Cloud storage has been a key factor in revolutionizing the way that data is stored and accessed. All that is required is a connection to the Internet and a device that is compatible for you to download, edit and access all of your data from any location. What lies ahead for Cloud storage, what weaknesses does it have and will more people start to trust it as a reliable service?
What is cloud storage?
To put it simply, Cloud computing basically means the accessing and storing of data on the web, as opposed to the hard drive of the device you are using. Instead of using a USB cable to access your hard drive, you will be using an Internet connection.
For example, let’s say you are working on your computer and you save a file to the Cloud, you can go to your friend’s house and use his computer to take the file off of the cloud and work on it from your new location. The need for bulky hard drives is no longer necessary. Or as a businessman you need to access your company’s contact management software. Thanks to the cloud all of this is possible as long as you have an internet connection.
Many of the world’s largest software companies have already embraced the Cloud with the Google Drive, Skydrive by Microsoft and DropBox being the free options that are the most popular. These services start out with a 5-10 GB storage rate that is standard. More capacity can be purchased if needed.
Cloud sharing
Cloud sharing has the same general premise as Cloud storage. However, you are also allowing specific people to be able to access your files through the Cloud. DropBox is a service that enables people to upload their files info a public folder that is able to be accessed by people you designate. This allows people to share documents, videos and pictures easily without the need to allow other people to have access to their private accounts.
Advantages
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Since ‘the Cloud’ is the Internet, the amount of capacity for storage is in theory the same amount of space as every server in the world is able to hold. Obviously, this is a big plus when compared to physical hard drives that are all limited to the capacity of each individual unit.
- Provided that you have a working Internet connection, you will be able to access any of your files from any location on the planet. This is ideal for projects that are being worked on by large groups of people and for the seamless transfer of data from one person or company to another. The working and storage systems that we use have been decentralized as a result of Cloud computing. People are no longer tied to the specific location where their data is being stored.
Risks
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Mobile data storage security has been a particular concern as Cloud computing has grown in popularity. For obvious reasons, people want to know if the data that they have stored on other servers is being properly protected. At the moment, the fact is that a large number of Cloud data storage systems have encryption that is extremely limited. As hard as it may be to believe, the are still companies that utilize a system that is only protected by a password. These systems are extremely vulnerable to an attack from people looking to steal sensitive information.
The Future of Cloud Data Storage
1. Enhanced security
In the future, security must be enhanced if businesses and the public are going to feel comfortable transferring sensitive data to the Cloud. While high levels of encryption and security exist for certain systems, they are far from being the industry standard at this point. Right now, there is still a great deal of skepticism regarding the Cloud’s ability to protect data. Along with stopping cyber criminals from having access to your financial information, steps are being taken to develop encryption for the Cloud that will protect archives from being edited and tampered with by hackers.
2. Will there be one Cloud for everyone, or will there be many?
This is another important issue that is already being debated by people in the Cloud community. Will there eventually be a single large Cloud database that pools the resources of a government, country or city? Will the Cloud split across several large companies? Will there be a large number or personal Cloud networks? We will have to wait and see
3. Who owns the data?
In order for businesses and people to feel that their data is safe, legislation must be created to specifically address Cloud content ownership. Right now, according to Google’s terms or service, they have the right to create âderivative worksâ from all of the data that is stored on the Google Drive, as well as to publicly distribute and display any content they wish. Needless to say, loopholes like this will need to be closed for the popularity of Cloud data storage to grow.