- Cutting 100 TB could save AWS customers $27,600 per year in storage space
- Storage costs are rising as data centers face increased demand
- 62% of workers spend too much time searching for information
With artificial intelligence straining hardware offerings, many have seen cloud storage costs rise, but there’s an even easier way for businesses to cut costs without switching vendors.
A new Crown Information Management report has revealed that up to 50% of business data is sitting unused, taking up valuable storage space when it could otherwise be archived.
According to the data, removing just 100 TB of cloud data could save the average AWS Standard storage customer $27,600 per year in fees – a not inconsiderable sum.
Unused data can cost you thousands
Redundant, obsolete and trivial (ROT) information is to blame here, often filling cloud storage spaces with duplicate, outdated or low-value data. ROT also clutters search results and delays review – three in five (62%) workers agree they spend too much time searching for information, according to Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index.
With this in mind, a cleaner warehouse environment can also save workers valuable time, increase production and improve cost efficiency.
Removing old data will not only help companies reduce costs and increase efficiency, but it can also serve as an important contribution to emissions reductions. Electricity consumption for data centers is set to more than double by 2030 at the current rate.
Having said all this, Crown acknowledged some data storage requirements that ultimately increase companies’ storage costs, GDPR being one of them. “Note any narrow legal exceptions, such as keeping records for archiving in the public interest, research or statistics, and include the necessary safeguards,” the report describes.
Crown also warns against over-digitizing: “Don’t scan everything.” Although digitization can reduce physical storage, it may not always be the best way to store information.
Finally, the report advises companies to destroy what they don’t need… responsibly. This refers to proper recycling of both paper waste and e-waste.
“Most companies I consult with are paying to store and protect information they don’t need,” concluded EMEA Digital Director Tim Rushent. “By eliminating ROT, organizations not only save money – they reduce risk, improve productivity and reduce their carbon footprint.”
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