The benefits of cloud storage
Cloud storage is a service model in which data is transmitted and stored on remote storage systems, usually managed by a Cloud Provider. It is maintained, managed, backed up and made available to users over a network — typically, the internet.
Now that we know the definition of cloud storage – what are some of the benefits of using it in our day to day operations?
Mini-PCs don’t need large storage space
Modern mini-PCs – like the range offered by Lenovo for example – have become more popular in part due to the availability of modern cloud storage services. But this is not only limited to mini-PCs, as even a simple single-board computer like a Raspberry PI, which does not allow using large-capacity internal drives, can take advantage of cloud storage. (See our article on how to connect S3 storage to a VPS or Dedicated server. ) The days of large storage capacity in desktop PCs in office and home settings are steadily coming to an end. More storage capacity means a larger backup footprint, and making use of cloud storage gets around that.
Older devices can run modern games
Gaming platforms such as Google Stadia have in recent years started to offer gamers the reality of high-end gaming on their older devices, such as last-gen phones and laptops. This is because the main processing and storage of the actual game applications are managed by cloud servers, and games are played via streaming the game data over the internet. While gamers will still look at buying the next-generation gaming rig or console to ensure that they could access the current triple-A gaming titles, this also open up the gaming market to those who can’t afford the latest and greatest devices.
Data is highly secure
Cloud storage is one of the safest forms of storing information in today’s world, for the simple reason cloud providers spend a lot of money on security. This includes hardware like UTM and Firewalls, software systems as well as well as security engineers. The replication process inherent to how data is stored in the cloud also makes the data quite secure as there are always several copies spread out over more than one data center. This is also to ensure that a natural disaster like a flood or earthquake will pose a minimal threat to data storage and integrity.
Access to your data
One of the key benefits of cloud storage is that it does not limit your data to being accessed from a single PC or local network. In the early days of computing, your data was stored on the computer you produced the data on. Later, businesses opted for local network designs of their computer systems to enable any computer on the network to be able to retrieve data that had been produced locally. Cloud storage is the next logical progression, as it means that your data can be accessed from a wide range of devices from any location around the world that has internet access.
