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Coffee Break: Catherine Wendt, president of Syscon, Inc. – Daily Herald

Q: Describe your company.

A: We are dedicated to implementing and supporting technology solutions, hardware, software and workflow efficiencies for the specialty subcontractor industry including IT services, accounting and project management software, Cloud hosting services, and custom software integrations for streamlined workflow.

Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?

A: Yes, we are actively hiring in each of our departments. We will also continue our investment in developing our Azure cloud hosting services, our automation tools for a consistent and streamlined delivery to our clients, and rolling out appropriate Microsoft 365 tools. We will also continue our focus of client education as these products and services continue to develop.

Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?

A: This year's challenges will be fully decommissioning our 10-year-old Classic hosting infrastructure, moving our clients to our Azure hosting platform. Given Microsoft's considerable R&D and the acceleration of remote needs, along with the seamless integrations with the Microsoft 365 suite, this solution is ready at the right time for the business community. Although it's a change for our clients, it's where they need to be to meet the growing demand for remote workforce needs while keeping things safe, secure, and backed up.

We are also rolling out our automation platform to streamline and bulletproof our service deliveries for day-to-day client requests. This has been a phased multiyear R&D project that has become an outgrowth of our successful cloud app and our selected cloud stack (the tools we use to deliver cloud-specific software). Automating standard tasks allows us to have consistent results while freeing up our technicians and programmers for more project-related work on behalf of our clients.

Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?

A: Decommissioning on premise and data-center servers, moving critical server-specific software to the Azure environment, moving Shared server folders to SharePoint and OneDrive, and local Active Directory to Azure. Sounds like a mouthful, but basically, the roles and activities that are handled by a local server are moving to cloud-based hosting and platforms rather than replacing aged hardware.

Another trend is the move from regular anti-virus software to Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), the next generation of protection. Along with this security change, the additional of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). They're baseline security protections and now the insurance industry is requiring them in order to renew cyber security policies. Our clients will see more and more of these requirements written into contracts, as well.

Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie executive, what would it be?

A: Develop a habit of continuous learning. Find the best authors on leadership and read their books such as Jim Collins, John Maxwell, Nido Qubein, Chris Voss and others; attend industry conferences; sign up for Darren Hardy's daily tips to 'Be the Exception'; get out of the office and spend focused time with other executives to talk through their journeys such as through a C12 or Vistage group; be sure you're involved in dialogue with your competitors through Affinity groups and other industry-specific opportunities to gather together. Lastly, choose your closest leadership team members carefully -- those who share your vision and goals, but who bring different perspectives; you don't know everything.

Q: Do you have a business mantra?

A: Model the way; inspire a shared vision; encourage the heart; enable others to act; challenge the process. I didn't invent this, BTW. These originate with James Kouzes and Barry Posner as part of their research findings to discover what behaviors were common to leaders who make extraordinary things happen.

Q: From a business outlook, whom do you look up to?

A: I've never found any one company or one leader to emulate. By participating in a C12 Business Forum, the routine of reading and reviewing a business book each month, and joining in IT-specific conferences and accountability groups, I've been encouraged when seeing that our struggles are not unique to us, helping other companies work through difficulties, and having a platform to articulate my goals and logic to those who care but will tell me when I'm off course.

Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?

A: We started out as a music company. Back in the mid-'80s, there was a trend to use electronic music in a variety of venues including relaxation and even light classical. As instrumentalists ourselves, we felt pretty convicted to write and produce what became our Quiet Times Series featuring acoustical instruments with background environmental sounds. These had a growing audience, so we took on some computer-related projects to help fund the next releases. By the early '90s, the majority of our time was going toward the growing use of computers in specialty subcontractor offices starting with my father-in-law, a mason contractor, and his peers in the industry he loved. We were a trusted adviser that knew their language and could educate and roll out these changes. It didn't take long for the music to become the hobby. We loved our clients' industry and we truly enjoyed the new technology available to these businesses.

Q: Was there a moment in your career that didn't go as you had planned? What lesson did you learn from it?

A: When I moved from handling all our company's bookkeeping to a purely consulting role for several years, there were several lessons. First of all, hiring bookkeeping help does not mean you step away from overseeing the books. This is your company, your income, your future, your family and your employees at stake here. No one will take care of the company with the same level of ownership. Hire the right people, delegate the tasks, but maintain oversight.

The second lesson was how scared I was to embark on this new type of client engagement. What if I made a mistake? What if I didn't know the answer? We drove to client sites (remote access was not anything like it is now) and we had limited access to our company resources when we were at a client's office. I learned that my experience was more broad than I thought, and by continuing to dive in, I could have close relationships with our clients and build on each and every encounter, making me even more prepared for the next adventure.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Music. Whether it's directing a choir, directing a choir and orchestra, singing with an ensemble, or singing with an orchestra, I can't think of any better way to spend free time. Since my husband also has a musician background, there are many opportunities for us to do this together, or to support each other's performances.

