Cloud Storage Advantages and Disadvantages

To talk about cloud storage advantages and disadvantages, you first need to know a little about cloud storage. In the following sections, we will discuss its definition, usage, and compare it with hard disks. We will also introduce 4 free cloud storage providers.
If you want to know more about cloud storage advantages and disadvantages, just read the rest of this article.

What is Cloud storage?

Cloud storage is one of the most important issues in the information age. Cloud storage means the availability of information everywhere! In other words, instead of storing information on the hardware, they are stored on a safe server on the Internet. It does not matter where you are or what computer, laptop, cellphone or tablet you use. The only thing you need to access your information is an acceptable internet bandwidth. All files will be available after connecting to the Internet and logging in to your account in the cloud.
Cloud storage is actually a data storage platform that uses the magic of the Internet to load data onto a virtual storage space without the need for any hardware. The owner of the loaded information can use the files by returning to the server via the Internet.

Hard Drives or the Cloud Storage!

Hard Drives drawbacks
Some of you may remember floppy disks, which were among the most common traditional data storage tools. Not long ago they were used with a size of 800 KB to 2.8 MB!
One big problem with regular memories is the limited amount of data storage capacity. Of course these days external hard drives provide terabytes (more than 1,000 gigabytes) but another main problem is that you must have them along. So, it is not compensable if you forget your flash memory or external hard drive at an important conference.

Hard Drives benefits
Enough for hard drives disadvantages. They have many positive qualities like being safe and simple. If you want to know the biggest advantage of physical storage devices, it is that you can move your information with you and access it at anytime, anywhere. Even in the depths of a forest or on top of a mountain without internet access, you can use your stored information.
Also, transferring data from hard disk or flash memory to a computer or mobile is done at a very high speed.

Cloud storage pros and cons

Cloud Storage Advantages

• Multiple Users
  Cloud storage can be multiple users. That is, multiple users can edit and collaborate with the common file. Having multiple versions of the same file, and identifying the latest version can be problematic.
• Access information at any time
  Although you will be depended on the internet connection for accessing your data but if you have it, you can access information at any time.
• Ease of sharing files
  This service provides the file-sharing which helps to share files with other users.
• Information Security
  With redundant servers your data will be safe and secure. If one of the data centers break downs, your data will be stored by the other data centers.
• Scalable Capacity
  After purchasing your desired service, if you find out that the current plan of storage is not enough, you can easily upgrade it. There is no need to move any data from one location to another or any other process.
• Saving Costs
  Moving to the cloud reduces the need to purchase hard disks. Also eliminates related costs.

Cloud Storage Disadvantages

• Internet connection dependence
  In discussing cloud storage advantages and disadvantages, Internet connection dependence is the Achilles heel and is referred to as the biggest flaw. Additionally, a slow network is a big problem.
• The poor support system of some providers
  Some cloud base services don't have a good support system. Just imagine you have a problem accessing your data and there is no satisfactory response! Only use reputable services.
• Privacy concern
  The truth is that your data is no longer on your own physical storage. So, there are concerns about the safety and privacy of important data. Totally, the advantages of cloud storage beat its disadvantages and it is worth using.

Examples of Cloud Storage Service Providers

There are many cloud storage services around the world. Here are just four of the most important and well-known ones: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud

• Dropbox
  Dropbox is an online storage service that allows people to access their files and information from any device and anywhere. All you need to access your information from anywhere in the world is the internet access.
• Google Drive
  One of the most popular providers of cloud storage is Google. For many years, Google has provided its cloud storage for free. As you may guess it is "Google Drive". Like other Google tools, you can access "Google Drive" using your Gmail account. Google Drive gives you 15 GB of free online storage and you can store photos, stories, documents, plans, recordings, videos, and more. You can have more Google Drive capacity by paying a monthly fee according to your need. This service includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and office applications that allow the user to edit a variety of files.
• OneDrive
  OneDrive is Microsoft's storage service for hosting files in the cloud. It was known as SkyDrive before. It is free and is available for all the owners of a Microsoft account. You do not need to download any program to use it in Windows 10. So, if you use this Windows, you can use it directly.
• iCloud
  iCloud is a cloud space from Apple company that was introduced at the 2011 Apple World Developers Conference. If you want to back up your iPhone's contents to iCloud, Apple is giving you 5 GB of free storage and if you need more, you can use this service at a competitive price. iCloud allows its users to store their data on servers and can download from various iOS-based devices or PCs running OS X or Windows.

Personal Cloud Storage

Besides joining a cloud storage service provider, another way is using personal cloud storage. Personal cloud storage (PCS) is a local network-attached storage (NAS) device that lets users store data in the cloud and provides them access to the data from anywhere.

Cloud Storage Pricing

All servers provide users with free space up to a certain limit. This space can be from 2 GB to 50 GB and even more. For more use, you have to pay a monthly fee according to the extra space you need. The pricing process is just like renting a house in the virtual world and is determined based on the required capacity from 10 GB to one terabyte.

We hope you find the information you need by reading this article. You can get more useful information about cloud storage advantages and disadvantages by reading our other articles. If you have any questions, just ask us.