The cloud: what is it?
The cloud (a nice term meaning "cloud" in English) includes all remote digital storage solutions. In other words, thanks to this system, your data is available on servers, accessible through the Internet, instead of being stored on the hard disk memory of your equipment.
Many of us have already succumbed to this intangible storage system. Very widely democratized, this system is now used by companies and individuals alike. A wide choice of storage platform is thus available on the web, but how to find your way in this forest of hard disks? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this system? We clear the ground to provide answers to your questions about using the cloud.
In this section:
The different types of cloud
There are different types of online storage systems that each meet specific needs.
We have the "public cloud" which allows us to store data that remains accessible to other users of the platform. The number of users is limited, but allows a simplified data exchange.
Important to know : before choosing this system, you pay what you use and what you store. There is no subscription system with a limited amount of storage, but a free field where you pay “à la carte”.
There is also “the private cloud”. As its small name indicates, it is the property of the user. Most often, it is companies wishing to have full control of their data that use this system.
They use their own servers which he controls the management and use. However, these servers can be managed by an external service provider, reducing the possible field of use.
This system is prized for its performance and safety, but remains an expensive installation requiring significant logistical resources. Finally, we have the hybrid cloud. It is the combination of the two systems mentioned above and the solution most used in business.
This system makes it possible to differentiate between confidential and non-confidential data by dispatching them to public or private networks according to their importance. This makes it possible to restrict the use of sensitive data and secure its sharing.
The Cloud and its many advantages
Free up space! The saturated memories of our smartphones or our computers are a huge handicap for heavy users. The cloud is proving to be a major ally for connected mobile devices such as our smartphones. The storage capacities of our devices vary, on average, between 16 and 120 GB and some can feel cramped.
With the use of the cloud, the internal storage space can be privileged for offline uses. Thus, we forget the frustration of a saturated memory when we open the camera of our smartphone to capture an epic moment of our day!
The system is flexible! The cloud adapts to your needs and increases its capacities if necessary. Cloud subscriptions are made in the form of "consumption threshold", once the threshold is reached, you can increase or decrease it in a few clicks without sacrificing data or waiting for a significant period of time.
Another strong point, no need to break the bank to set up this storage solution. No need to invest in expensive hardware or application installation, monthly subscriptions allow you to better manage your budget.
The only gray areas on the board would be the reliability and security of the cloud. Since you are not responsible for the security of the host, the security of your data is not 100% guaranteed there. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the security standards put in place are sufficient and proportional to the types of data that you wish to store in this server.
In this booming market, some players stand out.
Cloud services
Google Cloud
The giant Google has developed its cloud service of which Google Drive is the solution. It offers us a free entry level of 15 GB before declining several monthly subscriptions for larger storage. It is a complete system ranging from communication systems to document sharing to data storage.
dropbox
The pioneer of the field! Renowned for professional use, it is widely used by companies. It also has a free offer and different paid plans that can be adapted to your use.
The native systems of your devices also offer their own storage systems. Microsoft OneDrive for Windows devices from Microsoft and iCloud for devices running on the iOS system from Apple.
Many other systems free cloud storage swarm on the web. We invite you to define your type of use as well as to quantify the storage size you would need before making your choice.
- Acronis Cloud: acronis.com
- pCloud: pcloud.com
- Google Cloud: cloud.google.com
- Dropbox: dropbox.com
- Amazon Web Services: aws.amazon.com
