Cloud Storage

While creating a site backup is essential for your website’s security, storing your backups
in a secure location is equally important. Unfortunately, many business owners rely on outdated
storage solutions (such as flash drives or local servers), which can cause a loss of vital data and
an increase in unnecessary headaches.
That’s where cloud storage comes in. This stores your data on dedicated servers, and
provides unlimited accessibility wherever an internet connection is available, along with an
increase in backup file security (given that your files won’t be subjected to local server hacks or
data loss).
The Cloud Computing Revolution has opened up many new avenues for executing business
processes and storing business critical or sensitive data. The compelling operational and financial
advantages of cloud powered solutions are driving the migration of organizations towards the
cloud.

What is Cloud?
The term Cloud refers to a Network or Internet. In other
words, we can say that Cloud is something, which is present
at remote location. Cloud can provide services over public
and private networks, i.e., WAN, LAN or VPN.

What Is Cloud Storage?

Definition: Cloud storage is the process of storing digital data
in an online space that spans multiple servers and locations,
and it is usually maintained by a hosting company.
Here’s a diagram representing the process:
Essentially, an individual or organization can store and access data in this online space
maintained by a host service using the internet. You are likely using cloud storage already –
whether it is Microsoft Office 365, Dropbox, Google Drive – or one of the other dozens of cloud
storage providers. Even media sharing devices like Instagram and YouTube or webmail clients
like Gmail and Hotmail fall into this category. Each of these services stores data – your data – on
the cloud.
Cloud storage allows you to save data and files in an off-site location that you access
either through the public internet or a dedicated private network connection. Data that you
transfer off-site for storage becomes the responsibility of a third-party cloud provider. The
provider hosts, secures, manages, and maintains the servers and associated infrastructure and
ensures you have access to the data whenever you need it.
Cloud storage is very similar to an external hard drive in terms of its purpose and the way
it functions. In other words, users choose files that they want to save and then transfer those files
to something other than an internal hard drive. However, cloud storage works through a
connection via the Internet, whereas an external storage device works via a connection to a USB
wire.
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How Cloud Storage Works?

In the past, organizations relied on storing data on large hard
drives or external storage devices, like thumb drives, compact
discs, or – yes, we’ll say it – floppy disks. Over time,
organizations found ways to consolidate data onto a local on-
premise storage device or devices. Today, individuals and
enterprises alike use cloud storage to store data on a remote database using the internet to
connect the computer and the off-site storage system.
Since cloud storage systems are ubiquitous, the size and maintenance of those systems
can be quite different. The smallest cloud storage system consists of a single data server that
connects to the internet. Other cloud storage systems are so enormous the equipment can fill
entire warehouses called “server farms”. Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and
Google Cloud Computing all maintain these gigantic data centers, storing data from all over the
world.

Where Is Your Data?

The cloud can feel elusive to some users. Many wonder
not only what is cloud storage, but where all your data goes after
you click “save” or “send”?
Let’s use webmail as an example (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail,
etc.). You can log on and view your email on any computer or
device – your laptop, a friend’s computer, a library computer,
your phone, a tablet while on vacation – it doesn’t matter. You’ll
see all the same emails and folders. That’s because those emails aren’t stored on the hard drive of
your computer. They are stored on the email providers’ servers.
The data is still physically stored. Companies that provide cloud storage must also have
servers dedicated to storing your data. So, where are these server farms located?
The fact is you may never know for certain. Even providers that are based in one country,
such as the U.S., might have servers in China or France or Canada, or anywhere else in the
world. Some providers also enlist a third party to store data. In the same way a construction
project might have dozens of subcontractors, a cloud storage system can have dozens of sub-
cloud storage providers.
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What are the Benefits?

