How to manage your assets with X (Drobo NAS Backblaze Sandisk SSD etc.) – 3 Tips and Tricks and Don’t Dos

Introduction

In today’s digital age, managing your assets effectively and efficiently is crucial. With the increasing demand for storage space, it can be challenging to keep track of all your files and data. Moreover, the importance of being able to easily collaborate on footage, assets, and files has become an ever growing problem especially with remote work. What happens when you come off a shoot with terabytes of footage? Or when you’ve just finished a project and you need to archive hundreds of 3D assets or stock footage that you want to keep for reuse. How do you manage this within a team environment? What are the best solutions (is it Google Drive, Dropbox, building your own NAS setup)?

Fortunately, there are several solutions available to help you manage your assets, such as a Drobo, NAS, or a cloud NAS solution. In this blog post, we will discuss how to use these solutions to manage and store your assets better.

Now before we dive in, I want you to consider two important things:

1. How do we store and access assets?
2. How do we organize and search assets?

These two things are the fundamental components to any “content operating system” that enables us to do our best work.

Drobo

Drobo is a storage device that can store up to 64 terabytes of data. It is an excellent solution for managing your assets at home or in a small office. The device has a user-friendly interface and can be easily set up. The Drobo device can also be expanded with additional storage bays or drives. Additionally, the device has built-in software that helps you manage your assets, including automatic backups and file sharing capabilities.

Now there are a couple of limitations with a Drobo

• Drobo can be expensive and may not be the best solution for large businesses, as it is more suited to home or small office environments.
• There are also set up issues and although it solves the core problem of centralized storage (perhaps on a network) – it still doesn’t solve the problem of being able to find and search for an asset.
• When using a NAS or cloud NAS solution, be mindful of internet speed and bandwidth limitations, as uploading and downloading large files can take a long time.
• It is important to regularly back up your data to ensure its safety and prevent any potential data loss.

NAS

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is another option for managing your assets. NAS devices are more robust than Drobo and can support multiple users. They are ideal for small businesses or home offices that require centralized storage and data management. NAS devices can be set up with RAID configurations that provide backup and redundancy for your data. They also have built-in software that allows you to manage your assets, including file sharing and remote access. Common NAS solutions include QNAP and Synology and usually are not terribly expensive to start off (starting at around $200-$300). NAS’s offer large capabilities to easily share and allow your computers to act as if they’re reading from their local. Even better if you add in local ethernet and throw everything onto a LAN

Now there are a couple of issues with NAS that we need to address. While NAS devices offer many benefits for managing your assets, there are also some disadvantages to consider.

One of the main disadvantages of using a NAS is that it requires a network connection to access your files. This can be a problem if you need to access your files while on the go, or if your network experiences downtime. Additionally, NAS devices can be relatively expensive compared to other storage solutions, such as external hard drives or cloud-based storage options.

Another potential issue with a NAS is that it requires some technical expertise to set up and maintain.

Finally, it is important to note that a NAS device is only as secure as your network. If your network is not secure, your data could be at risk of being hacked or stolen. It is important to take appropriate security measures, such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, to protect your data when using a NAS device.

Cloud NAS Solutions

Cloud NAS are a new wave of tech that offer an alternative to physical storage devices. They allow you to store your assets in the cloud, providing remote access and scalability. One example of this is storage with Backblaze. Sitting at some of the cheapest storage on the market and unlimited backups, it could be a great way for you to archive projects. Backblaze offers unlimited cloud storage, making it an ideal solution for businesses or individuals with large amounts of data. The service also provides automatic backups and file sharing capabilities, making it an all-in-one solution for managing your assets.

Cloud NAS solutions offer several benefits for managing assets. One of the key advantages is remote access and scalability. With cloud NAS, you can store your assets in the cloud, providing you with the flexibility to access them from anywhere. Another advantage of cloud NAS solutions is automatic backups and file sharing capabilities. This means that your data is always safe and accessible, and you can easily share files with others.

However, it is important to be mindful of internet speed and bandwidth limitations, as uploading and downloading large files can take a considerable amount of time, which can be a major bottleneck. Additionally, cloud NAS solutions may not be as secure as physical storage devices, as they are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches.

Where all of these solutions fall short

While each of these solutions can be effective in managing your assets, they all fall short when it comes to dealing with assets that are spread across multiple locations. With the rise of remote work and cloud computing, it is becoming increasingly common for assets to be stored in different locations, such as on-premises storage, cloud-based storage, and personal devices.

This can create challenges when it comes to finding and accessing assets quickly and efficiently. For example, if you are working on a project that requires assets stored in multiple locations, it can be time-consuming to search for and retrieve those assets. Additionally, different storage solutions may use different file systems or naming conventions, which can further complicate the process of finding and accessing assets.

To address these challenges, many organizations are turning to a hybrid cloud approach, which involves using a combination of on-premises and cloud-based storage solutions. This allows organizations to store assets in a variety of locations, while still maintaining centralized control and visibility.

However, even with a hybrid cloud approach, finding and accessing assets across different locations can still be a challenge. To address this, many organizations are investing in specialized asset management software, which can help to streamline the process of finding and accessing assets, regardless of their location. These solutions provide a single interface for managing assets, regardless of where they are stored, and can help to improve collaboration and productivity across teams.

Building a Modern Asset Library

Remember the questions that I asked you to think about earlier? It’s not just where the assets are, but how you find them in the first place.

Fortunately, we’re building a solution that is seeking to solve both of these problems once and for all. We get it – finding assets right now are a HUGE pain. No file explorer or system allows you to even remotely begin searching for your assets visually (remember when I built that car for that project, where is it now?) And the better benefit is that we are able to integrate with all types of storage solutions from local hard drives, to NAS storage, to even remote storage like Backblaze, traditional object storage, and more. Ultimately, the future is that regardless of where your assets are located, they will be indexed, searchable, and accessible by you so that you can do your best work.

Interested in what we’re doing? You should check out our early demo here.

Conclusion

Managing your assets is crucial in today’s digital age, and there are several solutions available to help you do so effectively. A Drobo, NAS, or cloud NAS solution like Backblaze can provide you with the storage, backups, and file sharing capabilities you need to manage your assets efficiently. Consider your specific needs and budget when selecting a solution, and always remember to back up your data regularly to ensure its safety.