During the past few decades, access to and storing data in computers has drastically changed. Nowadays we depend on a global network of interconnected devices – also known as the cloud – to store and process any amount of information. This way, our files aren’t limited by storage size or processing speed.
What is the Cloud?
The cloud is a network of online servers, designed to store and process information on behalf of its users. There is no single type or size of server and they can be located anywhere in the world. Different providers offer variations of their services: some companies offer storage services, while others provide solutions for processing and running applications.
More than half of the world’s data is now stored on remote servers or accessed by using online services, with that number expected to rise exponentially in the coming years. The cloud has become so popular because it provides users with scalable powerful tools at an affordable cost, but there is a slight drawback: some worry all the information shared and processed online isn’t always protected.
Keeping Your Data Secure
The traditional method of protecting data—keeping it on a secure individual device—is limited due to larger storage space and processing power required every few years to keep up with technology. But storing your encrypted data in the cloud can provide you with the same level of security that you’d have when saving your files on an individual device, while also giving you access to them from anywhere.
How Is Data Protected in The Cloud?
The cloud offers the same level of protection for data as any other online service. The real difference here is that your information is stored securely in a third party server, rather than on your individual computer or phone.
When you upload files to a cloud service such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, they are encrypted with unique encryption keys. These keys are generated using advanced encryption algorithms, which you can’t access or view yourself. The cloud service then decrypts your information on its side of the connection after verifying your credentials with a password.
Data is also protected during transmission to and from the third party server, usually through an SSL/TLS connection that ensures no one can eavesdrop on your connection.
The complex security measures in place to protect the cloud make it a safe haven for your data. As long as you can trust the provider with keeping that information confidential, not even they will be able to access or see your files when stored securely in the cloud.
Other Advantages of Cloud Storage
Another advantage of using cloud storage is the ability to sync all your devices so that they function in a similar manner to how one would experience with locally stored data. With this capability, users are able to view or edit their files on any device, as well as work on the same file simultaneously.
The cloud also has a huge storage capacity—potentially unlimited—and can be accessed from many different devices at once.
There are so many great features about the cloud that it’s impossible to name them all. The bottom line is, online storage is here to stay and offers us a convenient, safe, and reliable way of storing our data.
If you’re interested in reading more about cloud data storage, such as how a managed IT services company (MSP) can help you to implement cloud services in your business, contact Tekscape today!
