Top Cloud Storage Solutions

Cloud storage has become an essential part of modern life, providing secure and convenient access to data from anywhere. With numerous providers available, choosing a reliable option can be overwhelming. To help navigate this landscape, we’ve compiled a concise guide featuring cloud storage services that prioritize both user-friendliness and robust security measures for protecting your valuable information.

Cloud Storage

Definition of Cloud Storage

Cloud storage can be defined as a cloud computing model that stores data on the internet through a cloud computing provider who manages data storage as a service. It is delivered on-demand with just-in-time capacity, costs, and eradicates buying or managing your own data storage device.

In this computer storage model, data is stored in logical pools, which are referred to as the cloud. They are quickly replacing physical storage options like servers and hard drives for businesses all over the world.

Benefits of Cloud Storage

There is a number reasons why you need to have cloud storage solutions for all your files; these include:

  • Accessibility- When you use cloud storage, your data is stored remotely, and you can access it from anywhere in the world.
  • Disaster and data recovery- Your data in the cloud is stored and backed-up in external equipment, hence minimal system failure chances.
  • Scalability- You only pay for the data storage you need when using cloud storage options. It saves a lot of money that could have spent on purchasing other storage devices.
  • Data centralization- All data that you are looking for are stored in one specific place.
  • Its sharing capabilities- All files can be easily shared or emailed whenever required.
  • Cloud security- There are proper auditing, passwords, and encryptions in the cloud to secure your sensitive data.
  • Instantly test- Various tools in the cloud permits you to test new applications, feature, product, up-grade or load immediately.
  • Free cloud storage- The storage in the cloud is free, limitless, and forever secure as opposed to other systems.
  • Lowers traditional servers’ cost- The extra costs associated with increasing memory, hard drive space, and processing power are all terminated.

Types of Top Cloud Storage Solutions

It is a secure virtual space that you can quickly and frequently access via your browser or a mobile phone application. Your data is always located in a data center somewhere, and the following are some types of top cloud storage solutions:

iCloud

It is an Apple service provider for cloud storage. It stores files like photos, music files, and documents downloaded to Mac OS, iOS, and Windows devices.

Pros and Characteristics

  • It allows you to easily collaborate with pages, keynotes, numbers, and notes.
  • It works with various apps like calendar, contact, mail, Safari, reminder, etc.
  • Any change made to it or on data appears everywhere.
  • Its OS platforms are Windows, Mac OS, and iOS.

Cons

  • You can only share presentations, schedules, and to-do-lists with people who have Apple id.
  • There is confusion in photo backups.
  • Storage costs can be high if you need additional apart from the 5GB.
  • You can’t choose images to sync.

Google Drive

It is mainly used or best for teams and collaboration. To store files in Google Drive, you need to have a Google account. It has a free storage capacity that enables you to store documents, stories, photos, videos, recordings, etc.

Pros and features

  • It can upload files from any device like a tablet, computer, or smartphone.
  • It allows you to store any file; hence it has no restrictions or limitations.
  • You can easily share files and folders without an email attachment.

Cons

  • It must be connected to the internet to see real-time updates.
  • It messes up the format of a Word document when you upload it for collaboration.
  • The interface of Google Drive is a bit complex hence confusing.

Dropbox

It provides you with a modern workspace to store your files together at a specific place. It can be synced across all your devices and accessed from anywhere, anytime. It is best for light data users.

Pros and Features

  • It can be used by solo workers, teams, freelancers, and businesses of any size.
  • It enable you to secure access to the shared data.
  • It allows sharing of different sizes of files with anyone.
  • It allows sharing of files like Photoshop and PowerPoint.

Cons

  • It has no metadata search functionality.
  • IT administrators cannot control the users syncing files.
  • It only starts with a small capacity of only 2GB of free data.

pCloud

It is suitable for the storage of large files. It allows you to access your data from all devices, with the ability to enhance quick sharing and collaboration of files. Besides, your private files can also be encrypted and kept confidential.

Pros and Characteristics

  • Its OS platforms include Mac, Linux, iOS, Windows, and Andriod.
  • Provision of multiple file-sharing options
  • You can do the file management from the desktop, web, or mobiles.
  • It provides TSL/SSL encryptions for data security.

Cons

It provides bandwidth limits.

Livedrive

It is best for business and personal cloud storage solutions. It serves as cloud storage and a backup solution. It gives you a space to backup an unlimited number of files.

Pros and Features

  • It has team folders that help your team to collaborate and work remotely.
  • It supports two-factor authentication hence prevents unauthorized access.
  • Its OS platforms include Mac, Windows, Windows mobile phones, and iOS.

Cons

A mobile backup facility is not available for RT tablets and Windows phones.

Sync.com

It is suitable for its ease of use and for providing security. It provides encrypted cloud storage and allows you to share files on all devices. You are also able to sync data across all devices.

Pros and Features

  • Its OS platforms include Mac, Windows, Web, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
  • It provides privacy protection by end-to-end encryption, no third-party tracking, HIPAA compliance, GDPR compliance, and PIPEDA compliance.
  • It provides features like advanced share control, 365-day history, restricting downloads, and password protected sharing, all for data security.
  • It has productivity features such as document previews, auto camera upload, offline access, file requests,

Cons

It does not offer a monthly billing option.

Microsoft OneDrive

It provides free storage for up to 5GB for storage of your files. It also allows for direct storage of scanned documents, which you can access from any device.

Pros and Features

  • Its OS platforms are Windows, iOS, and Android.
  • It provides SSL encryption for data security.
  • It gives you the access to the files in an offline mode.
  • It allows you to get the latest Office applications.

Cons

It has limited storage of only 5GB.

Box

It is best for enterprise solutions, providing a platform for teams to store, share and collaborate on files.

Pros and Features

  • OS platform-accessible from any device.
  • It allows you to work on your cloud files from your desktop.
  • You can share large files through email or straight from the Box.
  • It allows the storage of any files.

Cons

It is more expensive than the others.

Amazon Cloud Drive

It is suitable for storing photos. It is provided by Amazon to easily backup and accesses spreadsheets, documents, music, videos, and pictures. It supports bulk uploading of videos and photos and an added feature to access the recent files easily.

Pros and Features

  • It allows you to create and edit text files.
  • It allows you to play videos and music stored in the cloud.
  • It provides the facility to preview photos, documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
  • It creates folders and organizes files in the folders.

Cons

It is a bit costly than other cloud solutions and offers less storage than them.

IDrive

PCs or Mac can access files that are stored in it. It takes a backup of files in real-time by automatically recognizing the changed part of the file. It also allows you to back up the entire drive, including the settings and OS.

Pros and Features

  • You can recover all your deleted files within 30 days.
  • It provides unlimited backup with a single account.
  • Files and folders are synced in real-time across all linked devices.
  • It provides 256-bit AES encryption to files.
  • Its OS platforms are Windows, iOS, Mac, and Android.

Cons

The company offers limited free storage of only 5GB.

Conclusion

The cost of such a lucrative option is free. Give it a try, and you shall never experience stress with data loss issues, limited storage capacity, and confidentiality of your files.