Cloud Storage – A Future of Data Computing
Over the last few years, cloud storage systems have seen exponential growth. It seems as future computer systems and networks will be designed as per the standards and requirements of cloud computing. Cloud storage is nothing but a storage medium of cloud services, same as a hard drive is the storage medium of today’s computers.
One of the key examples of cloud storage’s popularity is the growing web streaming industry. Previously people preferred watching movies over the DVDs. But now things have changed a lot as people now prefer streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and HBO Now to watch their favorite TV shows, movies, and documentaries. All this is possible just because of cloud storage services.
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Streaming service is not the only avenue that has been conquered by cloud data storage. Instead, cloud backups are another exciting aspect of cloud storage which has superseded other backup methods. The reason for such immense popularity is their reliability and affordability. Being an off-site storage medium, users can stay assured that their data will remain safe from any unfortunate event of theft, hardware malfunctioning or data loss. Furthermore, the users will just need an internet connection and all their data will be on-the-go.
There are many reasons due to which cloud storage is making such great progress. Especially with the perspective of businesses, cloud storage is inevitable. The exponential growth in the data, growing customer’s preferences and popularity of technology-oriented business models are some of the few reasons that are making cloud storage, an ideal choice for the businesses.
Cloud storage is changing the way conventional storage mediums such as DVDs, external hard drives and flash drives, are being used and designed. They have taken storage solutions to the whole new level and it is highly anticipated that it is just a start. With more and more working on quantum computing and cloud technology, there is no doubt that cloud storage will become the mainstream.
Cloud Storage and its Features
Simplified definition defines cloud storage as the online space where the users can store their data. This online space is managed across multiple remote servers that are being hosted inside the huge data centers. These data centers work on the principle of virtualization technology. This means that a user’s storage space may span over multiple servers. Furthermore, it is highly possible that these multiple servers can exist across multiple remote locations.
From the user perspective, cloud storage is very simple and straight forward. For cloud storage users, it is simply a single unit that users can access at anytime and anywhere in the world. All this is done with the aid of the servers which are totally owned, operated and maintained by third-party cloud companies such as Google Drive, One Drive, Backup Everything, iCloud and many more. Generally, anyone can subscribe to the nominal cloud storage space for free. However, for extended storage, the user will have to pay nominal charges.
Features of the Cloud Storage
Features are something against which performance of any utility, app or software can be gauged. It is nothing but a general outlook or face of the subjected utility. In this lieu, it is important to know about the features of the cloud storage:
- As cloud storage is being provided by the external service provider so the user won’t face any liability if anything goes wrong. It is so because it is the responsibility of the service provider to comply with the data protection and network security regulations.
- Data will be stored over the off-site location so if anything happens to the user’s computer system or vicinity, sensitive data will remain safe.
- Being on the off-site location along with the network connectivity, the user can always access data over the internet. Furthermore, accessibility can also be improved with the integration of synchronization tools.
- It has more advanced security and thus only authorized user or person is allowed to access the cloud data.
- Based on the virtualization technology, a user won’t have to manage on-site backups and so does the storage mediums. This lets the user save physical space along with the contagious data security mechanism.
It must be noted that it is solely a virtue of these features which makes data sharing, an easier task to do. Furthermore, it enables people and businesses to work online with multiple people and thus realizing the concept of global businesses and connectivity.
Betrayal of the Flash Drive
Irrespective of the fact that whether someone is a student or work in some organization, the flash drive is the essential thing to carry. But there are many problems that are associated with this handy tool. Most importantly, it is quite easy to lose it because of its tiny size. In this scenario, one will instantly lose all of the data.
Secondly, it is often seen that when someone inputs flash drive in the USB input port, the computer does not detect it. Because of this many students and professionals face embarrassment in important presentations. Furthermore, if a computer detects it, then chances are there that the drive malfunction.
In this perspective, what use the flash drives will be if they’ll betray on the run time. However, cloud storage being an online storage medium is quite reliable and accessible from this perspective. You can access cloud storage anytime and anywhere just with an internet connection and access your data.
Cooperation Optimization
Cloud storage is an excellent way to kick off an immediate data exchange. Unlike the local storage medium, cloud storage gives an option to multiple people to access and collaborate over the project. This makes it perfect for both in-house and distant work.
Generally, businesses do so by installing local network infrastructure. But such infrastructure requires a system administrator along with the number of network equipment. Cloud storage is an off-site storage medium that lets users synchronize their folders and give access to the selected people.
