Hosted IT services vendor ThinkGrid has launched a pay-as-you-go cloud storage service.
The firm said the platform is aimed at UK enterprises that want to store increasing amounts of data without splashing out on expensive on-site hardware. It is available either as a standalone service accessible from any Internet-enabled device or integrated as part of ThinkGrid’s cloud business portfolio.
“Over recent years there has been a huge rise in the amount of digital information as individuals and businesses increase their dependence on IT. Similar to the way we use banks for keeping our hard earned cash, it’s becoming just as important to safeguard highly valuable data by keeping it stored in a secure, reliable location,” said David Pratt, COO at ThinkGrid. “At the same time, just like our money, we should be able to access this data whenever and wherever we need it.”
ThinkGrid Cloud Storage is based on the MezeoCloud Storage Platform, which uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption of files for transfer and 256-bit AES encryption in storage. Access is via a web browser and there is no need for a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
According to ThinkGrid this is significant as it enables sharing and collaboration of data stored in its cloud. The company claims it is a faster and more efficient approach to sharing data than emailing information as an attachment.
“For the vast majority of companies, it’s a necessity to effectively store or retrieve business data. There’s also an increasing need to share this data with a range of third parties, such as customers and partners, or even employees who work outside the office,” said Pratt.
The pay-as-you-go model means that if a company needs to reduce the amount of storage it requires the price will fall accordingly. The service runs in multiple data centres and offer 99.99% availability.
“With ThinkGrid Cloud Storage we are offering customers a new and more affordable model for storing and accessing data from anywhere and, most importantly, giving them the confidence that this valuable information remains fully protected. For businesses that are not yet ready to move their full IT infrastructure to our business IT on demand service, it also offers an ideal stepping stone to the cloud,” Pratt said.
