When done right, the move to offsite data can free up internal resources, protect your data and give your staff untethered access to everything they need. When done the wrong way, the move can cost thousands of dollars that you never see a return on, while frustrating staff members.
The truth of the matter is the right things need to be done before, during and after the switch to offsite data to ensure you see the proper benefit.
Here are a few examples of the right and the wrong way.
Wrong Way: Choose a Provider Based on Price
Of course, the price is going to be the large determining factor in any major business venture. However, when you shortlist your data center vendors and possible sites, it should not just be the lowest prices in ascending order.
Remember, there should be an investment that pays off. You should see savings in employee productivity and data protection. Keep those savings in mind when you are looking at prices.
Right Way: Choose a Provider Based on Your Need
Be completely transparent with your provider about your list of must-haves, and don’t go with anybody who can’t meet them completely.
It is probably more effective to pay a little bit more for somebody who meets all of your needs, versus trying to save a little bit of money for somebody who is not quite all the way there.
The Wrong Way: Assuming That Far Away Means Inaccessible
The best value for your offsite data might not be in the same state. In fact, it could be on the other side of the country.
In a lot of cases, your best value is going to come from out of state. Some states have considerably lower utility costs than others. Based on the sheer amount of power that the data center will use, this is a big factor in the price they can offer you.
Also, it’s best if your data center isn’t geographically close to you. That way you are both not impacted by the same storm, power outage, or other natural disaster at the same time.
The Wrong Way: Thinking Too High-Level
Of course, whatever solution you go with will have to meet the needs of your high-level IT infrastructure. However, it is how the frontline staff interacts with these new tools that will make or break the success of this initiative.
Usability and access for your frontline staff needs to be at the forefront of decision making at all times.
The Right Way: Sell the Benefits During Training
The best way to train your staff on how to use the new system properly is to ensure you earn their buy-in by selling the data day benefit to them.
The benefits should sell themselves. This could include now being able to close more deals by bragging about how secure your customers’ data is. Or this could simply mean it being much easier for remote workers to access crucial data through the cloud.
Moving your data offsite is usually a large and often-intimidating process. However, you can set yourself up for success by not making price a deal-breaker, while carefully ensuring the new system suits your business’ needs, and the needs of the front line.
Following the above steps will ensure you see a rapid time to value, and an obvious return on investment.
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