Are you still using your desktop to get your work done? It’s time to step back and realize that most computing work is done online nowadays. Data storage is one such task. No longer is your hard drive the best place for archival storage. Online storage on a large server is now cheaper than local storage!

The subject of online storage is, like most others, “an ocean unto itself”. This means that the prudent way to learn about it is to first read knowledgeable literature about it. Here’s an article about it based on firsthand usage.

~~~ Local Storage Will Bite You ~~~

Some of the many reasons for not using local storage (i.e. DVDs, etc.) are:

Every desktop will crash at some point, taking your data with it. Massive web servers have copies of your data running on multiple machines. If one machine fails, your data is safe on another machine, and that machine is pressed into service automatically. The machine is unlikely to fail in the first place because access to it is very strictly controlled (unauthorized, untrained people can never mess around with it).

If you use DVDs or CDs for backup, they can get scratched, lost and thereby rendered useless through careless handling. In all likelihood that’s already happened to you (like it has to me)

If your storage requirements are very large, say more than 1000 GB, you might have to buy an external hard drive of large capacity. These are expensive. The cost per byte stored works out less if you choose the right online server

Whether you use DVDs, CDs or external drives, how on earth do you access them when you travel away from your base location??

~~~ Online Storage Will Stroke You ~~~

Some of the reasons in favor of using online storage on a large server are:

A large online server will actually be a network of servers connected together, all of them belonging to the online storage company. Copies of your data will be stored on many of them. If the primary server crashes, one of the others takes over seamlessly. Since it has a copy of your data on it, you don’t loose a single byte because of the crash

The probability of even the primary server crashing is remote. It’s housed in a building with generator backup power, fire prevention systems, access only to authorized personnel, peripheral security cameras, et al

Suppose your files are accessed hundreds of times a minute. Your desktop would slow down, probably take hours to serve each request. A large online server is, as mentioned earlier, a network of servers with multiple copies of your data. If the primary server starts getting overburdened by download requests, the other servers kick in to start delivering your files (remember, all of them maintain copies of your files). The net result: users do not experience delay when demand is high

You can be anywhere on earth and be able to access your files (assuming that every place on earth has an Internet connection, which is getting to be more true by the second)

On a cost per byte basis, online can be CHEAPER than local storage!

~~~ In Conclusion ~~~

To sum things up, the outstanding reliability and scalability of large online storage servers make them preferable to local storage. Start using them and avoid data loss, server slowdowns and high hardware costs.

When it comes to engineering and architectural drafting, it can be difficult to find a quality full-time CAD drafter. Of course, even if you do locate such a person you will be required to pay accordingly, and they do not come cheap. This can be problematic for a company that may need to save costs and expenses.

Hiring a CAD drafter comes along with a bundle of financial commitments such as health insurance, vacation pay, social security payments and other benefits. Sure, you could hire an contract employee… but there may be liability issues associated with such a venture. Why this may seem like a difficult position to be in there is an option: contract out to CAD Services.

~~ The Services ~~

CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) services will handle the same work and duties that hiring in house would achieve. The main difference, of course, would be that contracting out to outsource services would come with significantly less cost. Often, when a company is strapped financially or is a low liquid capital start up there comes a need to cut expenses and contracting out can serve that purpose.

But the truth is that even a large company should outsource at least part of their CAD work. The company should maintain only sufficient full-time CAD drafters to handle the minimum expected workload. The ups and downs above this should be outsourced. This will maximize savings, as will be apparent from the below paragraphs.

~~ Costs ~~

CAD services are predominantly pay-per-use rather than flat-fee. If you don’t use them on Tuesday, you don’t pay them for Tuesday. Not so if you have a full-time CAD drafter!

To further cost you less, many CAD service providers also vary their charges according to the size of the drawing sheet. The smaller your sheet, the less the price per sheet. Some go even further and reduce the price per sheet for less dense detail.

But wait a minute there’s scope for even more price reduction! If you start sending out assignments out to a CAD service as a steady stream, you get classified as a “golden customer”: most CAD shops will gladly throw in a volume discount after a month or two. All you have to do is ask!

~~ CAD Platforms and Vendor Choice ~~

There are several CAD platforms that engineers and architects use, and no CAD service is master of them all. The platform you use, if not widely employed, can limit your choice of CAD services to certain vendors only.

The most widely used platform is AutoCAD. Some others are MicroStation, Pro-Engineer, Archicad, SolidWorks, VectorWorks and Catia. To find CAD service vendors specialized in your platform, put “CAD services” and the name of your platform in a search engine and pull up the results.

~~ Quality Issues ~~

Now, some may wonder if quality will be maintained by a service that is involved with contracting out. Well, let’s put your worries at ease: many CAD services produce quality that can surpass that of the outsourcing company! All it takes is a little due diligence to find them.

Ask for samples, check out references and give a trial assignment before you decide to shoot for a long-term arrangement. If that sounds like dating to decide on marriage, you’re right on the money!