How can one be successful in their role when the world of data is always changing? Is it even possible to keep up with new trends and technologies? The role of a government data storage manager has transformed significantly over the past 20 years and especially in recent months. Here at Hitachi Vantara Federal, we remain committed to a data-driven and mission-centric approach around digital infrastructure. But is that always possible? To navigate this ever-changing industry, we have come up with 5 must-haves to remain successful as a data storage manager.
1. Continuous Adherence to Policies and Procedures
With ongoing technological changes to the storage landscape, there comes an associated onslaught of new legislation and regulatory concerns. As a storage manager, it is vital to stay on top of policies that come directly from Capitol Hill and other regulatory bodies such as the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). Utilizing curated news sources or following relevant professionals or organizations on platforms like LinkedIn can aid in staying informed about changing policies.
2. Data Lifecycle Management
This is crucial when managing a significant amount of data. Having a plan of action from data entry to data destruction can limit the time you spend trying to manage your structured and unstructured data throughout its lifecycle. Data storage managers and other data-related stakeholders can enhance operational efficiency by defining clear procedures for data classification, storage, access controls, and eventual disposal.
3. Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning
In the event of unforeseen disasters or data loss incidents, having resilient backup protocols in place becomes paramount. These protocols should include regular backups, off-site storage solutions, and measures to minimize the risk of data loss. Additionally, implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan is essential for swiftly restoring operations and minimizing downtime. By adhering to these measures, a data storage manager can successfully safeguard critical data assets in the face of disaster or ransomware attack.
4. Strategic Report Compilation
Structuring data is merely the initial step; creating actionable insights from it is pivotal. Data storage managers play a central role in crafting reports tailored to their team’s needs, be it for workload optimization, data management strategies and investments, or deriving valuable analytics. These reports serve as tools for informed decision-making within any agency.
5. Effective Team Management and Collaboration
A key success factor in any industry is your ability to work in harmony with others. A proficient storage manager should also work to manage teamwork: fostering an environment of cohesion and collaboration, ensuring that the team’s collective efforts are aligned with organizational objectives. Addressing conflicts and controversies expediently underscores effective leadership.
By adhering to these principles, you can be confident in your abilities to secure, organize, and operationalize your agency’s data. Through meticulous adherence to policies and procedures, proactive data lifecycle management, robust backup and disaster recovery planning, strategic report compilation, and effective team collaboration, data storage managers can navigate the complexities of the ever-evolving data landscape with poise and proficiency. By embracing these must-haves as guiding pillars, one can ensure success in one’s career and agency.
This blog article was published in partnership with Carahsoft Technology Corporation.
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