When you sign up with OfficeDrop document scanning service, we give you options as to where your data can be stored. In addition to online data storage, OfficeDrop provides data storage in the form of DVDs, USB memory sticks, and external hard drives. Options are great, but you may be wondering which one is right for you. Size, price, and storage methods will determine the best storage medium.

Here are some suggestions to make your document scanning service most convenient for you:

• Online Database (Multiple Scale Storage)

We believe that storing your files online is by far the most versatile, time effective way to access your document images. Documents can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection, anytime, and don’t require any physical storage. Online storage is billed per month by page and you can store 3,000 pages for under $20 per month. We highly recommend online storage for any business but provide the following alternate storage options to meet consumer preferences.

• DVDs (Small to Medium Scale Storage)

The average DVD can store around 5 gigabytes of document images (5,000 – 10,000 images). DVD storage is cheap and effective if your office is well suited to store DVDs, which are used infrequently enough that locating and storing disks doesn’t become most of your workday. Physically storing DVDs is relatively simple, as they can be stacked easily in just about any bookshelf.

• USBs (Small to Medium Scale Storage)

The USB drives we provide have a capacity similar to a DVD, but are the more expensive choice. Extra costs for USB drives will pay off in their added durability, portability, and easier file sharing. If the data you’re storing finds itself being passed around a lot, a USB may be the more convenient choice for you. Storing a single USB drive is easy, but if you need more than a couple, locating the correct one right away in a drawer can be inefficient.

• External Hard Drives (Large Scale Storage)

An external hard drive is a great choice for those huge document blocks that can’t fit anywhere else. An external hard drive is the recommended storage medium for storage projects that are 250 gigabytes and up. Pricing for hard drives is done by images, starting at $25 for 5,000 images with discounts for higher volumes. If you’re up to your ankles in DVDs or USB drives, it’s probably a good time to consolidate that information on an external hard drive. Over 50,000 images, an external hard drive almost always makes sense due to its ease of use and price. Storing all of your information in one place is organizationally sound as well as ideal for sharing a high volume of information over your network at once. External hard drives are also a preferred choice when security is a priority. External hard drives can be locked away physically if frequent access is unnecessary.

Data Storage Comparison Table:

Hopefully we have helped you choose the document scanning service that is right for you. If you are still unsure of which method would work best for your business, feel free to contact us directly with questions via email or phone. At OfficeDrop, our aim is to make your digital document storage simple, easy, and affordable.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Document Management, Pricing, document scanning service. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.