Cloud storage platforms FAQs
What is cloud storage?
We all need somewhere to store our extensive cloud collections, but this isn’t it. Cloud storage is essentially a way of keeping your valuable data on someone else’s computer. That computer is generally owned by a large company, and sits in a data centre somewhere (“the cloud”) with access to enormous amounts of storage. You can choose to send your data there, with it always available via your internet connection on whatever device you use, or you can have it mirror the files on your PC. Or a mixture of both.
Some people use it as a pure backup, leaving the files there for long periods. Others use it for work, keeping their files in a mirrored cloud folder when working to ensure they never lose anything critical, but moving them out again when they’re finished.
How does cloud storage work
Once you’ve set up an account with a cloud storage provider, you are allotted a maximum amount of storage. You then decide, using a small app installed on your PC or mobile device, what you’re going to save to the cloud. You can set it to automatically back up your important folders, such as documents or pictures, or any folders you like.
The data can then be accessed through a web browser, through an app on any device, and can be copied back to its original location should you lose it. Along with the benefits of accessibility, cloud storage makes a useful off-site backup, because if your house burns down and takes your laptop with it, the fire won’t burn down Google’s data centre too.
How do you access cloud storage
You can access cloud storage through a browser and app from anywhere, on any device. Most services have an app that runs in the background on a desktop PC, and a mobile app that you can open to view your files, and maybe back up your phone’s photos too. Some people use two cloud storage systems, nesting the synced folder for one inside the folder of the other, for a redundant backup solution.
Cloud storage systems also make it easier to send files to people – instead of attaching a large file to an email, which may be blocked by email systems with file size limits, you upload it to the cloud and send a link to the file instead. Clicking the link downloads the file.
Free cloud storage vs paid cloud storage
Many cloud storage providers offer a small amount of storage for free, only charging you when you subscribe to a plan that provides more. Google Drive, for example, provides 15GB of storage for free with every Google Account registered, while a free Dropbox account comes with 2GB. Apart from this limit, they act in exactly the same way as a paid-for account.
If you want more than this, subscription-based pricing comes into effect, with capacities measured in terabytes available for a monthly fee. Annual billing is often cheaper than monthly payments, so watch out for this opportunity to get the cost down.
The verdict: Cloud storage platforms
All the major cloud storage services offer a free tier to tempt you in, but some give you a lot more space than others. While OneDrive remains tightly integrated with Windows, something that has sparked antitrust concerns in Europe, it’s easy to overlook the alternatives.
Google Drive gives you 15GB for free (shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos), and it comes bundled with Google’s full office suite. It works seamlessly on Android, is easy to access on iOS and the desktop app is simple to use. A Google One subscription also unlocks extra features like enhanced photo editing in Google Photos, family sharing, Play Store cashback and priority support – all of which add up to a compelling offer for most users.
For most people, Google Drive is the best all-round cloud storage service, especially if you’re already tied into the Google ecosystem.
