Cloud storage promotes energy efficiency.
Cloud storage is a service that allows digital files to be stored on servers accessible through a computer network . The concept usually refers to the transfer and storage of data on platforms that can be connected via the Internet.
To understand the concept, we must first focus on cloud computing . This is the name given to computing resources that operate on a network of servers connected to the Web. This network is the cloud in question, which, in addition to file storage , allows data processing and the use of applications, for example.
Cloud computing services are distributed according to three main models: SaaS (Software as a Service) , IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service) . The most popular cloud storage solutions are part of SaaS .
Features of cloud storage
Cloud storage is a computing model that makes it possible to store content on the Internet by using the services of a provider, who manages and maintains the necessary infrastructure . This provider is therefore responsible for providing access to the servers .
With cloud storage, the user does not need to purchase or manage storage infrastructure . Simply put, they connect to a platform or service to upload and/or download files, which can then be easily shared.
Collaborative development platforms rely on cloud storage.
The story
The history of cloud storage began in the 1960s . Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider ( 1915 – 1990 ) is mentioned as a precursor, as he was the one who thought of a global computer network. Another promoter of the concept was John McCarthy ( 1927 – 2011 ), the scientist who anticipated that computing could become a service.
However, the first practical manifestations of cloud computing were achieved in the 1980s, based on certain tasks distributed over a network. As early as 1997 , Ramnath K. Chellappa specifically referred to the idea of the cloud to refer to the paradigm, and shortly after, Salesforce began to enable the use of its applications through a website.
As regards cloud storage specifically, its emergence is related to the development of the so-called Web 2.0 , which favours collaboration, above all, by increasing bandwidth. This is how Google , Microsoft and other companies began to offer this service to their users.
Cloud storage often allows files to be synchronized across multiple devices.
Types of cloud storage
Experts recognize three broad types of cloud storage: file storage , block storage , and object storage .
File storage stores data in folders, following a hierarchical structure. Block storage , on the other hand, is based on units that each have a unique identifier.
Object storage , finally, is an architecture with unstructured data. This means that the contents are stored in the format in which they arrive at the server: to facilitate their access and analysis, custom metadata is used.
There are, however, other classifications. In this regard, it is interesting to differentiate between public cloud storage , private cloud storage and hybrid cloud storage .
Public cloud storage involves using resources hosted on hardware that is not owned by the user. Containers can be used to move applications and workflows, thereby minimizing security risks.
Private cloud storage relies on resources designed for the end user. These resources can be located on the user's premises or behind the user's firewall .
Hybrid cloud storage involves managing workloads in different environments (public and private). Users can thus store files in the environment they prefer and migrate them when they consider it appropriate.
Some examples
Nowadays we can find multiple examples of cloud hosting. Many of them, in fact, are used daily by millions of people.
A popular example of cloud hosting is Google Drive . Introduced by Google in 2012 , files are stored on the search engine's servers. Google Drive offers 15 GB of free space , a limit that is increased in paid versions. It is worth noting that it is possible to synchronize files between different devices and edit them, in the case of spreadsheets and text documents, with applications.
Microsoft is responsible for OneDrive (previously called SkyDrive ). Launched in 2014 , it has a free capacity of 5 GB . Up to 5 files can be uploaded simultaneously from a browser.
Another example of cloud hosting is Dropbox , which offers both paid and free options. Similar to other services, it offers hosting , synchronization , and the ability to share both files and folders.
Advantages of cloud storage
Cloud storage offers numerous advantages over other options. This option favors scalability and offers resource elasticity since the user does not need to have the servers or manage them.
Virtualization provided by cloud backup also saves physical space and contributes to disaster recovery since the information is available online. Of course, this requires that the provider has data security measures and takes care of privacy in the cloud.