What is cloud storage?

Built upon cloud computing architecture, cloud storage refers to online spaces where companies are able to store vast amounts of information that can be accessed by employees anywhere around the world.

For businesses looking to advance their operations, or undergo the important process of Digital Transformation, cloud storage and cloud management systems are the perfect solutions to these challenges.

Different types of cloud storage

If you’re searching for cloud storage for your business, you’ll generally come across three different types, which are often divided into personal, public, private and hybrid.

Personal cloud storage

Sometimes known as mobile cloud storage, personal cloud storage is a subset of public cloud storage.

This applies to storing someone’s personal data and then allowing that individual to access the data from anywhere in the world.

It provides data syncing and sharing capabilities across multiple devices.

Public cloud storage

This kind of cloud storage is where the enterprise and storage service providers are separate and the storage provider fully manages the enterprise’s public cloud storage.

Private and hybrid cloud storage

A private cloud storage involves the enterprise and cloud storage provider being integrated into the enterprise’s data centre.

The storage provider will have infrastructure in the centre and this is usually managed by the storage provider.

Hybrid cloud storage is a combination of public and private storage systems, where critical data resides in the enterprise’s private cloud.

The rest of the data will be accessible from a public cloud storage provider.

Business benefits of cloud storage and cloud management systems

As you can imagine, there are a range of important benefits to cloud storage systems that all businesses need to be aware of.

Accessibility

Depending on your desired levels of security (which can be tailored to your individual needs and requirements), files can be accessed from anywhere in the world, providing there is an internet connection.

Disaster recovery

It’s important that all businesses have some sort of back up plan for securing important files in the event of an emergency.

Cloud storage and management systems are great for this purpose as they store files in remote locations, meaning that even if all computers within a company are lost or destroyed, files can still be accessed on the cloud.

Scalability

When it comes to cloud storage, you tend to only pay for how much storage you require, so if your business experiences a significant amount of growth, it is able to acquire more storage as it grows.

Conversely, if a business happens to experience contraction, and no longer needs as much storage space, it is also able to reduce the amount of cloud storage required.

Speed

With proper support available, high speeds can be achieved for storing and accessing information, even when vast amounts of data is being sent or received.

Cost savings

Possibly the most important benefit for any business, is the fact that cloud storage is extremely cheap, even for small or medium-sized companies.

Amongst other things, the 'Cloud' in cloud storage refers to an on-demand service whereby you only pay for the amount of information you hold and how much you use it (bandwidth). This often makes it the most cost-efficient solution for storing online data.

Cloud management systems can greatly reduce operating costs and every day bills such as electricity, as they do not depend on internal power to store information.

If you want to know about cloud management systems, and how they could benefit your business, check out our contact page to find out more.