Data is one of the foundations of learning, which enables consumers to discover principles behind how certain products or services work, which allow them to fully utilize it to their own advantage. With this type of knowledge, consumers have become more specific and discriminating when it comes to the quality of what they avail. Although our economy today is full of trends, or momentary popularity of a certain product or service, which sometimes cause confusion on how to differentiate it from necessities. In a way, market trends made a positive impact over social media networking, which made it more vibrant and exciting to use.
Data has long been regarded as a valuable asset in companies, which enables businesses to deploy solutions to consumer needs. Innovations are flourishing in accordance to the rate at which people are becoming more specific with their essentials. Today, is the age that necessities in human life are getting broad and subjective, and full awareness of this type of behavior can contribute more challenges to businesses in addressing these constant changes. Data is one mine-ful of opportunities and insights about past market behavior and its impact on present situations. Data analysts are keen in observing patterns and correlations to arrive to a more concrete analysis, important in making predictive analysis.
Digital assets are becoming commodities concerning web based technologies that are not only being utilized by businesses, but by consumers as well. These eras of social networking and increasing internet usage are always associated with rich multimedia content, done so in order to sustain its appeal across many types of technology users, as well as to encourage soon-to-be ones.
Online engagements are becoming popular as well, because of the rise of smartphones and tablets, which are additional platforms that can access the internet. This is especially important in business marketing campaign strategies, which uses multiple channels to communicate to a broader type of audience, while maintaining a targeted approach to each type by varying campaigns.
These observations about data and information heightened the level of importance of preserving it. A certain type of data may become irrelevant today, but we may never know when the time will come that it will be useful again. It appears that data storage should work on redundant methods that are capable of keeping multiple copies, as well as its modification history. Big data analytics is an existing method of unearthing more valuable insights about past and present data combined, and can be done so anytime a business wishes. To do so, a business should be able to present historical data with no compromise in its integrity.
Introduction to Cloud Storages
Cloud file storage services became the answer, which meet the standards needed to preserve and manage online data assets. Cloud storages exist in a virtual environment where data just “floats”, so it can be accessed anytime and anywhere. Cloud storages use the immense network of the internet, to let data travel across its interconnected channels and users. Cloud storages can be deployed according to different service model types: private, public and hybrid cloud storage models.
Cloud backup storages could be anything about data and attaining its full benefits. Cloud storages can be used for data storing, sharing, and backup. It can also be a venue for collaborative work to take place. Cloud storages are also capable of syncing data within mobile and desktop devices.
Cloud storage backups also play an important role in securing data assets of companies that are crucial in decision making and making sound evaluation and performance analysis. Protecting all company’s assets is part of a business disaster preparedness measure, and employing cloud storages answers the concern about digital assets.
Overall, cloud file storage systems are useful in upgrading the scope of accessibility, mobility and portability of your data that goes with you anywhere. It uplifts the value of local data storages, especially when deployed together within a business organization. On the other hand, there is no stopping in consumers and small businesses from reaping the benefits of cloud storages, which also needsan efficient and reliable data storage for personal and operational data, respectively.
Advantages of Cloud Storages
Cloud storages pose many advantages over local data storages, which are still prevalent in businesses today. Although, these two major types of data storages are analogous to traditional and contemporary way of storing and managing of data, each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, depending on its specific use or type of business deployment. But in the economy of today, cloud storages are becoming popular, most especially that its dynamic set of capabilities is continually being upgraded.
Internet based storages provide a wide range of accessibility options, since it is utilizing the internet as its communication gateway from its host. It allows data to flow through its expansive network, extending data access without limit to geographical boundaries. Data processing is also unified within a single working environment, from gathering, processing up to sharing.
One notable edge of cloud storages over local data storage is its capability to be scalable according to varying number of users, or the company’s scale all throughout its lifetime. Data grows as the company is expanding, but with latest advancements happening in the field of data compression and bandwidth may entail more optimized way of storing data for more efficient use of capacity.
Since cloud storages are web based technologies, it is flexible enough to be installed and used across multi platform, cross channel devices, through wired or wireless means (internet connection dependent).
Cloud storages are not just for storing data, but its contents and files can be shared not just within its system, but even across other networking platforms, but with appropriate permission and authorization. This is done by data creator input, or can be made automatically, which is being used in cloud content streaming.
Collaborative work is also encouraged in cloud storages, wherein team members can have access to all data that is part of the project. At the same time, all work processes are streamlined using the same business tools that are integrated with the system. Changes made in the files and collaborative spreadsheets are reflected instantly, for all members to view the latest versions always.
Centralized data management is implemented more effectively because all changes were automatically become visible and be reflected. A data manager will ensure other loopholes are directed and addressed properly for smooth continuity in operations.
Cloud storages are efficient implementation of storage and backup of unused files that aren’t for disposal, but are meant for future references, should the need arises.
