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What is Cloud Storage & How Does It Work?
What is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is an advanced mechanism of data storage and its processing on remote servers that are managed and administered by cloud engineers or cloud experts. Cloud services are provided by cloud service providers that do not directly interact with users. Typically, the administration of cloud data and related activities occurs using internet connectivity as compared to data storage on hard drives or on-site servers. Cloud storage services are more beneficial in terms of their scalability, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and data redundancy.
Users can access Cloud Storage data using an internet connection and software such as a web portal, browser, or mobile app via an application programming interface (API).
Data storage stores data for long-term use, while in a common sense RAM stores data and instructions for rapid CPU execution. Overall, the system requires storage for capacity and memory for speed and responsiveness accordingly.
Cloud Storage saves data on remote servers, including files, corporate data, movies, and photographs. Users upload data to servers using an active internet connection, which is then saved on a virtual computer on a physical server. To ensure availability and redundancy, cloud companies frequently distribute data over different virtual computers in data centres situated across the world. If storage requirements increase, the cloud provider will deploy additional virtual computers to manage the data load.
During selecting a cloud storage provider; an individual or business professionals should examine their specific storage needs, price, data security, and the service provider's market value, trust and business protocols. Different cloud service providers may have varying features and pricing structures, so choose one that meets your specific needs.
Why Cloud Storage is Important?
Cloud Storage allows organisations to store, access, and preserve data without the need to own and operate their own data centres, reducing costs from capital expenditure to operation. Cloud storage is scalable, allowing organisations to extend or reduce their data footprint as needed. Cloud storage is typically less expensive than on-premises storage. This is one of the primary benefits of cloud data storage. Furthermore, cloud data storage provides scalability for your company as its data storage requirements grow. This also relies on the service provider you use to store your data. Cloud data storage offers a variety of storage possibilities. Cloud data storage allows for the storage and transport of a wide range of business data, including sensitive information. Cloud data storage allows you to access your data from any device with an internet connection. This is especially important for organisations that wish to give their staff the flexibility to work remotely.
How does Cloud Storage Work?
Cloud Storage uses remote servers to save data, such as files, business data, videos, or images. Users upload data to servers via an internet connection, where it is saved on a virtual machine on a physical server. To maintain availability and provide redundancy, cloud providers will often spread data to multiple virtual machines in data centres located across the world. If storage needs increase, the cloud provider will spin up more virtual machines to handle the load. Users can access data in Cloud Storage through an internet connection and software such as a web portal, browser, or mobile app via an application programming interface (API).
Types of Cloud Deployment Models
When implementing cloud architecture, there are three types of cloud deployment models available to deliver cloud services: public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Hence, cloud storage is available in private, public and hybrid clouds.
Public Storage Clouds
In this model, a user can connect using the internet to a storage cloud managed by a cloud provider and shared by other businesses. Providers often make services available from almost any device, including cell phones and PCs, and allow users to scale up and down as needed. Compute, storage, networking, develop-and-deploy environments, and applications are all delivered through the internet by public clouds. Public clouds are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers such as Google Cloud.
Private Cloud Storage
Private clouds are created, managed, and used by a single organisation and are often on-premises. They offer better control, customisation, and data security, with similar costs and resource restrictions as traditional IT environments. Private cloud storage configurations often imitate the cloud paradigm, but they are located within your network, utilising a physical server to generate instances of virtual servers to expand capacity.
iii. A user can opt to take complete control of an on-premise private cloud or hire a cloud storage provider to create a dedicated private cloud that can be accessed using a private network. Banks and retail companies may prefer private cloud storage due to the privacy of the data they handle and keep.
Hybrid Cloud Storage
A Hybrid model incorporates characteristics of both private and public clouds, allowing organisations to choose which data to store in which cloud. For example, highly regulated data with secure archiving and replication requirements is typically better suited to a private cloud environment, but less sensitive data (such as email that does not include company secrets) can be hosted in a public cloud. Some businesses utilise hybrid clouds to augment their internal storage networks with public cloud storage.
Types of Cloud Storage Services
Some common cloud storage services are as follows −
Software as a Service (SaaS)
This service is used for business applications. As its name implies, Service providers provide software such as 'Software as a Service (SaaS) to business professionals to use like Marketing and sales automation, human resource software, and financial management software. The software programs or applications are hosted on the cloud and accessed using the internet by users.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS is a cloud service that provides all of the tools needed to develop and run an application. This comprises a programming language, a code editor, a runtime, a database, a file system, and an execution environment.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS is a cloud service that offers the infrastructure required to operate an application. This encompasses virtual machines, networks, storage, and load balancers.
Cloud Storage Providers
There are many Cloud Storage Providers are exist in the market. Some of the trusted leaders of Cloud Storage Providers are as follows −
Google is one of the most popular cloud storage service providers that provides Google Drive as a Cloud Storage. Google Drive is most popular amongst users; Google Drive gives 15 GB of free cloud storage to its users. Users like Google Drive because of its simplicity and ease of use.
Amazon
Amazon offers free cloud storage with 5 GB of free space for its users. It also allows you to gain additional free Amazon Drive space. Participating in Amazon Drive's referral programme, a user can earn up to 50 GB of free space.
Microsoft
Microsoft OneDrive offers 15 GB of free online storage. You can recommend friends and get an extra 5 GB of space.
Characteristics of Cloud Storage
Some of the key features or characteristics of cloud storage are as follows −
Accessibility
If you have access to the internet, you can access data stored on the cloud from anywhere. As a result, it is much easier for individuals and businesses to access their data using multiple devices like personal computers, cell phones, and tablets.
Cost-effectiveness
Cloud storage typically charges users for the storage capacity and resources that they use. This may be less expensive than updating on-premises storage.
No Upfront Cost
A user does not spend money to implement an effective backup.
Security
Cloud service providers prioritise the security of their users' data. This includes access limits, security assessments, and continuous data encryption and decryption. Users must be responsible for the security and setup of their data in the cloud.
Scalability
Because of the cloud's high scalability, users can modify the amount of data stored there to fit their needs. This adaptability is helpful for businesses with variable storage requirements.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
Cloud storage services include backup and restore tools. Users can schedule frequent backups and retrieve data if they lose data or the system fails.
Advantages of Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is beneficial in different aspects; some of the advantages are as follows −
- Usability and accessibility − Cloud data storage services are available with an easy-to-use user interface and include drag-and-drop features.
- Security − Generally, cloud storage providers keep copies of your data at different data centres, so even if the data gets lost or corrupted at the server, the backup will be there.
- Cost Effective − Cloud data storage can help to reduce internal expenses.
- Convenience − Cloud storage can be accessed from any device.
- Sharing of files − All cloud storage options provide file-sharing features, which help you to share your files with other users.
- Automation − Cloud storage services work like a hard disk on your system. If you want to store a file in the cloud, it will not affect ongoing tasks.
- Multiuser support − With cloud storage, multiple users can collaborate with a common file.
- Scalable − Cloud storage is scalable; if your current plan of storage is not enough, you can upgrade the service plan. In this case, a user does not need to move any data from one location to another.
- Disaster recovery − Data backup features are available on cloud storage; in case a disaster occurs, users do not need to worry because their data can be utilised using data backup.
Disadvantages of Cloud Storage
Below are the main drawbacks of using cloud storage services −
- Internet Dependency − Without an internet connection, you will be unable to access your data while downloading a file from cloud storage.
- Data Security and Privacy − Many cloud storage companies fall short in terms of data security and privacy, and there are some incidents of cloud storage data breaches.
- Costs − Most of the top cloud storage services are costly since they are primarily intended for commercial use.