From the invention of the cathode ray tube in 1947 to cloud-based online storage in 2006, followed by the first 1TB hard drive in 2009, the way we store data has really evolved.

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There are a plethora of data storage solutions out there today, and which one is best for your business will depend on the size and sensitivity of the data you’re storing, the size of your business, how fast your business is expected to grow. , and budget

Obviously, what a large multinational company or a public body needs is very different from what a medium-sized company or a single self-employed person needs. In this article we will focus on the latter two and cloud storage solutions.

Difference between cloud computing (Cloud Computing) and cloud storage (Cloud Storage)

Cloud storage solutions are essentially very large data centers around the world that are accessed via the Internet. Cloud storage means storing data on an external storage system operated by a third party. The data is stored in a remote database and not on your computer’s hard drive.

On the other hand, Cloud Computing is something that you have probably already used without even knowing it. For example, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Flickr, Instagram, YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. These are all examples of Cloud Computing systems.

Both cloud storage and computing use the Internet to do things you used to do on your own computer’s hard drive, including storing photos or other information, editing photos, and word processing. You edit on the device of your choice and the data is stored on a network of interconnected computers.

A key attribute of cloud computing and storage is virtualization. Virtual machines can be created to divide a machine’s processing power, memory, and storage space into multiple smaller units, each with its own operating system. This allows computing resources to be distributed more efficiently.

Why choose Cloud-Storage instead of HDD storage?

Did you know that cloud storage has several advantages over storing data on hard drives? Let’s find out!

For example, you can access your data from anywhere your device can connect to the Internet. You can work from home on your computer, edit your work from your mobile phone on the train, and go to a meeting with a laptop at the ready, and you can access your document from there too.

With the right storage system, you can also allow other people to access your data for easy collaboration.

A man accessing his data in cloud storage Designed for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals, cloud storage not only offers portability and collaboration, but also ensures automatic data backup, so you don’t have to worry about saving more documents or losing them. your work in case your device fails.

Before choosing cloud storage solutions, ask yourself how mobile your business documents need to be, whether you need to share documents and collaborate with others, and whether or not you have big data and storage space issues.

What is useful about the Cloud?

For most of us, managing disk space is a struggle. Either we have to waste time scrolling through the saved data and deleting it, or we have to buy new external storage space.

For others, it’s not economically viable to buy expensive software if you don’t need to use it as often. Therefore, opting for cloud storage means saving on servers, networks, bandwidth, power, cooling, office space, and the experts required to install, configure, and run the facility.

With cloud storage, data is stored on hardware in a remote physical location that you can access with any device over the Internet. You send files to a data server managed by a cloud provider instead of, or in addition to, storing them on your own hard drives.

Cloud computing includes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), where large companies like Amazon and Google provide large and complicated computing infrastructures to smaller companies (think Amazon e-commerce sites); Platform as a Service (PaaS), where developers create online applications for specific user groups; and Software as a Service (SaaS), where customers consume software over the Internet.

So in both cloud storage and cloud computing, you connect to a remote infrastructure over the Internet, but in computing, the infrastructure includes shared processing power and software, among other things.

This means you don’t have to worry about updating and maintaining your software and systems, and you get access to the computing power of a vast network of supercomputers.

Ok, but where is everything?

Where does the information go?

Anything you upload to the cloud or run from the cloud exists on specific servers in camps, often entire camps on campus, doing just that. They are called data centers and are owned by cloud service providers who maintain the servers.

The job of a data center is to protect your physical data from theft and destruction and to ensure that it is always there when you need to access it. These warehouses must have extensive cooling systems to prevent electronic components from overheating and have backup generators in the event of a power outage or surge to ensure consistent and reliable operation.

A man who backs up all his data to a cloud solution. With his data in the cloud, he could imagine having it in a warehouse somewhere. But the reality is that it can be stored in different locations, countries or even continents, it largely depends on where the service provider’s data centers are located.

In fact, cloud providers create multiple copies of the data you upload and intentionally store it in separate locations to ensure that it is not destroyed, lost, or compromised in any way in the event of a problem or natural disaster.

Cloud data backup

It is worth noting that there is a difference between cloud storage and cloud backup. Cloud storage complements your local and network storage and increases productivity, while backup is dedicated to data recovery.

Before considering which cloud backup service to use, you should ask yourself what should happen in the event of a computer or server failure, and how long you need to store backups.

For most small businesses, both cloud storage and local storage are the optimal solution. In this way, you protect your data by storing it in multiple places and knowing that it is there where you can touch it.

To the Cloud or not to the Cloud?

Resolving disk space issues can be quite a challenge. Some companies are investing in larger hard drives and their own data centers. Others can decide on the expiration date of the data and opt for permanent deletion.

Although there are a few things to consider when it comes to cloud storage, most small and medium-sized businesses will inevitably find their way to cloud storage.

In short, the benefits of cloud storage outweigh the benefits of physical storage. Cloud storage is cheaper, more convenient, scalable, includes auto-save, and makes collaboration easier in an age where remote work is the norm. And it allows you to run important programs and applications over the Internet, saving time, space and money.