Cloud storage is afield, with many businesses moving from local to cloud storage solutions. With affordable rates, convenient access across multiple devices, and other benefits, it’s easy to see why cloud storage is quickly becoming the industry standard.
In this article, we explain the basics of how cloud storage works and how it can help you store and share files more securely and efficiently. Make sure to check out our guide to thesolutions for more on top providers.
What is cloud storage?
Rather than storing your documents on an on-site hard drive, you have the opportunity to keep them online. Your files are hosted by a cloud storage provider, so they won’t be tied to any particular drive or device. Instead, you’ll be able to access them from any authorized device.
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Some well-known cloud storage services focus on a specific niche or audience. For example, whileisn’t a conventional cloud storage provider like Google Drive or OneDrive, it provides the same kind of solution for photographers. General consumer-facing cloud storage providers are just one piece of the larger cloud storage market.
Different platforms have different pros and cons, so it’s important to find an option that matches the needs of your business. Google Drive, for example, is known for its convenient real-time collaboration tools, while pCloud offers unparalleled security and a lifetime license.
Is cloud storage secure?
Stakeholders are often concerned with the safety risks of switching to cloud storage, but the reality is that cloud solutions typically offer even better security compared to offline approaches. Of course, both online and offline storage methods are vulnerable to certain threats.
The added security of cloud storage starts with its resilience to low-tech attacks like theft, loss, and damage. If you have all your important files stored on a few hard drives in your office, you could lose all of them at once in the event of a fire, break-in, or other unexpected event.
On the other hand, cloud storage providers are naturally at risk from various other tactics. For example, a Dropbox hack compromisedaccounts in 2012, and the extent of the breach wasn’t uncovered until years later.
To be fair, the risk of a breach is relatively small, and cloud storage providers take significant steps to protect user data. Many use industry-leading 256-bit encryption to protect files at rest, and some go even further by offering full end-to-end encryption. You may also be able to enable two-factor authentication on your account for an additional layer of security.
Different cloud storage providers have different security practices and options. pCloud, for example, allows Premium subscribers to send sharing links with password protection for additional security. In contrast, Google Drive and some other providers don’t give users the option to password-protect the files that they share.
What other cloud computing services are there?
While cloud storage solutions have much in common with other types of cloud computing, the field of cloud computing goes far beyond cloud storage. Along with storage itself, various cloud service providers offer servers, databases, analytics, and a wide range of other tools through the cloud.
Unsurprisingly, these other cloud services generally come with the same advantages of cloud storage. For example, organizations often switch to cloud computing to cut costs or add an extra layer of flexibility that doesn’t depend on in-house infrastructure. Scaling up and down is typically much easier in the cloud than it would be if you were managing the same workflow on your own.
Conclusion
Local hard drives might seem like the most convenient storage methods, but it’s easy to overlook the numerous advantages of cloud storage. With affordable rates, unmatched flexibility, and robust security, cloud solutions have become an increasingly attractive option for organizations looking to modernize their storage practices.
Cloud storage is a highly competitive niche with many excellent providers. Some are better suited to real-time collaboration and cooperative workflows, while others offer powerful safety measures that keep your information secure.