--- title: Data storage cost reduction calculator | Methodology | Exonar description: See the methodology and understand how we've calculated the assumptions in our unstructured data storage cost reduction calculator. --- [![Exonar](https://www.exonar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Exonar_LogoTag_NOW.png?width=360&height=139&name=Exonar_LogoTag_NOW.png "Exonar")](https://exonar.com) - Product - [Exonar Reveal](https://www.exonar.com/exonar-reveal) - [How it Works](https://www.exonar.com/how-it-works) - [Security](https://www.exonar.com/security) - [Exonar Labs](https://www.exonar.com/exonar-labs) - [Services](https://www.exonar.com/services) - Who it's for - [Information Security](https://www.exonar.com/information-security) - [Governance, Risk & Compliance](https://www.exonar.com/privacy-and-gdpr-compliance) - [Strategic IT & Operations](https://www.exonar.com/strategic-it-and-operations) - [Customers](https://www.exonar.com/case-studies/) - [Partners](https://www.exonar.com/partners) - Resources - [Exonar Blog](https://www.exonar.com/blog) - [Toolkits](https://www.exonar.com/toolkits) - [Guides](https://www.exonar.com/guides) - [Webinars & Demos](https://www.exonar.com/webinars-and-demos) - [About Us](https://www.exonar.com/about-us) - [Careers](https://www.exonar.com/careers) - [Contact](https://www.exonar.com/contact) Sign In [Ready to talk?](https://www.exonar.com/ready-to-talk) # Unstructured data storage cost reduction calculator: Methodology & references Numbers are based on publicly available information in May 2021, gathered through industry bodies, websites and materials and based on insights from the experiences of our customers and partners. Data statistics change regularly, so please refer to the latest publicly available information. Methodology & references Amount of unstructured data: Exonar research with customers reveals approximately 80% of any data estate is unstructured. Forbes estimates 90% of a data estate is unstructured. [Source](https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/10/16/what-is-unstructured-data-and-why-is-it-so-important-to-businesses-an-easy-explanation-for-anyone/?sh=3e0c47e315f6) Amount of over-retained information (DROT) in your unstructured data: Exonar's research and findings based on customer data reveals that an average of 58% of unstructured data is duplicated, redundant, over-retained and trivial (DROT) as defined by each organisation's data retention policies. The figure in this cell represents the amount of unstructured data (80%) multiplied by 58% DROT information.  Annual storage costs for all unstructured data including over-retained information (DROT): Total amount of unstructured data multiplied by £1000 per TB of storage. This represents the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for enterprise storage and is calculated based on a number of sources, including what we learn from our own customers. Use the slider in this cell to reduce the storage cost by £100/TB/pm. [Source 1](https://www.hubstor.net/blog/3-estimates-on-in-house-storage-costs/) & [Source 2](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/tco/calculator/)  Annual storage cost with over-retained information (DROT) removed: Amount of data remaining after 58% DROT removed = 42% multiplied by £1000 per TB. This represents the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for enterprise storage for the 42% of useful data remaining once the DROT is separated or removed. 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