Shared and Distributed Architecture

Advantages

• Centralised storage model enhances file security, so your customers and employees are less prone to identity theft. A record storage service keeps your files safe in one protected location: a record centre. This specialised facility is designed for the protection and management of documents and features advanced security and access control system.

• Generally bigger data security as the single data storage location implies only a one possible place from which the database can be attacked and sets of data can be stolen or tampered with.

Disadvantages

• Having a single storage model is a single point of failure. Should this resource become unavailable for whatever reason, then no resources will be available.

• They also offer limited scalability. Because all applications and processing power are housed in a single server, the only way to scale your network is to add more storage, I/O bandwidth, or processing power to the server.

Advantages

• Data being spread across several locations is advantageous as outages are not disruptive to continuing workflow.

• If an intended party gains access to one part of the model, it is possible to shut this part off and continue functionality.

Disadvantages

• More staff involved, higher chance of a security breach or a data leak due to social engineering.

• Greater threat landscape for a distributed storage model as a network to connect storage systems is required.

• Due to the higher costs of a disadvantaged system, key security considerations may be ignored and leave vulnerabilities for exploitation.

Advantages

• Easier to manage data if it is all in one location.

• Closer control on data protection, version control and security.

• Generally more cost effective.

• All information can be accessed at the same time at the same location.

• No dependency on network speeds.

Disadvantages

• Bigger single database can mean longer parsing and query times.

• No inbuilt redundancy so there is a higher risk of data loss in system failure.

Advantages

• Likelihood of performance related issues such as bottlenecks is minimised as the load is spread over multiple locations.

• Data can be accessed even if one location is down or under maintenance.

Disadvantages

• If one of the locations fail, it would be hard to pinpoint it, as each location would then need to be pinged and checked for availability individually.

• It is difficult to find out which particular location responds to a request if it needs to be pinpointed.