Never Lose a File Again with Cloud Storage

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These days it’s probably fairly common to hear people talk about “the cloud” all the time, but do you really understand what the cloud is and how it works? There are many aspects of the cloud, but one of its most important and beneficial uses is storage.

What Is Cloud Storage?

Put simply, cloud storage refers to a server space accessed online where you can store, edit, view and retrieve your data. It operates in much the same way as the storage space on your own desktop computer, laptop, or mobile device, except you aren’t taking up valuable space on your own devices or computers.

How Does Cloud Storage Work?

Once you have a cloud storage space defined (there are many companies and services offering cloud storage space), you simply upload files to it. It’s as simple as a click of the mouse or by dragging and dropping the files into a folder. You can store all types of files, including photos, video, music files, documents and more.

The companies supplying cloud storage space typically maintain large amounts of servers and networks with extremely high capacity for storage space, as they are serving hundreds of thousands of individuals who wish to store files in the cloud. This means you can potentially store unlimited amounts of files.

Benefits of Cloud Storage

As mentioned above, one of the major benefits of cloud storage is that you are not taking up space on your own device, which is usually much more limited than a cloud storage space. While documents might not take up much space, other files such as photos and videos do and can quickly fill up a hard drive. Cloud storage lets you save thousands of photos without worrying about running out of space.

You also don’t have to worry about losing any files, as the cloud storage space is a secure area that serves as a viable backup for all your files. If your computer should crash, your smartphone get stolen or your thumb drive or external drive get lost, you don’t have to worry about the loss of any files that were uploaded to the cloud.

Using the cloud, you can access your files from anywhere, so long as you have an internet connection. This means you can work on documents from any location, whether at home, at work, or on the road. Or you can listen to your music while out with friends, or view and share photos with anyone, any place, any time.

Popular cloud storage providers include Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud, iDrive, Carbonite and SugarSync. Do a little research before choosing one that suits your needs.