What exactly is Cloud Computing and Cloud Storage?
The word cloud in cloud computing often refers back to the cloud symbol in diagrams representing the net. Cloud computing can encompass a diverse range of hosted services, which primarily include forms of cloud servers and cloud storage. Cloud storage is the process of storing and backing up data on servers, making data accessible online.
With cloud storage, important computer data doesnt need to become located on-site and can theoretically be stored anywhere; which begs the question, is your data safe without having physical possession of it?
Pros to Hosted Storage:
cloud storage
Depending on configuration, organizations can choose to share resources on the server, allowing them to share the cost of the server with companies. Even though the server is technically shared, other organizations/people do not have access your computer data. The negative effects to sharing server resources is that it enables less customizability and integration with your organization. For that reason, larger corporations with more sophisticated requirements will normally opt for a private server, where they lose the cost saving benefit, but still benefit from the other benefits, like the accessibility of cloud storage.
Cons of Hosted Storage
Localized storage may provide users with bit of mind, knowing that their information is within their office, inside a server they can physically see and touch. This concern is warranted as numerous users donrrrt know that cloud storage providers may send their data to places where its security could be compromised through foreign laws. As an example, if a Canadian law firm stores their files on the cloud server located somewhere in america, sensitive client data could be compromised with the US Patriot Act. For that reason, with regards to the nature of economic, it might be in your best interest to investigate where the cloud providers data servers are.
Generating a local private server can be quite expensive, as companies would need to put money into server and workstation related hardware, software licenses, installing of patches, anti-virus software, upgrades and much more annually on employing the IT staff to implement, manage and keep it.
cloud storage
Cloud Storage Recap
Pros:
More affordable than private servers
Data is accessible from anywhere
Business continuity as data can be supported automatically
Cons:
Physical location of data is frequently unknown
Data is at the mercy of what the law states of where it is located
Promising small to medium-sized businesses have the most to achieve through cloud storage.
