

With local backup, which is usually in the form of external hard drives, the data is just as protected as your network. It may be more appropriate to call this advantage peace of mind. However, like cloud storage, it’s not a 100 percent guaranteed solution. If cloud storage is the new kid on the block, then local or on-site backup is Old Reliable. No data that traverses the internet is 100 percent safe from hackers and malware.įor individuals or businesses with highly sensitive data, an inability to retain complete control over the storage process can be a drawback with cloud platforms. While this has become less of an issue as cloud service providers have made the shift from brand-new technology to an established and competitive industry, there are still security risks associated with remote storage solutions. Most local backup solutions are much faster. Make sure you don't miss anything important by checking out Disaster Recovery: The 5 Things That Often Go Wrong.)ĭepending on the amount of data you have, creating a full backup to a cloud storage platform can take a long time because transfer is limited to your bandwidth and connection speed. Disaster recovery is also a much faster process, since there’s no physical equipment involved in getting the files back. You can have as much or as little space as you need, and most providers allow you to add storage capacity on demand, so there’s no upgrade or rollout wait for increased storage.īecause cloud storage is a remote backup solution, your data is safe in the event of an on-site catastrophe. Just log into your cloud account, and all your stored data is there.Ĭloud storage systems are highly scalable.

When you use cloud storage, you can access your data from any connected device, such as a desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. The savings are substantial, right down to the power you don’t use to run hardware storage equipment.Ĭloud platforms run on the internet. You simply pay a monthly fee (with no upfront investment) to store your data. When you use a cloud storage service provider, you don’t have to own or maintain any of the hardware or software associated with backup storage. This is the driving force behind the surge in the popularity of cloud storage.
