Top 4 Advantages of Cloud Storage and Cloud Computing

In the past decade, whether at home or at work, cloud storage and cloud computing have become a part of our life through popular apps and se...

In the past decade, whether at home or at work, cloud storage and cloud computing have become a part of our life through popular apps and services like Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive or Google Drive.

The adoption of this vital online technology has spiked since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as more businesses turned to remote and hybrid work for safety concerns. But what is cloud storage and how does it help us in our daily activities?

Cloud Storage vs Cloud Computing

Cloud storage definition:

Cloud storage is the term given to storing digital data on the internet through a provider that sells or leases storage space across multiple servers, often in multiple locations. The provider is in charge of keeping the data accessible, available and secure, replacing traditional external hard drives with a more resilient solution.

Cloud computing definition:

The easiest way to define cloud computing is in relation to cloud storage, the term that it is often confused with, as it implies a mix of data storage, management and processing done remotely. In other words, it is the delivery of computing services over the internet.

Top 4 Advantages of Cloud Storage and Cloud Computing

Now that you know what cloud storage and cloud computing are, let's take a look at their top benefits, after which we suggest you take a deep dive and learn more about types of cloud storage to make the best decision for your needs.

1. Lower TCO

While cloud storage comes at a cost, especially when talking about large volumes, it is almost nothing compared to the costs you are saving by switching to the cloud.

First of all, you eliminate on-premise infrastructure and IT overhead, which are not negligible at all. Initial hardware investments only represent a fraction of TCO, as most of it consists of technical support and maintenance that you may have not considered initially.

Secondly, cloud-native backups reduce the impact of ransomware attacks by as much as 90% and this is the most concerning threat for industries of all sizes.

2. Better accessibility and collaboration

With teams spread out across various geographies, especially since remote work gained popularity in the past years, it's only natural to opt for a service like cloud storage.

This way, files can be shared and accessed from anywhere as long as the user has an internet connection and appropriate permissions, improving collaboration among colleagues, regardless of business hours and physical location.

3. Disaster recovery capabilities

When you backup your data to the cloud, you no longer have to worry about local hardware being damaged or paying pricey restoration fees when something is still salvageable after an incident. This includes equipment failures, building fires, natural disasters and the ever-present human error.

Pro tip: The best choice when you have disaster recovery as a priority is a cloud storage provider that keeps multiple versions of your files.

4. Improved security

With so much sensitive data now available in digital format, security is an increasing concern for individuals and businesses alike. While nobody claims cloud storage to be impenetrable, it has fewer vulnerabilities than onsite storage and, on top of that, this increased level of security costs less than local solutions.

The bottom line is a big cloud storage provider will always be capable of adding more layers of security than a small or medium business would, and the cost would be divided in a way that does not affect the customer's wallet.