Think your personal information (PIM data) in the “Cloud” is safe? Think again. Back your data up locally.
International Data Corp (IDC) a very trusted Analyst firm, along with EMC, one of the top 3 Data storage manufactures in the high-tech business have performed a very insightful study. One of the findings states that the amount of data that is currently being created is more than the amount of available media to store it. Meaning, there is not enough media being produced today to capture and store the massive amounts of data being generated.
As an individual this is important to you. Weather you realize it or not… You must understand the ramifications of this fact. Many individuals are heavily relying on corporations to store and maintain their personal Information. Data stored at Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and hundreds of other “Cloud” based services are being effected by this truism.
Within your Personal Information Management (PIM) strategy it is very important that you understand the risks you have if you do not manage your own data locally. As I have posted in the past, as an individual you must “Manage it or Lose it.” Eventually the large Enterprise firms will either change their data retention policies, or in many cases, some have gone out of business and the data stored in their services has been lost. Remember Yahoo Briefcase, Friendster, GeoCities, Windows Live Spaces, Lala.com and others. For a more detailed wright-up See: When a cloud service vanishes: How to protect your data. An article in the august 2011 Computerworld at: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218979/When_a_cloud_service_vanishes_How_to_protect_your_data?taxonomyId=169&pageNumber=2
Below is a graph that represents Microsoft’s Operating income as it relates to their “OnLine” business.
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- More Data Than Media To Hold It
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- Microsoft Online Division Operating Income – 2011
Microsoft’s “Cloud” Services are included in these numbers. Their Cloud Storage business is in these numbers. It is true that Microsoft has a tremendous amount of funds to be able to absorb these kinds of losses as they invest and build this business. But few firms do. How long will it take for the Board of Directors of Microsoft to consider changing their strategy as it relates to these performance indicators?
My point. Be aware that the Cloud storage business is in its infant stages. Firms are building out their business models. Some will profit and survive, others will not. You as an individual are not really in a good position to judge the winners and the losers at this time. No-one is.
Call to Action: “Mange your Data or Lose it.” Take this advice to heart. Keep several copies of your data locally. Make a back-up copy, and an archive copy. NOTE: I am not saying you should not use “Cloud Services”. Quite the contrary, I use them every day, and extensively. But I have a “back up” plan. (Sorry for the pun.!!)
Regards,
Peter
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Peter Gailey
Personal Information Management Coach
214-336-1286 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 214-336-1286 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
peter@PIMCoach.com
See: http://www.emc.com/collateral/demos/microsites/emc-digital-universe-2011/index.htm
See: http://e.businessinsider.com/public/265888
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