Cloud storage enables users to store data online. This makes data easily accessible for other users who have been given access to the files. Cloud storage reduces the need for expensive offline data storage devices and if done correctly, can save a lot of time as well as money.
But should you put all your eggs in one basket?
Growing Storage Demands
Storing data can be very expensive and as storage demands grow, so does the need to upgrade storage systems.
Files begin to accumulate over time and more users require access as new members of staff join the team. Setting up new users can be a complex process and sometimes needs dedicated IT support to carry out the task.
Having files stored offline can create many problems if an employee is out of the office and needs to access files while either commuting or working from home.
The quality of images and video files are improving significantly as cameras become advanced enough to shoot videos in 1080p and even 4K. These files are larger than they have ever been due to the sheer amount of data stored in them.
Security Threats
There have been many security threats related to cloud storage in recent months. One of the most recent security threats involved Apple’s iCloud. Many high profile users had their files hacked and leaked to the public. While the content hacked and leaked was not business related, many people raised questions on the vulnerability of cloud storage and if it was safe for business use.
Hacks and leaks are not the only threat to cloud storage. Having data online can make it easier for the government to access sensitive data and cloud employees can also snoop around the files stored on their services.
Cloud storage is still fairly new and the list of unknown security factors continues to grow. Cloud services are constantly updating their security measures; however, there will always be a risk of your data being hacked once it leaves the comfort of your own firewalls. This does not files are 100% behind your own firewalls. Files can be hacked regardless of where they are stored.
Benefits of Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is significantly cheaper than investing in infrastructure for offline data storage. Employees are more likely to need external hard drives if they want to take the files out of the office to work from home or while on their commute in to work, and while the price of external hard drives is slowly decreasing (due to the popularity of cloud storage), the number of storage devices a person owns can begin to add up.
Offline storage can take up a lot of space; companies often have whole rooms or floors dedicated to file storage. These rooms could be better used as creative spaces or new offices. Cloud storage makes files somewhat invisible because they are stored online, out of the way when walking around the office.
Users no longer access files from just their work computer. Many employees now use smart phones and tablets on the go and cloud storage enables them to access files easily on these new portable devices. Files on cloud storage are easily accessible to any device or user who has been given access from the file owners.
One of the main benefits of having cloud storage is the ease of syncing files on multiple devices. If a user updates a file, it automatically syncs and updates the same file on every device that has access. This allows users to always have access to the latest version of a file saved on cloud storage making sharing files and collaborative work less of a long process.
Considerations
Cloud storage is a great option for small to medium enterprises as well as big corporations because it allows SMEs access to data storage they would otherwise be unable to purchase due to the high cost of data infrastructure.
Cloud storage not only benefits businesses financially, it can also boost productivity as it allows users to have quicker and easier access to files. It also enables them to always have the latest version of files.
There are many benefits of using cloud storage; however, the security threats should not be ignored. Always back up sensitive data, whether they are stored online or offline. Data is not 100% secure whether it is stored offline or online. There is no way to guarantee total file safety and every storage option comes with security threats.
Never put your eggs in one basket but do not be afraid to try new baskets, especially if they will save you a lot of money and time in the future.