Best File and Object Storage Solutions

File and object storage are two discrete methods of storing system data. These two storage types have a number of differences. These include:

• The ages of the two methods. File storage has been around for far longer than object-based storage. File storage was the original method that systems used to organize and store data. Technological advancements led to the rise of object storage in the mid-’90s.

• The isolation of data. File storage does not take steps to isolate data from the system. All relevant data is stored in the actual folder. Object-based storage stores the data that it is holding in digital data storehouses that are separate from the physical system.

• How one might access the stored data. File storage users utilize Network File System protocols to access data stored on their systems. This is an older protocol that is subject to limitations due to, among other things, the time when this protocol was designed. Data stored by object-based storage is usually accessed through the use of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

• Where the data is stored. File-based systems store data on physical devices that are hooked into an organization’s hardware and network infrastructure. Object-based storage stores the data in the cloud.

It is difficult to definitively declare whether object storage is a better or worse storage method than file storage. When potential users are trying to make a decision as to which type of storage they should use, they must consider the actual use cases that they are using the selected method to address. These use cases can include:

• Do they need to share data with partners across the world? If the organization that is comparing these storage types is a multinational corporation whose partners and offices are scattered across the globe, then the ability to share data across long distances is going to be critical. In that case, object storage will make the most sense, as it allows data to be shared from anywhere to anywhere. However, if a company is just starting out or is small, then they might only need to transfer data across a local network. If that is the case, then file storage will be the better option.

• What kind of data do users need to process and store? Not every business processes and stores the same kind of data. This fact can make all the difference when deciding which store type is the most appropriate for a particular user. Object-based storage is designed to best handle the processing and storage of large and highly complex packets of data. When smaller and simpler packets are what a user is dealing with then it does not really make sense to use Object-based storage. In those situations, file storage is the optimal option.

• How much storage space does the company need? There are companies that deal with massive volumes of data. This leads them to require that their system have an equivalently high storage capacity. Object-based storage fulfills this need by giving users access to up to 500 petabytes of storage. File storage, on the other hand, gives users access to anywhere from 100 to 500 terabytes of space. When an organization does not need access to such a massive amount of space, file storage may make the most sense.

Ultimately, the thing that is going to determine whether one of the options is better is going to be why the user needs the storage. The type of need that they have will dictate which method is better in that situation.

Object storage is an example of a NoSQL data storage type that runs on the cloud.

It is possible to run a database while using object storage.

File and object storage solutions are products that make it possible for users to take advantage of these storage types.

Users that deploy file and object storage solutions gain a number of benefits. These benefits can include:

• Easy access to data. File storage makes it easy for users to locate the files that they are trying to find. They can open these files with a click and access the information stored in them.

• The ability to store and manage unstructured data. Object storage enables users to store and manage massive amounts of raw data. This is the kind of raw data that is used by both AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning) systems as well as by companies that perform big data analytics.
• Ease of use. File storage is extremely intuitive and simple for users to use. Users who have little training can use this form of storage fully without needing a great deal of assistance.
• High level of scalability. Object storage is designed so that users can scale their storage up to petabytes of space if they need to.

The main alternative to object storage is the block storage system. Block storage is a system of data storage in which massive chunks of data are split into set blocks of data that receive unique identifier tags. When the data is retrieved, it is reassembled into a single unit. This is the default storage system that hard disk drives use.