If that makes you a little nervous, you aren’t alone. 49% of
businesses are delaying a move to the cloud due to cyber
security skills gaps and security concerns. Despite this, 80%
of all IT budgets are committed to cloud solutions, and 73%
of companies are planning on moving to the cloud in the
next two years. Why?
People are asking what is cloud storage because any savvy business leader can see it is
the direction the market is moving. Cloud storage provides a competitive advantage if adopted
early. And it’s easy to see why:
 Data Retrieval: You can retrieve data from virtually anywhere. Companies can now
offer work-from-home and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) solutions. As the business
changes, the agile nature of cloud storage makes it easy to adjust.
 Collaboration: Other people can access the same data and tools, enabling teams to work
together more easily. Engaging the right provider with the right tools, even version
control can become a breeze. Cloud providers can work with cloud solution platforms –
like Zerto Virtual Replication 6.0 – to provide a disaster recovery and backup strategy.
 Pay-As-You-Use: In the past, businesses had to purchase computing infrastructure –
hardware, licenses, equipment – based on their expectations on business growth for the
next several years. Companies tended to over-buy, fearing being underprepared, and were
left with expensive equipment and storage space they didn’t use. Cloud storage and
virtualization allows businesses to pay for the data they actually use. This means
businesses can scale and adjust up and down as their business needs and strategy change.
 “Green” Business: Sometimes this benefit is left off the list, but businesses that switch
to cloud computing can cut their energy consumption by up to 70%. Maintaining even a
small data center is expensive: servers, networks, power, cooling, space, and ventilation
all contribute to energy costs. Not to mention work-from-home policies reduce
community CO2 emissions and office energy consumption. 
 Increased Capabilities: Small and medium-sized businesses of the past were only able
to use the tools they could afford. Today, using a cloud storage provider means SMBs
can utilize the different services the cloud provider offers for all their clients. Think of it
this way: your data could be stored in the same facility as the U.S. Department of
Defense’s data. Since the DOD has strict requirements for security and capabilities, the
data center will meet those needs. And your business benefits, too. Virtualization, web
applications, collaboration tools, disaster recovery solutions, centralization, data
protection, and security protocols are all available to the users.
 Bandwidth: You can avoid emailing files to individuals and instead send a web link to
recipients through your email.  
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 Disaster Recovery: It is highly recommended that businesses have an emergency back‐

up plan ready in the case of an emergency.  Cloud storage can be used as a back‐up plan
by businesses by providing a second copy of important files.  These files are stored at a
remote location and can be accessed through an internet connection.  
 Cost Savings: Businesses and organizations can often reduce annual operating costs by
using cloud storage; cloud storage costs about 3 cents per gigabyte to store data
internally.   Users can see additional cost savings because it does not require internal
power to store information remotely.  

What are the Challenges?

Rarely is a solution a silver bullet. Cloud storage is
no different. Different concerns have arisen as cloud
adoption has increased three-fold in the last year.
Specifically, businesses and IT specialists have identified the
following concerns:
 Attack Surface Area: This is a mathematical understanding of risk. The data stored on a
local network is in one place and one place only. By distributing data to more locations,
the risk of that data being subject to unauthorized access increases. More people = more
risk of compromise. The cloud also uses the internet to transfer data. So, instead of data
being transferred via a local area network (LAN), it uses a wide area network (WAN),
which increases the risk.
Cloud providers offer additional services to decrease these risks, such as crypto-
shredding. A key-aggregate cryptosystem can consolidate the increased number of
decryption access keys. Encryption technology is essential to ensure that data is protected
both while it is in transit and when it reaches its destination.
 Supplier Sustainability: What happens if your cloud storage provider goes bankrupt,
suffers a disaster, or changes their business strategy? Teaming up with another party
means aligning business goals. That isn’t always easy.
 Security: Many businesses store sensitive data, such as healthcare or financial records.
These industries are subject to strict regulations. Putting this data in the hands of
someone else can be a difficult decision to make. Understanding the safeguards cloud
storage providers take and how your team will need to leverage those tools for added
security is an important step in migrating your data to the cloud. Security is a shared
responsibility. Your customers, clients, employees, and team look to you to protect their
information and the information vital to your business.
 Usability: Be careful when using drag/drop to move a document into the cloud storage
folder.   This will permanently move your document from its original folder to the cloud
storage location.   Do a copy and paste instead of drag/drop if you want to retain the
document’s original location in addition to moving a copy onto the cloud storage folder.
 Bandwidth: Several cloud storage services have a specific bandwidth allowance.  If an
organization surpasses the given allowance, the additional charges could be significant.  
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However, some providers allow unlimited bandwidth.  This is a factor that companies

should consider when looking at a cloud storage provider.
 Accessibility: If you have no internet connection; you have no access to your data.
 Data Security: There are concerns with the safety and privacy of important data stored
remotely.  The possibility of private data commingling with other organizations makes
some businesses uneasy.  
 Software: If you want to be able to manipulate your files locally through multiple
devices, you'll need to download the service on all devices.

Although there are downsides to cloud storage, many organizations believe the benefits to far
outweigh the risks.  The cost savings, disaster‐recovery, security, and accessibility are just a few
intriguing benefits to businesses.  Cloud storage can reduce costs, simplify IT management,
improve user experience, and allow employees to work and collaborate from remote
locations.  This simplifies sharing and collaboration among staff, and easing IT logistics as a
whole.