Understanding Storage tiers
The secret to cloud storage cost-effectiveness
Cloud storage has transformed how media companies manage, store, and deliver their valuable assets. The rapid adoption of cloud-based media workflows, especially cloud media asset management (MAM), underscores its growing importance in the Media & Entertainment industry. In fact, cloud-based solutions are no longer just the future—they are the present (here you can find an insightful read on the subject: link).
However, as digital libraries grow, so do storage costs. Finding the balance between accessibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness is critical. This is where understanding storage tiers becomes essential. With the right strategy and tools, cloud storage can save your business substantial costs while maintaining efficiency. And this is particularly critical for media-based companies, where storage costs can quickly spiral due to the size of media files.
What are storage tiers?
Cloud providers use storage tiers to align costs with usage. Storage tiers are a way to price different ways to store in the cloud, as cloud services provide different types of storage media to create multiple tiers for accommodating different types of data.
Essentially, they offer pricing based on how frequently and quickly you need to access your data. While the tiering systems vary among providers, most follow the same general principles.
🔥 Hot storage
The “hot” storage tiers refers to stored data for immediate access, with a higher cost per GB.
It is best for active projects, ongoing workflows, and immediate content delivery (e.g. for active editing projects or frequently used assets).
❄️ Cold Storage
On the other side, “cold” storage tiers have a delayed access, but a lower cost per GB.
These tiers are best for archived content, backups, and occasional retrievals (e.g. footage from completed projects or seasonal content).
🧊 Deep Archive
This more specific tier (e.g. AWS Glacier) is very low cost but takes long retrieval times.
It suits use cases like very rarely accessed content stored for regulatory or historical purposes (e.g. raw footage that must be stored for compliance or unused archives).
By leveraging the correct tier, you can avoid overpaying for assets you don’t access daily.
How to build a cost-effective storage strategy for Media companies
In the Media & Entertainment industry, storage costs can quickly spiral due to the size of media files. Developing a strategy tailored to your content’s lifecycle is essential.
Analyze the lifecycle of your content
Use hot tiers for active content and store proxies instead of high-resolution files for daily tasks like translations or approvals. Proxies save space while enabling workflows.
On the other side, you should save already edited material, raw footage, delivered masters, or other rarely accessed files in cold storage tiers. Automating this process is crucial to save time and ensure seamless transitions while cutting costs.
Automate tiering
Manually managing storage can be tedious and error-prone. With automation tools you can set up rules to move assets to the appropriate tier based on usage patterns—saving time and reducing costs. The money you are saving shouldn’t be at the cost of wasting time!
Below, we explain how Knox Media Hub automates this process and even automates proxy creation during ingestion, so you don’t break a sweat when tiering your content.
Monitor and Adjust
Cloud storage needs aren’t static. Periodically reviewing your data and adjusting tier assignments ensures continued cost optimization. This is why you need a Media Asset Management system that can provide granular data on all your media assets and usage.
Knox Media Hub’s MAM platform provides detailed analytics, empowering you with insights to refine your strategy continually.
Knox Media Hub: simplifying your storage needs
At Knox Media Hub, we understand that managing cloud storage costs can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on delivering high-quality content to audiences. That’s why our solutions are built to integrate seamlessly with diverse cloud storage providers. We integrated to different storage solutions and top providers like AWS, Wasabi, and others.
Here is how we help you optimize your storage costs:
Automate the tiering
Automate tiering effortlessly. You can create storage rules from a very easy to use and understandable interface to automate the storage transitions.
Optimizing costs should not give you headaches!
Insights
Get granular data: make data-driven decisions about storage allocation.
Cloud Ownership
You should maintain full control of your storage accounts and assets. Ownership ensures you have complete authority over their management and access. Avoid solutions that compromise your control—your media assets should remain solely under your ownership.
Learn more about the importance of owning your cloud environment in our blog: “This is why you should own your cloud environment."
Hybrid Solutions
Sometimes, using a mix of on-premise storage and cloud-based tiers works best for balancing cost and control, especially when transitioning and adapting to cloud technology. This is why we have hybrid capabilities.
With our expertise, you can achieve the perfect balance of performance and cost, enabling you to scale efficiently while staying on budget.
The bottom line
Cloud storage isn’t just about where you put your data—it’s about how you manage it. By understanding and leveraging storage tiers, media companies can make smarter financial decisions, significantly reduce costs, streamline workflows, and focus on what truly matters: delivering high-quality content.
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