What is Cloud Storage, How Does it Work, and What are its Types

Running out of storage on your computer/phone, what if there was a way to save all your files in one place what if you could access these files at any time from anywhere in the world? Sounds too good to be true? This is exactly what cloud storage solutions promise. Let's jump right in; in this blog, we’ll explore cloud storage's what, how, and why and discuss some of its use cases and applications!

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is a service that allows users to store data in the cloud. The cloud is a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet. It is an alternative to traditional local storage, where data is stored on-site on a hard drive.

Cloud storage provides users with a secure and convenient way to access their data anywhere. The cloud-stored data can be accessed from any device, including computers, tablets, and smartphones.

How Does it Work?

To use cloud storage, users must sign up for a plan with a cloud storage provider. This plan will determine the amount of storage space available and the data type that can be stored. Different providers offer different plans, so comparing plans before signing up is important. Once users have signed up for a plan, they can begin uploading their data to the cloud. 

Data is saved on remote servers and stored on a physical server's Virtual Machine (VM). Cloud service providers frequently distribute data across multiple virtual machines in different data centres worldwide to maintain quick access anywhere and provide redundancy. A cloud provider may set up more VMs to manage demand if storage requirements increase. 

Types of Cloud Storage

Cloud Storage services are classified into four major categories. 

1. Public Cloud
2. Private Cloud
3. Hybrid Cloud
4. MultiCloud

Public Cloud Storage

A company or individual stores their data in a service provider's data centres. Other businesses and users in a shared environment also use this data centre. Public cloud storage offers data on a pay-as-you-go or subscription-based pricing.

• It is typically less expensive than other types of cloud storage.
• It is the least secure of all types of cloud storage.
• Public cloud storage is elastic and can be scaled up or down depending on the organisations’/users’ needs.
• Example: Microsoft Azure

Private Cloud Storage

Private cloud storage is a cloud storage solution hosted on a private network. This type of cloud storage is provided by a single organisation and is only available to its members. For this reason, it is also called an internal or corporate cloud. Private cloud storage benefits businesses that must maintain control over their data as the organisation can manage and monitor it. 

• It is more secure than the public cloud 
• It is more expensive than the public cloud. 
• A single organisation typically manages private cloud storage.
• It is not accessible to the public.
• Example: Elastra-private cloud

Hybrid Cloud Storage

Hybrid Cloud Storage is a form of cloud storage that combines the capabilities of both public and private cloud options. It allows organisations to store data in both on-premise (like a private cloud) and off-premise (Like a public cloud) environments. This type of storage is beneficial for organisations that need to store large amounts of data securely and need the flexibility of both cloud storage solutions. 

• The on-premise environment is usually a data centre or server room owned and maintained by the organisation.
• The off-premise environment is usually a public cloud provider.
• Examples of hybrid cloud storage solutions include,
• Amazon Web Services
• Google Cloud Platform

Multi-Cloud Storage

When a company sets up multiple cloud models from various cloud service providers into one architecture, that is known as a multi-cloud storage model. 

Reasons for to chose a MultiCloud Storage architecture

• If one cloud provider offers specific proprietary apps
• If data storage in a particular nation is required
• If different teams are trained on different clouds,
• If the organisation must meet requirements not covered by the service providers.
• Examples of multi-cloud storage include, 
• Dropbox
• Google Drive

Applications of Cloud Storage

Backup 

One of the simplest and most popular cloud storage applications is data backup. Production and backup data can be isolated, forming a gap between the two that shield businesses from cyber threats like ransomware and cyber attacks. 

Archiving

When organisations move to an all-digital record collection and storage form, all important documents and files for governance and compliance reasons can be converted to a digital medium and archived for future use. 

Disaster Recovery

Disasters that destroy a data centre or outdated tangible records don't have to be the crippling occurrences for businesses that they once were. Cloud storage enables disaster recovery so businesses can operate even during difficult circumstances.

Content Delivery

Media and entertainment businesses can provide their audience with low-latency, always-available content from wherever they are by storing copies of media data on servers worldwide. This includes data such as,

• Substantial audio
• Images 
• Video files etc 

Data Processing

Cloud storage’s unique ability to store large amounts of data with high availability makes it particularly suited for big data and data science applications.

Conclusion

Cloud storage is a secure and convenient way to store, allowing users to access their data anywhere. It is secure, cost-effective, and provides users with the flexibility and scalability they need to manage their data in the cloud. 

To learn more about topics like cloud storage, check out the blog courses offered by Skill-lync. We offer courses like The Fundamentals of Cloud Computing and the Post Graduate Program in Data Analytics and Data Science. So what are you waiting for? Start your learning journey today with Skill-Lync!