5 problems of data storage and methods for solving them

In the age of highly developed technologies without a computer and digital data - nowhere. A computer is the main workplace and the main repository of all our documents, estimates, tables, customer base, and other things. But how to protect all this data without being able to pay for the work of a qualified specialist? Here are some common problems that any small business owner faces and tips for resolving them.

1. Data strategy: do you have one?

A data strategy is a kind of roadmap that defines how a company will collect, process, manage and store data for a business.

Ideally, a clear strategy of behavior should be prescribed, where it would be determined who has access to data, which computers can be used to download reporting information, and how we use our mobile devices to access data. The conditions and possibilities of accessing the system from a third-party site or logging out using a working computer to the Internet and free surfing in it should also be considered.

And although this may seem redundant for a small business, it will always be useful to know who and under what conditions can access your data and sleep peacefully at night, knowing that everything is provided and double-checked.

2. Data collection: what and how?

When building a data strategy, you need to answer two main questions:

1. What data do you want to collect?
2. How will you collect this data?

Since data collection can take place in various formats (print, digital or in-person), their processing and storage can be a serious problem. Indeed, when dealing with confidential and personal identification information, information leakage must be avoided.

The biggest issue here is the safe use of credit cards. People prefer not to carry cash, but they also want to know that when paying with credit cards, they do not merge information that you could use to empty your credit account. For this purpose, you should get as far away from the settlement terminal as possible. Never take the client’s card in your hands, suggest that he insert the card into the terminal for payment on his own and make sure that the buttons for entering the code are not visible to the cashier (or teach the cashier to turn around).

3. Data storage: where?

After you have received the necessary data, you must take care of the place of their storage. The biggest problem here is server selection. Since this is a small business, it is unlikely that you have your servers. Most likely, they will belong to someone and be far enough away from you. Therefore, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the reputation of an intermediary company. Depending on the scale and ambitions of your business, choose your company within your means, but never contact intermediaries with a dubious reputation. Data needs to be stored through a trusted platform, which should be expandable and scalable based on the current and future needs of your company.

4. Data exchange: who?

After you have solved the problems of collecting and storing data, you need to decide who will export, import and integrate data into other systems and how. Since data storage systems are now quite voluminous and smart, they provide several useful tools for business that allow you to interact with certain documents with business data programs.

For example, lists with data stored on a cloud service can be integrated into other work programs for processing and subsequent uploading back to the cloud for storage (suitable for accounting, human resources, logistics, etc.). Having decided on the type of data storage and programs for their import/export, you can achieve synchronized work between remote employees, company branches, partners or suppliers.

5. Data usage: when?

The last point of your strategy is understanding when and how you will use the data. Understand the consequences of using data and make sure you have permissions for such use. Be very careful with how you use the data that you collect, and whether its use violates the rules for processing and storing information that should be published and accessible to everyone who voluntarily shares personal data. And also, do you violate the current legislation of the country where you conduct your business. No one will be happy to one day receive by mail a letter from a site on which he was not registered, or an invoice for the payment of goods that he did not buy. Even if you are not to blame, the investigation is an unpleasant thing, and it is better not to risk either reputation, business, Tencent Gaming Buddy or even more freedom.