Cloud storage promotes energy efficiency.
Cloud storage is a service that allows digital files to be stored on servers accessible over a computer network . The concept usually refers to the transfer and storage of data on platforms with which it is possible to connect via the Internet.
To understand the concept, you first have to 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 major 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 .
Cloud Storage Features
Cloud storage constitutes a computer model that makes it possible to store content on the Internet by using the service of a provider, who manages and maintains the necessary infrastructure . This provider, therefore, is responsible for providing access to the servers .
With cloud storage, the user does not need to purchase or manage storage infrastructure . Simplifying, it can be said that it connects to a platform or service to upload and/or download files, which can also be shared easily.
Collaborative development platforms use cloud storage.
The story
The history of cloud storage began in the 1960s . Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider ( 1915 – 1990 ) is mentioned as a precursor since 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 80s from certain tasks distributed on a network. Already in 1997 , Ramnath K. Chellappa made specific reference 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.
With regard specifically to cloud storage, its emergence is related to the development of the so-called Web 2.0 that favors collaboration based, above all, on the increase in 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 devices.
Types of cloud storage
Experts recognize three broad types of cloud storage: file storage , block storage , and object storage .
File storage saves data in folders, following a hierarchical structure. Block storage , meanwhile, is based on units that each have a unique identifier.
Object storage , finally, is an architecture with unstructured data. This means that the content is stored in the format in which it arrives at the server: to facilitate its access and analysis, personalized metadata is used.
There are, however, other classifications. In this sense, it is interesting to differentiate between public cloud storage , private cloud storage and hybrid cloud storage .
Public cloud storage involves the use of resources hosted on hardware that is not the user's own. It is possible to use containers for the transfer of applications and workflow, thus minimizing security risks.
Private cloud storage is based on resources designed for the end user. These resources can be found on the user's premises or in their firewall .
As for hybrid cloud storage , it consists of managing workloads in different environments (public and private). Users, in this way, can store the files in the environment they prefer and proceed to migrate them when they consider it appropriate.
Some examples
Currently 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 , the files are stored on the search engine's servers. Google Drive offers 15 GB of free space , a limit that is increased in the paid versions. It should be noted that it is possible to synchronize files between different devices and edit them, in the case of spreadsheets and text documents, with applications.
Microsoft , for its part, is responsible for OneDrive (previously called SkyDrive ). Launched in 2014 , its free capacity is 5 GB . From a browser it is possible to upload up to 5 files simultaneously.
Another example of cloud hosting is Dropbox , with 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 provides numerous advantages over other options. This modality favors scalability and offers resource elasticity since the user does not need to have the servers or manage them.
The virtualization provided by a cloud backup also saves physical space and contributes to disaster recovery since the information is available online. Of course, this requires the provider to have data security measures in place and take care of privacy in the cloud.