Good data management is crucial to our everyday lives, whether it is physical documents and pictures, or virtual legal papers and irreplaceable photos. Keeping the aforementioned documents and files safe is vital, and that is where cloud storage comes into play. Cloud storage is a model of networked enterprise storage where data is stored in virtualized pools of storage, which are usually hosted by third parties but can also now be done personally and at home. Hosting companies operate large data centers, and people who require their data to be hosted usually buy or lease storage capacity from them. The safety of the files depends upon the hosting companies, but with personal storage it is slightly safer although there is always a danger of accidentally deleting the files yourself. One advantage to cloud storage is that it provides users with immediate access to a broad range of resources and applications hosted in the infrastructure of another organization from anywhere via a web browser or program. It also allows multiple users at once, making it more convenient for groups to work on or access one or more shared files.

Downsides to the Cloud (Reverse)



There are a number of downsides to cloud storage, one of them being the storage limit imposed on users. In order to lure in customers cloud storage is often offered on a “freemium” basis, as it is “free” for a very small amount of space. One of the largest problems with cloud storage is there is a lack of IT support within the various cloud storage providers. The cloud can be a problem if you do not always have fast, reliable Internet access, especially if you upload and download large files. The NY Times states that “if you need handholding or if you are not comfortable trying to find advice on user forums, the cloud is probably not ideal.