Cloud storage and its benefits.
Cloud storage is like a virtual data center that is not operated by the company using it, instead, the cloud service provider provides the facilities of the data center from far away.
In cloud storage, the user’s data is copied multiple times and stored in several data centers so that the user can access data from another data center in case of a server failure. This way, the user can still access data if there is a power outage or any hardware failures, or any major natural disasters.
To use cloud services, the user will only need to pay for the storage area it wants to apply for and for the type of service without blocking any area in the company’s premises to have access to the storage area.
Cloud services are provided to the companies through a web surface interface and the user is not required to own huge systems.
Companies having access to the cloud services do not need to worry about maintaining the data center infrastructure on a regular device or allocate an amount of budget to have data center facilities.
Stealing data and information has always been in there in every industry. It can be prevented but not entirely. To prevent the loss of entire data, companies need to have trained, quick decision-making IT professionals. Cloud servers are well equipped with IT professionals since it’s their primary service provided to their customers. Apart from that, it is not possible for individual companies to keep their update their IT infrastructure updated.
Using cloud services will reduce capital expenses for the company.
If every company uses their own IT infrastructure for data, then there will be a high consumption of energy whereas a single cloud service provider can cater data center facilities to so many companies at a time keeping the energy consumption low.
In order to use more storage companies, a company needs to contact their cloud service provider to change their subscription plan to gain more access to the storage area with just an increase in the rate to acquire the subscription.
Difference between free cloud storage and paid cloud storage.
In free cloud storage services, some famous paid cloud service providers provide cloud services for free. To upload the data, the user needs to have an internet connection.
Having free cloud storage, allows the user to have their data in backup which will be protected and can be accessed through many devices.
This is beneficial for those with less storage capacity in their devices and who don’t want to invest in a storage medium. Free cloud storage will help the user to store some of their, media and files in the cloud and create free storage space in their device. The media and file will still be accessible to the user by just using an internet service. This way, the user will be able to store important media and files and prevent having them accidentally deleted.
In free cloud service, data can be accessed from anywhere without the need to pay any charge, just sign up to the company’s account.
Although while signing up for free cloud services has the disadvantage of having access to a limited data storage space and to have more storage space, the user will need to pay for more space.
A common thing about paid and free cloud services is that to have a better in any one of them, the user will need to purchase advanced service from the cloud service provider.
In paid cloud storage services, the providers allow the user to have more storage area and also more security, the user will be able to backup media and files from more than one device.
Following are some cloud storage providers:
Google Cloud Free Program –
The user will get the following options:
90-day, $300 Free Trial – under this, new google cloud users or Google Maps Platforms users can avail free Google cloud and Google Maps Platform services for 90 days for trial along with $300 in free Cloud Billing Credits.
All Google Cloud users can avail free Google Cloud products like Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, and BigQuery within the specified monthly usage limits, described by Google.
To store Google Maps, Google Maps Platform provides a recurring $200 monthly credit applying towards each Maps-related Cloud Billing account created by the user.
Google One – the storage will be shared through Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
Firstly, Google One allows its users to have access to 15 GB free. After which to have more storage space, the user will need to pay for
BASIC: $1.99 per month or $19.99 annually for 100 GB, which further includes access to google experts, an option to add family members of the user, and have benefits for an extra member but the family members are also required to live in the same country.
STANDARD: $2.99 per month or $29.99 annually for 200 GB.
This includes the same benefits as the BASIC package.
PREMIUM: $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually for 2 TB.
This includes the same benefits as the BASIC package and gives the user a VPN to use on their Android devices.
Amazon Web Services – it provides 160 cloud services. Under Free Tier services, after signing up for an account, the user avail services based upon their needs. There are some services, under Free Tier, which are free for 12 months, some services are always free whereas some have a trial period after which the user needs to purchase a membership to continue availing the services.
Microsoft Azure Free Account – when a user signs up for Azure with a free account, they get USD 200 credit for the first 30 days. It also includes two groups of services including popular services free for 12 months and other 25 services which will be always free.
Microsoft Azure has Pricing Calculator which allows potential service buyer to calculate their pricing estimates based on their existing workloads.
OneDrive: based on the potential user’s preferences, the buyer can opt for a package for home or for business.
In Microsoft 365 for family, the buyer can have a trial for a month ranging from 1 person to 6 people. In Microsoft 365 Business, the number of users depends on the type of plan.
IBM Cloud – IBM also provides storage options with always-free options or options with free trials after which the user needs to apply for services allotting a credit amount before starting the trial period.
iCloud storage: when a person signs up, the user is automatically enrolled for free 5GB of storage to keep media and files.
After using all of the 5GB storage space in iCloud, the user can upgrade to iCloud+ and also allows the user to share iCloud with their family.
Oracle: it provides a free time-limited trial to help the user explore services provided by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure products along with a few lifetime free services. The potential user will have $300 worth of cloud credits valid for 30 days.
DropBox: the free plan in this is suitable for those minimal requirements of storage since with free access, DropBox provides 2 GB of space and along with other benefits, if a user accidentally deletes a file from DropBox, the file can be restored from DropBox within 30 days.
To have more storage space with DropBox, the user can upgrade to paid plans.
Both are safe options to store personal, media, and files but a paid cloud membership is suitable for businesses required to protect more sensitive files than an individual person. That is why, free cloud servers and advised for personal use.