Digital Information in Modern Business

From the dawn of time, as Sun Tsu no doubt pointed out at some point, knowledge has been power and in today’s world of digital artistry and big business that’s truer than ever. However today information has largely taken on a different form and it’s not possible to carry millions of words of information in the palm of your hand and send it across the world at the touch of a button. The ability to create, edit, store and send large amounts of data has actually changed the way we live and do business. Memory cards, e-mail providers and PDAs have become big business in themselves and companies such as Apple, Google and Sandisk have become major players. While this has mostly streamlined the use of information, it’s also created the possibility for problems that didn’t exist before - for people to steal highly sensitive information from the safety of their homes and for others to lose years of work and data overnight.

For this reason it’s important to stay ahead of the game and to invest in various ways to handle your data. Every company these days uses computers, which allows them to cut down on paper documents, work more quickly, communicate across distance and have access to reams of information via the internet. By saving files and documents however as opposed to using hard copies, companies instantly become susceptible to becoming corrupted, lost or stolen. For this reason companies should also invest in ways to back up and store data.

One way in which a company or individual can do both is to invest in their own web space. By purchasing a domain, storage and bandwidth they will be able to upload files to backup and to download from any location making it a great option for international companies. Additionally employees will also be able to receive professional e-mail addresses – JackSmith at companyname dot com for example, which again will aid the flow of information. For more sensitive data however online storage and backup may not be suitable as it can susceptible to hackers or accidental deletion when many people are logging in. For more secure storage Sandisk offer a range of options which are versatile enough to serve a variety of purposes.

Sandisk make a range of memory cards which are small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, cheap enough to be purchased en-mass. Sandisk make memory cards that range in capacity from 56kb to 32mb, providing a spectrum of budget and high-spec options. As non-volatile memory the files won’t deteriorate over time, and can be stored easily for future access without being susceptible to malicious attack. The memory stick uses the same form of ‘flash memory’ as SD cards and their kin, but use a firmer casing and slightly larger design making them more durable and difficult to misplace. These communicate via USB making them compatible with more laptops and PCs but fewer small devices. Finally the external hard drive is a bulkier and sturdier alternative to flash memory and offer up to two terabytes of storage.