Disaster recovery is the most notable purpose of business executives in getting cloud storages for the business. This accounts for 63% of the highest rating given, in a cloud usage statistics conducted in 2013.
For long term deployment, high cost efficiency ratings can be achieved, considering there isn’t a need for additional hardware implementations to support and sustain the system.
Technologies Behind Cloud Storages
In the collaborative and streamlining aspect of work implemented in businesses, there is a more mature approach in applying a single operating language within the organization. This operating language pertains to common characteristics and tools within the business like goals, communication gateway, network system, data center and business tools. In cloud storages, data is the focal point of all centralized management systems, whereas in cloud computing, it is the applications management that is being effectively shared.
Cloud computing enables access to different applications, whether in personal or business point of view, across many platforms and devices available, that has access on the internet. Cloud computing makes applications flexible to adapt and maximize. Cloud computing and cloud storages both make streamlining approach in business, a mission accomplished. Examples of cloud computing applications are the email and web browsers.
Data compression is one important aspect of cloud storages, which is not detailed in other cloud storage articles. It has to be remembered that all company resources; whether in financial, time or tools aspects, should be efficiently used. Bandwidth is one of the limiting factors of effective communications and streaming capabilities. The internet and its data underwent many phases of bandwidth utilization, which translated on how expansive and rich its network and content now, without the bulk of infrastructures. Data compression allows data to be compact in a way that it can travel its communication gateway at a faster rate, and be received on the other end with less errors and full integrity.
Internet as a communication gateway used in cloud storages, allows rapid deployment of data as user gains access to it. Its expansive network reach contributes majorly in implementing significant number of advantages of cloud storages when it comes to accessibility and centralized management.
Security and data encryption is heavily weighed in adopting cloud storages, especially in businesses, due to concerns in classified data and critical requirements. Today, cloud storages are making use of the latest in data protection and security innovations to guarantee its clients that they are offering full service with all their data needs.
Types of Cloud Storages
Cloud storages offer different types of service model deployment, according to specific needs. In businesses, there are three types of cloud file storage services, the public, the private, and the hybrid cloud storage systems.
Public cloud storage systems delegate the overall management of data technologies and architecture to third party service providers. This type of cloud storage is capable of deploying multi tenancy storage network systems, by implementing the latest technologies in data compression and bandwidth segmentation. Performance and overall security of the system can be subjected to a number of factors, considering that the environment is shared among different clients.
Private cloud storages offer the highest security and protection among the three types of service models – mainly because it is built on-premise, including hardware and networking infrastructures. In-house IT personnel also take care of the maintenance and architectural management. Most private cloud storages are custom built according to business needs and requirements. Private cloud storages are mainly used to establish an effective collaborative working environment among key departments within the business organization. However, scalability is quite limited with this kind of system, in order to manage well, as control rests on the business itself.
Hybrid cloud storages combine on-site and deployed to third party host type of data storage, to ensure maximum benefits of both, most especially in the event of disaster recovery. Although, there must be careful implementation with this kind of service model, to make sure that off site data is synchronized with what is on-premise. Active data must also run on both premises, and there is an intelligent way of enabling inactive data to automatically be stored on offsite cloud storage. This could be strategically done by imposing guidelines in input and overall data management across multiple data engagements.
Mobile Cloud Storages
Personal cloud storages are subset of public cloud storages, wherein data mostly come from mobile devices that consumers use. Personal cloud storages are usually synched with personal social media accounts, for purpose of backup and convenience in streaming and sharing within the social networking platform. Usually, the services here are free, but with quite limited bandwidth and capacity, but nonetheless very useful in containing rich multimedia content. Personal cloud storages are also attributed as mobile cloud storages.
Popular Cloud Storage Providers
Here is a rundown of popular cloud storage providers compiled early this year by PC Magazine:
iDrive – specializes in data backup, and offers 5 GB of free storage capacity with unlimited file size uploads. iDrive is also capable of running on popular mobile platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows.
Google Drive – is among the most popular cloud storage providers, considering it is integrated with a full suite of business tools from the same maker. It offers 15 GB of free storage capacity, and also capable of running across multi-platforms, both mobile and desktop.
Microsoft OneDrive – its popularity rests on the fact that Microsoft Office suite is one of the most adopted and widely used business tools in the world today. Its integration with the said suite makes ease of syncing files more convenient. It offers 5 GB worth of free storage capacity, enables online editing, and runs on popular platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows.
Dropbox – this is storage provider received positive reviews from consumers, and its capability to run both in desktop and mobile clients make it more accessible. Today, the Microsoft Office suite has also been fully integrated into it, making it a more powerful data management software. Dropbox offers 2 GB of free storage and is capable of running on mobile and desktop platforms.
Decided to take the next step? But first, do check out this list of the best cloud backup providers. Read on reviews of cloud backup services from clients, to better support you in making the right choice for your business.
Keith Moore
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