What Is Cloud Storage, and Is It Worth Paying For?

Cloud storage is essentially digital storage space you access over the internet. It’s an excellent tool for increasing your storage capacity and keeping files in sync across multiple devices. Many people (like us) pay for cloud storage on mobile devices to accommodate expanding photo libraries. For businesses, small and large, cloud storage enables real-time collaboration and secure file sharing.

In this article, we’ll run through the basics of what you need to know before getting started with cloud storage.

What is cloud storage?

Your device — whether it’s a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop — has built-in storage for saving files and media. This is called local storage.

On the other hand, cloud storage is storage space located on servers owned and managed by a cloud storage provider. With cloud storage, instead of storing files only on your device, your data is stored on the provider’s servers and is accessed over the internet.

In some cases, cloud storage works a bit like streaming, where files stay online until you open them. In other cases, the service downloads copies to your device and keeps them in sync.

Either way, the result is the same: Your data lives elsewhere, and you access it through an internet connection.

Cloud storage pros and cons

Cloud storage is very useful, but it isn’t without its drawbacks. Let’s explore the pros and cons of using cloud storage.

The main advantages of cloud storage are automated backups and easy access to your files from multiple devices.

If your computer is lost, stolen, or damaged, files stored on it are lost, as well. However, files stored in the cloud can still be accessed, and when you get a new device, you can just sign in to your cloud storage and download them to your new device right away.

The biggest downside of cloud storage is the need for an internet connection to access it. If you find yourself without an internet connection, you may not be able to access the important documents you need to work on. Typically, you can download copies of files to work around this.

Another potential con is that if the cloud storage provider (or just your personal account) is hacked, your files could be exposed. In general, cloud storage providers are quite safe, but data breaches are always a risk when using online services.

Some cloud storage providers encrypt your files so that they’re unreadable in the event someone gets unauthorized access. NordLocker is one example of a provider.

Is cloud storage really necessary?

Unlike for businesses, cloud storage is not strictly necessary for individuals. However, it’s extremely useful — there is a convenience factor with cloud storage that you can’t really get with other tools. 

Here are some of the main uses and benefits of cloud storage:

• Cloud storage backs up your data. Files saved in the cloud provide an easy, “off-site” backup solution. Your data is automatically backed up to the cloud storage provider’s servers, so you can recover it in the event that something happens to your local copy.
• Cloud storage makes archiving data simple. Cloud storage is usually much cheaper than an equivalent amount of local storage. This makes it great for archiving old photos and videos so you can free up space on your phone.
• Cloud storage makes disaster recovery easier. If your phone or laptop breaks, you can sign in to your cloud storage account on another device and retrieve all your files right there.
• Cloud storage enables you to access your data from anywhere. If you start working on your desktop and then have to go somewhere, you can pick up where you left off on your laptop or tablet later. Cloud storage makes it easy. It also makes collaboration much simpler — you don’t need to email files back and forth.
• Cloud storage lets you easily share content between devices. Syncing content between devices is one of the best uses for cloud storage. For example, if you have an iPhone and an Apple TV, you can have the TV display photos taken on your phone using iCloud.

Cloud storage for iPhone and Android

Cloud storage is very useful on mobile devices. It can be used to keep automated backups of your devices, sync photos and videos, and access important files on the go. Additionally, cloud storage can provide significantly more space than your phone at a fraction of the cost, making it an economical choice compared to a storage upgrade on your next phone.

iPhone cloud storage

iPhones come with iCloud built in, which is Apple’s cloud storage solution. You can access your files in iCloud through the Files app. You can also download apps for other services, like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.

One of the best uses for iCloud is photo backup. The iPhone’s Photos app can sync with iCloud automatically, and you can then clear the photos off your device. You’ll still be able to view them through the Photos app on your phone, other Apple devices, and even in a web browser on the iCloud website.

Android cloud storage

Most Android phones come with Google Drive preinstalled for cloud storage. As with the iPhone, you can install other services if you like, such as OneDrive or Dropbox. You can use these services to back up photos, videos, messages, and other files.

Google Drive tends to have the best integration with Android devices, particularly the built-in backup feature. You can also use the Google Photos app to seamlessly back up and sync your photos across devices and the web using Google Drive storage.

Bottom line: Should you pay for cloud storage?

Yes. Cloud storage is an excellent option for individuals who want to expand their storage capacity, keep files backed up, and access them across devices. Services like iCloud and Google Drive are reasonably affordable and integrate seamlessly with mobile devices, while providers like NordLocker offer enhanced security. 

For any business owner, cloud storage is highly recommended for enhanced security, real-time collaboration, and scalability. No matter which provider you choose, cloud storage makes using multiple devices much simpler.

FAQs