Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Data Storage

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Data Storage

Cloud-based data storage provides the following advantages:

Scalability: Most cloud-based data-storage providers let you scale your storage capacity (up or down) to align with your storage needs.
Pay for use: With most cloud-based data-storage facilities, users pay only for the storage (within a range) that they need.
Reliability: Many cloud-based data-storage facilities provide transparent data replication.
Ease of access: Most cloud-based data-storage facilities support web-based access to files from any place, at any time, using a variety of devices.
Ease of use: Many cloud-based data-storage solutions let users map a drive letter to the remote file storage area and then access the files through the use of a logical drive.
Automatic data synchronization: Most cloud-based-storage solutions can automatically sync files between the cloud and a user’s computer. If a user creates or updates a file on either, software will automatically update the other.

Disadvantages of cloud-based storage include the following:

Required Internet connection: To use cloud-based storage, your device must be connected to the Internet.
Performance: Because the cloud-based disk-storage devices are accessed over the Internet, they will never be as fast as local drives.
Security: Some users will never feel comfortable with their data in the cloud.
Data orphans: Users may abandon data in cloud-storage facilities, leaving private or company-confidential data at risk.

CASE 6-2 Dropbox Cloud-Based File Sharing and Synchronization

Most users today have a variety of devices, the content of which they must manage. Dropbox is a cloud-based storage facility for photos, documents, and other digital content.

When you place a file into the Dropbox folder (either by cutting and pasting, by dragging and dropping, or by saving), a copy of the file is automatically saved to the Dropbox cloud-storage facility. Should you later need to access the file from another computer, you can simply log into your Dropbox account on the web.

Dropbox also makes it very easy for users to share files. If, for example, you place a file within the Dropbox Public folder, you can then send a link to other users that they can use to access the file. Dropbox supports a variety of devices. Also, Dropbox lets users try the software free of charge and provides them with ample storage space to get started.

Case Study: Discuss the benefits of having web-based access to a cloud-storage area.

CASE 6-3 Microsoft OneDrive

It did not take Microsoft long to enter the cloud-storage market. Initially known as Microsoft SkyDrive, OneDrive has become one of the most widely used cloud-storage solutions. OneDrive provides users with a considerable amount of free cloud storage and a pay-for-use model for users who require more storage capacity.

From within Windows, OneDrive appears as a traditional disk drive, which happens to be called OneDrive and, for which, the files reside in the cloud. FIGURE 6-5 illustrates OneDrive in Windows Explorer and within a Word Save As dialog box.

FIGURE 6-5 Accessing Microsoft OneDrive within Windows Explorer and a Word Save As dialog box.

To allow users to access these files using any device from anywhere, OneDrive lets users log into OneDrive.com using a web browser, as shown in FIGURE 6-6.

FIGURE 6-6 Accessing Microsoft OneDrive within Windows Explorer and a Word Save As dialog box.

Finally, using the OneDrive mobile app, shown in FIGURE 6-7, users can access their cloud-based files from their mobile phone.

FIGURE 6-7 Using the OneDrive mobile app to access cloud-based files.

Case Study: Discuss the pros and cons of accessing cloud-based files using a mobile device.

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Table of Contents for Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Data Storage

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Data Storage

Table of Contents for
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud-Based Data Storage