Pros And Cons of Cloud Data Storage

Pros And Cons of Cloud Data Storage: Cloud Storage is playing a significant role in the digital landscape and has become pretty popular these days. Once you store data in the cloud, you don’t have to worry about security (to some extent), system performance, data backups, and more. 

If you wonder if cloud storage is a better option than on-prem and why you should use it for storing data, this article will answer your questions. Let’s first understand cloud storage technology in detail. 

What is Cloud Storage?

A mode of data storage in which servers store digital data in off-site locations. These servers are run and maintained by third-party storage providers responsible for managing and securing data on the infrastructure. 

The provider ensures all-time accessibility to data via private and public internet networks. Cloud Storage system utilizes remote servers to save data, including documents, videos, images, business files, and more. 

When a user uploads data to the Cloud drive, the data is stored on a virtual machine on a physical server. For better availability and accessibility of data to their owners, cloud storage providers spread the data chunks to multiple virtual machines in different data centers.

Storing data in the cloud means you don’t have to think about storage space. If you need more storage, you can simply subscribe to a bigger plan or clear iCloud storage by removing the files, images, or videos that you no longer need.  

If you think that Cloud storage only helps you to store and manage data, you are yet to unleash its full potential. Other than data storage, you can use the Cloud for data processing, content delivery, archiving, disaster recovery, and data backups. 

Cloud Storage models can be categorized as public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud. Some of the best examples of Cloud drives are Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, and Onedrive. While iCloud is exclusive to Apple users, anyone using any operating system can use other available options. 

Let’s now move on to the pros and cons of Cloud Data Storage for storing your personal and business data.

Benefits of Moving Data to the Cloud

Most users know that Cloud storage drives are a cost-effective way to store data. However, the benefits expand far beyond the cost perspective. With scalable storage, Cloud drives prove to be an efficient medium.

Business users do not have to worry about running out of storage capacity or replacing failed devices. The IT teams do not have to deal with complex tasks of maintaining SANs (Storage Area Networks) or upgrading infrastructure to meet the evolving organizational demand.

Moreover, organizations do not have to bear the cost of operating underutilized hardware when the demand declines. Cloud storage runs on a subscription model, so you can start with the minimum and scale as your needs evolve. 

If you are using it for storing your personal data, there’s no storage to provision. Moreover, when your storage needs increase, resources are just a click away and are available in minutes. It keeps you from facing delays. 

You don’t have to carry your storage media, such as the flash dry, everywhere you go. Data you stored on the Cloud is available to access on any device, everywhere. All you need is to log in to your Cloud Drive and locate the file you want to access. 

Whether it’s your personal data or business-specific information, it’s stored in highly secured data centers that have robust security protocols in place to protect your data from unauthorized access. 

Disadvantages of Cloud Storage Drives

When you are using Cloud storage for personal use, there are no downsides, as you will hardly experience slowdowns or lack of storage space. The Cloud Drives are available round the clock, so it’s easy to use them for transferring large volumes of data. 

Moreover, you will not experience a lack of storage space on your system’s hard drive. As a result, your system will not display any signs of slowdown or deteriorating performance. By moving apps to the cloud, you are less likely to face overheating incidents. 

However, businesses need to keep several things in mind when storing data in the Cloud. Certain industries, such as healthcare, banking, or finance, have stringent policies in place about how the data should be stored and accessed. 

Because of network traffic congestion, the traffic from and to the Cloud can be delayed causing latency. So, slow internet connections can make data unavailable even if there are no obstructions or downtimes on the other end. 

If you choose to store data on the public Cloud, you might have several restrictions on controls over the access and management of data. While public Cloud storage providers aim to provide continuous access and availability of data, outages can make data unavailable. 

So, that’s all you need to know about Cloud data storage and how you can use it for personal and business needs. Exploring the benefits and disadvantages will help you understand whether you should store data in the Cloud or keep it on-prem.