Cloud storage – your data accessible from anywhere
Cloud storage works by allocating data to remote servers, accessible via the internet. Instead of storing files locally on a physical device like a computer or hard drive, you upload those files to a cloud service provider's servers.
Cloud storage providers such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft OneDrive, have huge, globally distributed server infrastructures. When you upload your files to one of these services, they are split and stored on multiple servers, often in different geographic locations, for redundancy and security.
You can access, download, or edit these files from any internet-connected device using the login credentials associated with your cloud account. Additionally, most cloud services offer automatic sync options, allowing you to access the most up-to-date version of your files across multiple devices.
Data security in the cloud is a key concern. Providers use encryption to protect data during storage and transmission, and implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Cloud storage offers benefits such as remote file access, ease of sharing and collaboration, scalability (allowing you to increase or decrease storage space as needed), and advanced security.
What are the risks?
Although cloud storage offers many advantages, it also presents some risks, after all, your data is online:
- Security flaws: Despite the robust security protocols implemented by providers, no system is completely immune to failure. Security threats such as cyber attacks, phishing, and credential theft can compromise the security of data stored in the cloud.
- Data loss: Technical problems, human errors, or system failures can result in the loss of data stored in the cloud. Although providers have redundancies to prevent losses, there is still the possibility of failures.
- Compromised privacy: Depending on the privacy policies and local laws of the cloud service provider, your data may be accessed by the provider or third parties, particularly in cases involving legal or government requests.
- Limited availability: Reliance on internet connectivity can make it difficult to access your data if you're offline or if your cloud provider is experiencing service issues.
- Additional costs: While many services offer a free basic tier, additional storage or certain advanced features may incur additional costs, which may be a factor to consider depending on your data volume and specific needs.
To mitigate these risks, it is important to adopt good security practices, such as using two-factor authentication, data encryption, regular security updates, and choosing trusted, well-established providers. Additionally, it is essential to regularly back up your data, including to locations outside the cloud, such as an external hard drive, to ensure an additional layer of protection against possible losses.
An important detail is to keep the External backup HDD unplugged from the computer and only plug it in when making a backup.
