Thursday 5 January 2017

The Pros and Cons of Using Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is not new anymore, but it is still growing in popularity. There are many reasons why you should consider using this type of storage, and the range of different people and businesses that use it can almost no be counted. However, most who use it do so because they want to make sure that their data is always safe and protected. They want to make sure that if some sort of disaster happens to their computer, their data remains available. Additionally, people have very large amounts of data nowadays and want to prevent their computers from becoming clogged up with files.

Benefits of Using the Cloud

Most people who use the cloud do so because they want to make sure that there are no issues with handling their data. This is particularly true for businesses, who tend to have very sensitive data relating to other people. There are various advantages to using the cloud, which is why it is getting so incredibly popular. Some of these benefits include:

The quality of the service is guaranteed. This is because competition is fierce, so nobody who offers cloud storage could survive if they experience downtime. Indeed, uptime is usually guaranteed in the contract that you agree to when you sign up to the cloud.
It offers amazing scalability. This allows people and businesses to increase and decrease their storage as and when they need it.

The cloud is accessible. No matter where you are, so long as you have an internet connection, you are able to access your files.
It offers great security, through methods like encryption, authorisation levels and more.
Disadvantages of the Cloud

However, nothing in this world is perfect and it is important to recognise that you could have some issues with the cloud. These potential problems include:

Although uptime is generally guaranteed to around 97%, some downtime can be experienced. This is understandable, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying.
As much as security measures are in place, if a hacker is truly determined to get to your files, they will find a way.
There is also an issue with physical security, as the cloud is actually in a physical location, meaning it is vulnerable to the elements and to theft. However, most storage providers have backups in different locations and systems in place to stop theft from occurring.
It is always frightening to effectively sign over access to all your personal files to a third party.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to the cloud. Most would agree that the pros by far outweigh the potential problems, but only you can decide whether this is the case for you as well. If you do decide to use the cloud, you have to make sure that you find a provider that is able to meet your needs perfectly. Depending on how much storage you need, and the type of security, you may need to pay for the service, which means you need to make sure you get great value for money.

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