Furthermore, it also has the ability to integrate with various office services like Slack or CRM. In this way, not only cooperation can easily be managed, instead, it gets way more optimized.
Backups
There is no doubt that data is the most precious asset in today’s time. Furthermore, it is also an admitted fact that it is still unsafe in local storage. Hence, for someone who is concerned about data security, data stored in the cloud is an ideal choice.
Cloud storage offers backup services that are an excellent, yet reliable way to protect vulnerable data. Whatever happens to the data, whether some virus corrupts it, or hard disk gets malfunctioned, data will always be safe and accessible once it has been backed up over the cloud storage.
Data Integrity
Data integrity means a lot to both businesses and individuals. But in this world full of digital uncertainties, anything can be destroyed within moments. Without an effective data integrity strategy, data is at risk of being lost if something unfortunate happens. Imagine a situation where an employee is working on an important project and power outage happens. Although power will be restored in a few minutes or hours, but if data integrity has not been enacted, then an employee won’t be able to recover the file, he or she was working on.
With cloud storage, data integrity can be enacted as it has the ability to integrate with various important software such as MS Office, Adobe and many others. This allows the file to be autosaved over cloud servers and if anything unfortunate happens, then the file will be recovered, once everything gets settled down.
More Space for Less Money
Another reason that is compelling enough to switch to cloud storage is its affordability. Although almost all cloud service providers offer some GBs of free cloud storage, but for extended cloud storage space, the users will need to pay a very nominal price. It must be noted that this price will still be much less than what they will incur while buying hard drives or other storage mediums of the same storage capacity.
For instance, Google offers 1000GB of cloud storage against the monthly payment of just $9.99. Furthermore, OneDrive offers unlimited cloud storage for the annual payment of just $99.
Advantages of Cloud Storage
Starting from the accessibility to the reliability, cloud storage has a lot to offer. The following are some of the key advantages of cloud storage.
Accessibility
Users can easily drag and drop the vulnerable file to the cloud storage and there is no need for prior technological knowledge. Once stored, data in the cloud can easily be accessed from anywhere in the world at any time, subjected to the availability of the internet.
Disaster Recovery
Disaster recovery is an excellent way to save businesses from any sort of emergency. In doing so, cloud storage provides an excellent disaster recovery plan. Data is stored at the remote location using cloud technology and can easily be retrieved and accessed, whenever required.
Security
Whenever data is the subject, security always comes first. Cloud servers distribute data across redundant servers and in this way, data remains safe even if parent computer experience hardware failure. Cloud storage also provides snapshots and automated backups to make sure that user’s data remain safe.
Cost-saving
Cost is one of the prime advantages of cloud technology. Through the employment of cloud storage, organizations can reduce their annual operating costs. First of all, the annual subscription fee is much less than what will be incurred on managing on-site storage mediums. Secondly, companies will save a lot in terms of annual electricity cost and resource management, in case of on-site storage.
Easy Sharing
Cloud storage offers easy sharing options. Once subscribed, the user can easily share files and data with clients and colleagues in a much secure and easy way. Furthermore, sharing can also be made more flexible by enabling cross-platform sharing options. This is done to share files with other cloud environments along with authorizing other users to access the subjected data.
Automation
The scheduling is the only gateway to effective and efficient backups. It is so because many businesses and companies face a lot of problems in scheduling their backups so that they may have their vulnerable data, whenever required.
But this problem is solved with cloud technology, as they offer tedious automation cycles. Cloud technology offers customized automation mechanism where users can tailor schedules as per their requirements and needs. Users will just have to select the time at which backups must be made along with the selection of folders, from which data must be picked. The rest of the tasks will be done by the cloud storage service provider.
Scalability
Cloud computing offers both vertical and horizontal scaling and this makes cloud storage much more scalable than other storage mediums. Furthermore, apart from such wide scalability options, the users will just pay for the services they will be using.
This advantage is very handy as businesses often experience expansion and in this lieu, cloud storage will prove to be affordable as well as flexible option. Users will just need to upgrade their storage space when required and it will be done instantly.
Synchronization
Generally, while using local storage, the user can access data from a certain directory. But when it comes to cloud storage, users can access data from different access points such as a computer or a smartphone.
Synchronization provides the hassle-free and on the go access for the user’s data. Through the advantage of synchronization, the user can always access the latest version of the files. It is so because concerned files will constantly be updated in the background.
