Managing Media in the Hybrid Cloud

Digital innovation has been a driving force in how content is created, managed, and distributed within the media industry. In the last few years especially, organisations have needed to continually adapt to maintain consistency across workflows. Remote working has moved from business critical during the pandemic, to a long-term strategic decision with a wide range of approaches taken by different companies.

There are now more ways to work than ever, and these transformations have dealt new challenges to media teams, particularly in the realm of asset management. Creative professionals need to access content from anywhere, and so both nearline and archive storage needs to balance accessibility and affordability. As media organisations continue to create larger volumes of content, and with the ongoing desire to work remotely, the need for secure and scalable storage has become more pressing.

In response to a changing workforce and media workflow trends, there has been a rise in companies transitioning to the cloud. However, with various iterations, it can be difficult to know the best cloud-based approach to take. Fortunately, the hybrid cloud exists to provide teams with more flexibility.

The Goldilocks Effect

While legacy LTO platforms may be considered too restrictive, and public cloud storage not quite secure enough for valuable assets, the hybrid cloud offers a mix which is just right. Hybrid cloud storage solutions combine the benefits of on-premises storage, private cloud storage, and public cloud storage. This offers media teams integrated workflows that blend performance and security, with scale and global reach. This means having the flexibility to optimise storage resources based on specific needs, while also knowing that your high-value assets are well protected.

A hybrid approach allows media companies to choose the appropriate level of security for their content. By doing so, sensitive data can be kept safe and the risk of data breaches can be reduced. Whatever stage of the post-production process they are working on, media professionals need to collaborate. A hybrid approach supports the connections between individuals and departments, and enables teams to access and manage content in the way that works best for them. With seamless storage and more comprehensive toolsets for content workflows, both productivity and cohesiveness improves.

Turning Archives into Income

Monetisation is another important consideration when managing media in the hybrid cloud. Making the most of archive assets has always been a challenge for media and entertainment companies. The restrictions of legacy systems have made it difficult and time-consuming to access archive content. Especially in cases where metadata doesn't exist. Prior to the cloud, if a provider wanted to show a previously broadcasted clip from a TV show, the production team would have to put in a request, then wait patiently for someone with authorised access to locate that particular segment. The content would then arrive via some form of hardware, before being shipped back into archive storage once utilised.

Cloud technology has overhauled the process of managing archives and made it easier to generate revenue from existing content. Media teams can quickly locate the necessary files and start working with them straight away. By using cloud-based storage solutions, companies can easily make their content available to a wider audience, whether through streaming services, downloads, or other channels.

More Ways to Work

For many media teams, the initial move to the cloud was considered a temporary solution. But now, the long-term benefits are outweighing those of traditional on-premise LTO/ODA platforms. The widespread adoption of hybrid cloud systems has allowed media teams to continue operations with minimal disruption, and has ensured teams remain connected even when working from different locations. With an industry-wide focus on collaboration, media teams need solutions which can facilitate seamless workflows.

Object Matrix hybrid cloud storage, is a media-focused solution. It combines high-speed on-premise workflows, with seamless and non-proprietary synchronisation of content and metadata to cloud storage platforms. It provides instant and predictable access to archive content from anywhere, and allows teams to maximise opportunities for growth. Find out more here.

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