Most modern teams are global by default. Talent is distributed. Work happens across time zones. Files move constantly between people who may never share the same physical location.
For an organization supporting people in conflict zones, disaster areas, and regions with limited infrastructure, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) relies heavily on video and photography to document conditions, coordinate response, and tell critical stories to the world. Those assets are created and used by teams spread across continents, often under tight timelines and difficult conditions. Traditional production workflows and the infrastructure behind them were not built for that reality.
Traditional infrastructure often assumes reliable networks, nearby data centers, and predictable conditions. When those assumptions break down, so do workflows.
The hidden fragility of centralized cloud models
Traditional cloud storage is built around centralized regions. Files live in fixed locations, and performance degrades the farther users are from those regions. When teams span continents, or operate in unstable regions, latency increases and transfers slow.
To compensate, organizations add layers:
- Replicating data across regions
- Managing sync and versioning
- Physically shipping hard drives
- Accepting rising storage and egress costs
These workarounds may keep systems operational, but they introduce complexity, cost, and fragile dependencies. When connectivity is unreliable or infrastructure is disrupted, centralized assumptions fail quickly.
For real-world examples, see When the cloud burns: a preventable disaster in South Korea, When the cloud goes dark: lessons from the AWS outage, and When the cloud goes dark again: Lessons from the Cloudflare outage.
When speed and resilience come from the same architecture
Storj approaches storage differently. Files are encrypted, split into pieces, and distributed across thousands of nodes worldwide. When a file is requested, those pieces are retrieved in parallel from the fastest available nodes — maximizing throughput while minimizing latency by default.
The result is a step change in performance, not a marginal gain. Independent testing from Integrated Digital Solutions (IDS) showed Storj delivering up to 95% faster cross-regional throughput and 11.5% faster large-file ingest compared to centralized cloud providers.
What makes this architecture stand out is that performance and resilience are inseparable. Because data isn’t tied to a single region or facility, access remains fast and reliable even when parts of the network are degraded or unreachable. The system adapts to real-world conditions in real time, keeping performance steady instead of fragile.
Using the right tool for the right job
No single tool should do everything. The strongest workflows are built by combining systems that each do their job well.
That’s exactly how IRC operates.
Storj provides the distributed, resilient storage layer — optimized for global access and durability. Tools like Iconik handle orchestration and asset visibility. LucidLink enables real-time creative access where file-system semantics matter most.
Each tool plays its role. None are forced to compensate for architectural gaps elsewhere.
This approach avoids brittle, overextended systems and creates workflows that remain functional even under difficult conditions.
When the environment is unpredictable, architecture matters
IRC’s work includes teams operating in regions affected by conflict and instability — places where infrastructure cannot be taken for granted. In those environments, centralized assumptions fail quickly.
Distributed storage allows work to continue without relying on proximity to a specific data center or region. Files remain accessible. Transfers remain fast. Teams stay productive despite circumstances outside their control.
That same architectural advantage applies anywhere conditions are less than perfect — whether due to geography, scale, or sudden disruption.
Build systems that match reality
The world is not centralized, stable, or predictable. Teams aren’t either.
Systems designed for ideal conditions inevitably require workarounds when reality intrudes. Distributed architectures reduce that gap by aligning infrastructure with how work actually happens: globally, asynchronously, and under changing conditions.
IRC demonstrates what’s possible when infrastructure choices reflect that reality — using the right tools for the right jobs, and building workflows that remain resilient no matter where work needs to happen.
Read the full IRC case study
Read the full IRC case study to learn how IRC keeps work moving even when infrastructure can’t be taken for granted. And if you’re building workflows for global teams or unpredictable environments, schedule time with our team to see how Storj delivers consistent performance where traditional clouds fall short.
