Enterprise Storage Costs: Understanding Cost by Terabyte
Enterprises today are facing the challenge of managing growing amounts of data while keeping storage costs under control. The increasing demand for storage, whether it's for business operations, security, or compliance, makes understanding the cost of 1TB of storage crucial. By understanding these costs, businesses can optimize budgets, improve performance, and make informed decisions about which storage solutions align best with their needs.
This guide will explore the key factors affecting storage costs, compare different pricing models, and provide practical tips to help businesses make smarter storage decisions.
1TB Cloud Storage Pricing: What You Need to Know
Cloud storage providers offer a variety of pricing models, often with tiered plans based on usage, features, and support. For example:
FileCloud Online Competitive Pricing:
- Essentials Plan: $12.50/user/month (billed annually), includes 1TB base storage.
- Advanced Plan: $18.75/user/month (billed annually), includes 2.5TB base storage.
The Limitations of Free Plans vs. Paid Plans:
Free cloud storage often provides limited storage (e.g., 1TB free options), but these come with restrictions on access, features, and security. Paid plans, like those offered by FileCloud, offer enhanced security, scalability, and enterprise-grade support. For enterprises, the extra investment in paid plans can often lead to greater long-term savings by providing more robust, secure, and flexible solutions.
Understanding the Cost Per Terabyte
The cost per TB can vary significantly depending on the type of storage solution:
FileCloud’s Cost Per Terabyte:
For a single user on the Essentials plan, the cost per TB is effectively $12.50 per month since 1TB is included for each user at this price.
Cost per TB in Pooled Storage:
When multiple users share storage, the cost per TB reduces as more users contribute to the shared storage pool. This can be a significant savings, particularly when factoring in the different ways providers define users and the levels of storage access an enterprise needs to enable for its employees.
With FileCloud, users can be designated as “Full” (each user comes with 1TB of personal storage) or “Guest” (the user does not have personal storage, but does have access to shared workspaces and granular access permissions).
Enterprises can also leverage “External”users in FileCloud. These users do not have dedicated storage and their access to the internal site is limited. However, this does enable secure sharing and collaboration with recipients outside of the enterprise, without adding to the user license count.
In this example, if an enterprise deployed FileCloud Online for 100 users, 75 of whom are designated as Full, 25 of whom are designated as Guest, the enterprise would have 75TB of total storage. The enterprise would also be able to share and collaborate with an unlimited number of vendors, contractors, consultants, and other key stakeholders beyond the network, with robust security, at no additional cost.
Comparison with Other Providers:
Some competitors may offer lower upfront costs, but the additional features, security, and control offered by FileCloud provide better value at scale, particularly for enterprises with strict compliance needs.
Price Per TB Calculator: Estimating Your Storage Expenses
To calculate your storage expenses, businesses should use a price per TB calculator:
- Determine the Number of Users: Identify the number of users who will need a full license (as opposed to those who may only need guest or external access accounts). For instance, if you have 50 users, this will directly affect the total cost.
- Select a Plan: Choose a plan based on storage and feature requirements (e.g., Essentials or Advanced).
- Calculate Total Monthly Cost: Multiply the number of users by the cost per user.
- Compute Cost Per TB: Divide the total monthly cost by the amount of storage (e.g., 1TB or 2.5TB) included in the plan.
- Factor in Additional Costs: Include other potential costs, such as redundancy, data transfer, and additional storage or support services.
This calculation helps businesses predict and control their storage expenses, making budgeting more transparent.
Enterprise Storage Management: Balancing Cost and Performance
Enterprise storage management goes beyond just cost, it’s about balancing affordability with performance. Effective management ensures data is accessible and secure without overspending.
5 FileCloud Features that Aid in Cost Management:
- Unlimited External Users: Enterprises can provide access to external collaborators without increasing their per-user storage cost.
- Network Shares with NTFS Integration: Secure access without the need for VPNs, lowering the operational burden.
- Workflow Automation: Streamlining processes reduces overhead and the cost of manual intervention, further improving efficiency.
- Integrated Digital Signatures: Built-in e-signature capabilities with Signority help enterprises reduce additional application subscription costs.
- Encryption & Data Leak Prevention: Security mechanisms in FileCloud, including encryption for data at rest and in transit, unlimited file versioning, and built-in antivirus, help protect enterprise data out of the box.
Enterprise Storage Solutions vs Public Cloud Platforms: What's More Cost-Effective for Your Business?
When comparing enterprise storage solutions like FileCloud with public cloud platforms (e.g., Dropbox or Google Drive), it's essential to understand the differences:
Enterprise-Grade Solutions: These offer enhanced security, compliance features, and better control over data. FileCloud’s hybrid approach allows businesses to deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hosted solution, providing flexibility and control over data residency and compliance.
Public Cloud Platforms: While easier to use, public clouds often lack the advanced features needed for enterprises, such as regulatory compliance, scalability at a low cost, and detailed reporting. Additionally, scaling these platforms may lead to unexpected price hikes.
Why FileCloud is the Smart Choice for Enterprise Storage Costs
FileCloud’s pricing stands out as a cost-effective, enterprise-grade storage solution with flexible pricing models designed for growing businesses:
- Competitive Pricing for Enterprise-Grade Storage:
FileCloud’s pricing models offer predictable costs, with added flexibility for businesses with varying storage needs.
- Hybrid & Self-Hosted Options for Cost Control:
Unlike many public cloud providers, FileCloud supports hybrid deployments, enabling businesses to leverage existing infrastructure for more efficient storage management that offers greater control over data.
- Security, Compliance & Customization Without Extra Costs:
Features like Zero Trust File Sharing and granular access controls help ensure enterprise security and compliance without hidden costs or premium fees.
- Scalability Without High Expansion Costs:
As businesses grow, FileCloud’s pricing remains consistent, making it easier to forecast storage costs, unlike other cloud services that may experience cost surges when scaling.
If you'd like personalized advice or have specific questions, schedule a call with one of our experts today to discuss your storage needs.
Product Marketing Manager