Data Storage Costs: Which is More Efficient, Indonesia or Overseas?

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 08:49 | Data Canters | Editorial INTI

Jakarta, INTI - In today's digital era, data has become one of the most valuable assets for companies, institutions, and even governments. Every second, the volume of data generated continues to grow, making the need for secure, fast, and affordable data storage more urgent. However, the main question often arises: which is more efficient for storing data, in Indonesia or using overseas storage services?

Data Storage Trends in Indonesia and Globally

The rapid growth of information technology in Indonesia has spurred a surge in demand for reliable data storage solutions. As the number of tech-based companies, startups, and even government entities leveraging digital data increases, data storage becomes a critical foundation for smooth operations.

According to Statista, the global digital data volume reached over 120 zettabytes in 2023. In Indonesia, data volume is projected to grow by 30% in 2024, driven by rapid digitalization across sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and healthcare.

Cost Comparison: Indonesia vs Overseas

To answer whether it's more efficient to store data in Indonesia or abroad, let's examine key factors that impact costs, including storage capacity, operational costs, and supporting services.

Storage Costs:
- Infonesis (local provider): Infonesis, one of the leading players in Indonesia's data storage industry, offers competitive packages. Average storage rates range from Rp 150,000 to Rp 500,000 per month, depending on the capacity used.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): International providers like AWS offer storage rates of around $0.023 per GB for basic storage services. At current exchange rates, this translates to approximately Rp 350,000 per month for the same capacity.

In terms of pricing, Infonesis offers a more affordable option. However, AWS provides a globally stable and reliable infrastructure with 99.99% uptime.

Operational Costs: In addition to basic storage fees, operational costs such as data transfers, server management, and backups must also be considered. Local providers like Infonesis typically offer advantages in terms of localization and service customization, while AWS or Google Cloud often provide better global redundancy, though at a higher cost for additional services.

Facilities and Ease of Use

Storing data overseas with providers like AWS or Google Cloud offers advanced facilities, including big data integration, AI, and machine learning. On the other hand, local providers like Infonesis may better understand the needs of local companies by offering technical support in Indonesian and solutions tailored to Indonesian regulations.

However, the challenge for local providers lies in infrastructure and scale. While improving, Indonesia's data centers still face limitations in terms of global scale and integration of advanced technologies that international providers offer.

Regulations and Compliance

One of the main advantages of using local data storage is compliance with Indonesia's data regulations. According to Ministry of Communications and Informatics Regulation No. 20/2016, companies processing personal data must ensure the data is stored domestically. This compels companies to consider local providers to comply with government regulations.

On the other hand, storing data overseas often encounters challenges in terms of regulations. Different countries have varying rules regarding privacy protection and data access, posing risks for Indonesian companies storing their data abroad.

Overall, storing data in Indonesia is more efficient in terms of cost and regulatory compliance. However, for companies requiring global infrastructure, redundancy, and advanced technologies, international providers like AWS or Google Cloud may be more suitable.

To mitigate the high costs of international providers, a hybrid cloud solution — combining local data centers with international cloud services — could be the best option.