6 benefits of using cloud storage
If you are thinking about updating your file storage system and taking a leap into the future of safe and reliable backups and archiving, it is time you subscribed to a cloud storage service. There are several huge benefits to using cloud storage rather than in-computer or paper storage. For one, the cloud is very affordable and can even save you money. Moreover, with the cloud, you have no physical storage devices to maintain and you have no maximum capacity to stay under, instead, you can store limitless files.
This technology is very accessible, even to technology-phobes, and your files will be accessible to you anywhere you can connect to the internet. The cloud provides a super safe and secure location for your files and is trusted by big corporations. Once you know the many benefits of this awesome service, it is a no-brainer that the cloud is the best option for you or your business. For more information about the perks of using cloud storage, read on.
1. Cost-effective protection
When it comes to protecting your important data from being lost, it is not worth leaving it in the hands of luck when there is a risk of technological breakdowns and human error. Trusting in your computer or phone memory to keep your files safe is putting too much faith in these little devices not to break down or get damaged, and thus suffer a loss of data or function.
Especially if the continued running of your company depends upon your files being stored and managed safely, you do not want to find yourself suffering a huge financial blow due to lost information. Small businesses that lose their data have a very high risk of going bankrupt due to the damage this does to the normal operation of their business and the steep price of restoring the files. For this reason alone, spending a tiny monthly fee for cloud storage should be a no-brainer.
To avoid any potential risks of losing years of photographs, important work documents, and other essential files, you should regularly back up your Mac or PC. The tiny fee for doing so is nothing compared to the financial risk of not using the cloud. With Backblaze cloud storage, for instance, it costs just $7 per month to keep your vital files safe and secure. This way, the files reside protected in the cloud and are not dependent on the continued function of your computer. Compared to competitors, this service offers an incredibly affordable, low-cost storage solution for your important data.
2. No physical devices, no maintenance
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Using cloud storage instead of in-computer storage for your files will save you time, space, and money. It is as simple as that. Think about some of the problems discussed above. If your computer stops functioning properly or is damaged, your data may be lost. When this happens, or to prevent this from occurring, you spend money on maintenance or replacement services for your tech. This is time-consuming and disruptive to the running of your business or personal life. With no physical storage devices in your home or office, you are minimizing space taken up by machines, financial expenditure on computer maintenance, and the time it takes to keep machines working smoothly or restore lost data when things go wrong.
The data centers that run the cloud storage services are in charge of the maintenance of their systems. This means it is out of your hands, and in the hands of experts. Cloud storage providers are always looking for bugs in the system to fix and have third-party experts analyze their systems to ensure they are running as well as they can.
3. Limitless storage
Unlike with physical storage devices, such as flash drives, computers, and – if you are really old-fashioned – filing cabinets, with the cloud, there is no limit to how much storage space is available to you. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to back up important files, documents, and photographs onto your computer only to find the backup has failed due to a lack of storage space.
So, you should seek a storage solution that does not have limits on available space or file sizes. With Backblaze, you can back up and archive unlimited files at unlimited sizes, so there is no end to how much data you can safely store in the cloud. This means that big businesses can rely on cloud storage to keep safe their massive amounts of important data. Moreover, with cloud storage, it is super easy to access and restore backed-up files. You can use your data worldwide with iOS and Android apps, and a web restore, to access whatever data you need.
4. Accessible
All of the files that you have stored in the cloud are accessible to you on any device that connects to the internet and in any location. This means you can access the data anywhere there is an internet connection and you do not need to carry heavy machines or paper files with you when you are traveling.
As well as the fact that files are easily accessible through the cloud, it is also important to note that cloud storage itself is an accessible tool for all users. If you are not a very tech-savvy person, the cloud may seem like a complicated, advanced technological tool, when it is in fact very easy for computer novices to use. Do not let the clever tech put you off this efficient and practical storage solution. You do not need to manage your own hardware or software, you simply subscribe to the service and start uploading. The data centers that store cloud files will do the rest!
5. Safe and secure
As well as the previously-mentioned risk of losing your data associated with storing files on computers rather than on the cloud, there are other concerns for the safety of your files that cloud storage can mitigate. For instance, cloud storage services are designed to protect users’ information and privacy, sometimes offering personal encryption keys, and the option to upload all data encrypted. You can also store data in private files that can only be accessed with a passcode.
At the physical data centers that store cloud data, there is biometric security, ID checks, area locks that require badge-level access, and twenty-four-hour staff. The data centers are powered by redundant power sources. This means the machines that store the cloud information and keep the services running smoothly are powered by multiple independent power sources. If one power source fails, the systems can keep running perfectly on the other power sources. This protects against breakdown and loss of data.
6. Trusted by big companies
If you are concerned that you will be losing control of your files when they are stored on the cloud rather than on your computer, fear not. You will not be the first person to trust this service and you certainly won’t be the last. In fact, cloud storage is used and trusted by many big companies, such as Netflix, Coca-cola, and Twitter. It is a very well-established, reliable, and safe way to store data and just a glance at some of the companies that use the cloud should inspire trust and confidence in this storage tool.
In fact, for businesses, the possibilities that come with introducing cloud technologies are vast and diverse. For instance, cloud transformation services vary from managing data and content delivery to increasing security by fixing and preventing data leaks. As well as these features, the cloud has tools in place to prevent fraud and can provide predictive analytics on your data. It is vitally important for big businesses that their data is secure and protected against loss, theft, or fraud. That is why they use the cloud’s storage system rather than the much more vulnerable paper or in-house computer storage options.
Conclusion: The cloud is the future of storage
This has been a brief guide to just some of the many perks of cloud storage solutions. Notably, the cloud offers an affordable file backup and archive service for personal and business data that will save you time, space, and money, as well as mitigate risks of data loss and costs of computer maintenance. Moreover, the cloud provides a limitless space for file storage, with no maximum capacity or maximum file size. You can store absolutely everything on the cloud, and access your files in any location where you can connect to the internet.
Finally, and very importantly, the cloud has a lot of features and tools in place to make it safe and secure. These include biometric security at data centers, the option to encrypt data, and redundant power sources. This makes the cloud the preferred storage option for many big businesses as it is a reliable and trustworthy service. The increasing popularity of the cloud and its ever-evolving services make it the future of storage. Long gone are the days when paper filing cabinets and even USB flash drives were the epitomai of clever file storage. Welcome to the future with the cloud!
