Cloud Hosting

What Is Cloud Storage?

Cloud-anything is a massive buzzword in the tech space. But what does it even mean? And, even more importantly:

When you store files on the cloud, where do they go?

In cloud computing, you access services over the internet. So cloud storage (you guessed it) refers to file storage solutions that use the cloud.

The cloud is a system of servers in data centers across the world. Your information doesnt go to one single locationinstead, its distributed over the network of servers. This way, even if one machine goes down, the cloud remains functional.

Cloud storage is simply putting files on the cloud instead of local storage (like your computers memory drive). You can think of file storage companies like landlords. They build and maintain data centers while you rent out the space for your files.

Why would you choose enterprise cloud storage? There are some neat perks:

Yes, you most likely do because it has some serious advantages over local storage.

Heres how cloud storage can make your business operations easier:

Adopting cloud-based file sharing puts important files at your fingertips, speeds up collaboration, and protects essential information from accidental loss or hacker interception.

Bottom line: yes, most businesses benefit from file storage and need it to optimize their sharing and workflow.

With a dizzying amount of file storage solutions, how do you pick the one for you? Heres what to look out for:

Anywhere-access is one of the main perks of online file storage for business. The synchronization between devices is a hasslethe cloud gives you easy access from any internet-connected device.

If youre working on the go, make sure you can make edits on the cloud.

Most business-oriented providers have that option, but some dont. Downloading a file to your hard drive, making the edits, and re-uploading gets annoying very quickly. So double-check whether you can view and edit files from the cloud.

Also, watch out for file versioning functionality that allows you to restore overwritten files with a few clicks. Check if your cloud storage provider supports versioning and how long it keeps the versionsits a potential life-saver for you and your team.

Unlike personal cloud storage, business cloud services are frequently used for collaboration. To determine what features you need, ask yourself:

What does file sharing look like?

Can you send files to people who dont have a profile?

What about access and edit restrictions?

Also, consider what your business actually needs.

For example, smaller organizations wont need access control as much as big teams.

If its just you and a couple of people, it makes sense to give everybody access to everything. For larger teams, user hierarchy and management are essential and worth paying for.

Additionally, if your files are predominantly images, you might be better off with one of the best photo storage services.

The best cloud storage for your business will be the one that works with the rest of your business software.

Watch out for third-party integrations with Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Slack, and whatever other applications youre using.

Consider the API too. A public API makes it easy to develop your own integrations with just some minor tweaks.

Price matters, but value matters even more. Dont be tempted to get the cheapest option; consider things like functionality and scalability.

The best cloud storage for business is the one that can grow as you grow. Some providers offer cheaper plans for small businesses and you can scale up to additional functions and storage as you need them.

Consider your current and future needs, plus your current and future budget. This way, you can choose cloud storage that works for years to come.

Youll be putting important business information and sensitive client data on the cloud. Make sure the cloud provider knows how to protect it.

Secure cloud storage for business will offer:

End-to-end encryption is the top level of privacy that ensures not even the cloud provider staff can view your files.

If youre handling health-related information, ensure the provider is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For European companies (or companies with EU customers), make sure to also double-check for GDPR compliance.

File storage is one of the most affordable and versatile cloud solutions for business. Whether youre a small coffee shop, a mid-size company, or an enterprise, moving your documents to the cloud has multiple advantages.

Youll enjoy better accessibility and collaboration, as well as file safety and privacy.

And it doesnt have to be expensiveplans start as low as $5 per user per month.

Original post:
The Best Cloud Storage for Business | Tested & Ranked | 2022