Cloud storage is the the use of storing data on someone else’s computer. There are a wide range of services that compete with each other that offer a lot of the same goal.
The most common which comes with Microsoft Windows is called Microsoft Onedrive. They build it straight into the heart the file system, so that its easy & convenient to use with backing up your files.
Onedrive offers 5GB for Free before needing to pay for more. Other vendors like Google Drive offers 15GB for Free (which is the best value), Dropbox gives you 2GB. iCloud from Apple gives you 5GB for free before needing more.
How does it work?
Firstly the internet is the use of someone else’s computer, the cloud is a layman’s term for it. its actually in a big giant warehouse style building heavily locked down, big giant AC, high airflow setup to keep the computers cool these computers are running 24/7 pulling down massive amounts of power. They have hooked up tens of thousands to millions hard drives hooked up running connected to the internet to use.
Benefits of this system
Pros:
- You get the benefit of never losing your data for whats been uploaded.
- Cross sync among all different devices (Windows, MacOS, iPad, iPhone, Android and more).
- File history for edited files.
- You would be able to recover deleted files from your recycle bin because Microsoft Onedrive would be a safety net of 30 days even to recover what had been cleared out of the recycle bin.
Cons:
- You would be taking the risk of not having your files redundantly backed up, from local storage.
- It can cost money for being a service provided by the cloud provider (Onedrive, Google Drive, Dropbox & others).
- In case of a failure of the data on your own machine you must likely wouldn’t be able to recover your files.
- You wouldn’t be able to recover files from your recycle bin if you cleaned out your recycle bin.
- You will not have cross device file syncing to mesh 2 or more devices files to all have the same amount of files backed up.
- No File history at all.
Conclusion
All in all cloud storage is a good benefit to have. If you don’t like or care for paying for the cloud storage there are local backup options.
- Time Machine is exclusive to MacOS it will fully backup the whole Operating system along with your settings, applications and files in one go.
- Windows File History is exclusive to Microsoft Windows where it only backs up the core files of (Documents, Pictures, Videos, Desktop, Downloads & Etc). One thing about Onedrive interestingly enough is that it doesn’t back up downloads at all by default. The Downloads folder is typically treated as temporary, containing large, temporary, or already-backed-up installers, making its automatic backup inefficient to save bandwidth, where as File History can & will do that.
- You can as a user setup a NAS (Network Attached Storage) fill it with 2 or more hard drives that are large in capacity set them up in a raid and never think about worrying about losing data ever again, and turn a monthly recurring fee or cost into a savings to where you don’t have to pay “$x.xx” amount of dollars to have the ability to access your files.
If your the type of person who doesn’t have the need to have there stuff backed up on a regular basis is you can choose whats best for you. It all depends on what level of control over your data you would like to have of your data. Its always good to do your data back up routine frequently enough that it can be a benefit to you. Creating a back up then having your computer crash 5 years later isn’t the best practice. A back up is most useful when its working to keep your data backed up on a regular basis. Weekly vs Monthly for a local back up solution isn’t all to bad.
