We’ve all heard these words before: cloud storage. But most of us don’t fully understand what it is, or what it means. For starters, the word cloud, in the tech world, essentially means Internet. The reason why this name was adopted is because of how the Internet was usually represented in the past: a huge cloud of complex network connections.
What is cloud storage?
Now that we know the origins of the word cloud, we can move on to what the cloud actually is. For the sake of keeping things simple, think of the cloud as an external storage solution that allows you to save, share and view your documents online instead of on your personal hard drive.
But where is all this data being stored? Well, it’s not stored in thin air, that’s for sure. Depending on the cloud storage you’re using, your data will be stored in that corporation’s physical servers. Most of the time, these corporations have many servers that save your data in multiple locations, just in case.
What are the advantages of using cloud storage?
– You can access your files anytime, anywhere, on any device (desktop, laptop, smartphone, tablet). No need to transfer files onto USBs or email files to yourself;
– You can sync your files so all files will be up to date on all devices, all the time;
– You can collaborate on your files with your coworkers at work or with your teammates at school;
– You will save on personal storage space, which means your hard drive will be less cluttered and will perform better;
– You will save time since you don’t have to buy an external hard drive and manually back up all your files.
Cloud connectivity & integration
Luckily for you, most cloud storage services are integrated directly within applications that you already use. Say you’re working on a Word document and you want to save a copy online. No problem! Microsoft Office has cloud storage integration that allows you to send your files to certain cloud storage services directly within the software.
If you regularly work with PDF files, you’ll be happy to know that many PDF software have built-in cloud connectivity as well. Soda PDF allows you to send your files to your Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Box accounts directly through the app. It even has Evernote integration to accommodate all users.
What are some of the top cloud storage providers?
– Google Drive
– OneDrive
– Dropbox
– Box
– Amazon Cloud Drive