Unlikely Allies: File Servers and the Cloud

By some accounts, there are roughly 27 million traditional file servers (i.e. non-cloud) that remain active. At the same time, it’s been estimated that nearly one-third of the population now works remotely.  One might assume that these numbers represent something of a technological stand-off: either businesses eventually ditch the file servers for a cloud-based model, or workers accept the fact that company data will remain on-premise even if they will not.

Of course, that assumption would be wrong – and it’s due to the rise of the hybrid cloud. Many cloud vendors – almost exclusively, those who cater to the needs of businesses – now offer the ability to “cloud-enable” any file server. Apparently, they are onto something with this idea.

Take for example the key findings from a recent research survey by the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and Workshare, which found that:

• 84 percent of current corporate OFS users subscribe to a public cloud model.
• Of those organizations leveraging a public cloud model, almost all (97 percent) said they would be interested in a hybrid option that allows them to keep some or all data on premises.
• 54 percent stated the driving factor for wanting to deploy a hybrid cloud model is flexibility and control over where their data is stored.
• A further 41 percent revealed the ability to leverage existing infrastructure was crucial.

Interesting, right? The second data point – that almost 100 percent of corporate cloud adopters would be interested in keeping some data on premise – is particularly interesting on a number of levels. Before we offer our take on the matter, here’s what Terri McClure, senior analyst at ESG, had to say:

“Although online file sharing and collaboration applications have provided a number of benefits for customers, they also report a number of ongoing challenges following adoption. Security is viewed as the biggest challenge among current OFS users and the most significant concern among potential users. There is a shift in demand, and users now want the ability to retain some data in-house. With recent issues surrounding internet surveillance, we can expect to see a greater demand for hybrid cloud deployments that let enterprises choose where their data is housed – on premises, in the cloud, on US soil, or in a specific country.”

One question that wasn’t asked (presumably) was whether any of those surveyed were considering abandoning the cloud altogether and moving their data back on-site. We suspect the answer would have been close to zero. For those who have made cloud-based file sharing part of their businesses, there’s likely no turning back. At this point, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

But as we’re starting to see, the business world is very receptive to the idea of a cloud-enabled local server. This, of course, is a tremendous opportunity for MSPs, who can not only deploy these solutions, but who can work with their clients to assess which data should reside in the cloud, and which should be kept on-premise.

So don’t throw away that old file server just yet, the hybrid cloud will ensure their survival – at least for the next few years.