free or cheap, taking it out can cost a pretty penny. If you need to retrieve large amounts of data regularly, these fees can add up fast.
3. Data Transfer Costs: Moving data between cloud regions or to your on-premises systems isn’t free. These costs can sneak up on you.
4. Compliance and Security: Depending on your industry, you might need additional security measures or compliance features in the cloud. These often come at a premium.
5. Performance Costs: Need faster performance? Be prepared to pay more. High-performance cloud storage options can be significantly more expensive.

Tape is less expensive & less risky

Now, let’s talk about an alternative that might surprise you: backup tape. Yes, that old-school technology you might have written off years ago.

Backup tape, when stored in a secure vault, can be significantly less expensive – and less risky – than both cloud and on-premises disc storage. Here’s why:

1. Low Cost per TB: Modern tape cartridges can store massive amounts of data at a very low cost per terabyte.
2. No Ongoing Fees: Once you’ve written data to tape, there are no monthly storage fees. Just the cost of secure storage, which is minimal.
3. Long Lifespan: Properly stored tapes can last for decades. No need for constant hardware refreshes.
4. Energy Efficiency: Tapes in a vault use no electricity, making them incredibly eco-friendly and cost-effective.
5. Air-Gapped Security: Offline tapes provide an actual air-gapped backup that’s immune to ransomware and other online threats.

But there’s a catch, isn’t there? There always is. The challenge with tape has always been accessibility. When you need to retrieve data from an old backup tape, can you actually read it?

S2|DATA’s solution

This is where modern solutions come into play. Imagine if you could combine the cost-effectiveness and security of tape with the accessibility of more modern systems.

That’s where companies like S2|DATA shine. Their innovative approach to tape management transforms those dusty old tapes into an accessible, searchable archive.

Using their TRACS (Tape Restoration and Cataloging System) software, S2|DATA can read and catalogue data from virtually any tape format. No need to maintain old backup software or hardware. And their Invenire system provides a user-friendly interface to search and retrieve data from your tape archive.

This means you get the best of both worlds: the low cost and security of tape storage, with the accessibility you’d expect from more modern solutions. You can keep years of data on cheap, secure tape storage, and still be able to quickly find and retrieve exactly what you need when you need it.

So, before you move everything to the cloud, take a hard look at your actual usage patterns and needs. You might find that a hybrid approach, leveraging the strengths of different storage technologies, gives you the best balance of cost, security, and accessibility.

Remember, in data storage, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to understand your options and choose the right tool for each job. Sometimes, that might mean looking to the future by revisiting the past.