Storage Service Providers are Service Providers that specifically host storage applications. An SSP provides S-POPs   (Storage points of presence) for companies that wish to outsource their data storage and management. Basic services are available for a few cents per megabyte per month and costs increase as you get into terabytes of data stored and add-on services like backups, real-time data replication and a 99.999% uptime guarantee.

The SSP model is appealing to small businesses.  Many small companies don’t have the space, time, money, or staff to build and maintain their own storage infrastructure, so they are turning to SSPs. Usually a business can operate on a "pay as you grow" basis with an SSP, which allows them to only purchase what they need or use in a particular time frame. In addition to helping small businesses save money in staff and infrastructure, SSPs can be deployed quickly, which is why many start-ups will find them quite useful in getting their wheels turning.