Q: What book is on your nightstand?

A: Beyond Entrepreneurial 2.0 by Jim Collins. I was able to attend a remote seminar he gave through WOBI and he mentioned this updated release. I've enjoyed and shared several of his books over the years with our clients through our newsletters and brought them into our quarterly Traction meetings with our leadership team.

Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: I have the opportunity to be involved with many projects at the same time, often covering different disciplines. We may be implementing a construction-specific accounting and project management program, moving a client's server and data to our cloud offerings, and closing a month or quarter for a client in a controller capacity. Each of these carries significant responsibility and our clients are counting on us to navigate them through the journey. Add to that the bad actors who focus on threatening our clients' computer-related systems, and some nights are pretty difficult.

Q: If you were not doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?

A: I'd probably be teaching in some capacity. Many years ago, I somehow got the notion that succeeding in the leadership roles I found myself in meant I shouldn't be teaching. I can't help myself -- I'm constantly in situations where I'm compelled or called on to share what I know, make it relevant, present concepts and information in various formats so others can step into new solutions and opportunities. I've learned to embrace teaching in my music hobby and as I continue to be a student of our industry and other leaders.

Q: What was your first paying job?

A: Babysitting. As I'm the oldest of 11, I had a lot of experience with children and I was very responsible, so it was natural that I was invited to babysit. Handling the meal time, bath time and bed time was pretty routine for me given my home life. The hardest part was the late nights in a quiet house and staying awake until the parents got home.

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Coffee Break: Catherine Wendt, president of Syscon, Inc. - Daily Herald

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iKO Media Group is proud to announce its newly-established partnership with STN USA – English – USA – English – PR Newswire

PFAFFIKON, Switzerland, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iKOMG and STN anounce their strategic partnership. This partnership will surely provide added value to the customers of both companies, allowing the use of both companies' services and abilities to bring together the optimal solution for the channel or content owners.

STN is a well-established, forward-thinking global teleport facility, firmly placed at the cutting edge of satellite, broadcast, connectivity, and co-location services. Based in Slovenia, the heart of Europe, provides a strategic location that presents a wide visible arc of 120 degrees, allowing easy access to all major satellites orbital positions.

STN provides global telecommunication services in C-, Ku-, DVB-s and Ka-band for all prime satellites to all continents around the world.

High level security and a well-connected facility allows STN to provide a comprehensive range of equipment hosting services for servers, TT&C, antenna with available ground space for larger scale projects.

With one of the world's most highly developed internet infrastructures, the company has virtually unlimited capacities with complete double or triple redundancy/diversity options.

iKO Media Group AG is a Swiss entity with a state-of-the-art teleport in Rome, Italy, connected globally and providing tailor-made solutions focused on customer needs through dedicated service, expert knowledge, and high professionalism.

Recent company growth led to the broadcasting of almost 400 TV channels using 450 Mbps on satellites and 700 Mbps of IP for contribution delivery. iKOMG provides a full spectrum of services to broadcasters and content owners, such as automated, high-capacity playout management services, cloud services, EPG creation, disaster recovery solutions, monitoring feed, OTT platforms, and IP delivery. iKOMG differs from other service providers thanks to a holistic approach and a keen ability to offer the best-suited technology-based solutions for their customers.

To support growing demand, iKOMG and STN have established a strategic partnership focused on teleport and ground services, sports and event services, and OTT platforms. As one of the biggest and most experienced providers in Europe, STN is an excellent partner to help iKOMG provide faster, more reliable, and higher-quality services to its customers.

"We've been talking with STN for a few months but finalized the dynamic partnership a few weeks ago. Our agreement has no defined timeline as we see the relationship delivering tremendous benefits for iKOMG, STN, and the combined customer base for years and years to come. We are excited to start building and developing alongside the great team at STN" said iKO Media Group's Chairman, David Treadway.

"As our collaboration discussions progressed over the recent months it became quickly and mutually apparent to both companies of the great advantages to client services this robust combination could provide. This new partnership will give way to expansion and progress in every area of business. The expertise, industry experience and professionalism of both STN and iKOMG will bring a broader spectrum of enhanced service solutions to all clients." Commented Mitja Lovsin, General Manager, STN.

About iKOMGiKO Media Group is a boutique end-to-end media service partner for broadcasters and content owners. iKOMG provides tailor-made solutions to a wide range of global and local networks. A full spectrum of services is available, including satellite broadcasting, automated, high-capacity playout management, Cloud services, EPG creation, disaster recovery solutions, channel monitoring feed, OTT platforms, fiber and IP delivery, and more.

iKOMG believes in being forward-thinking, agile and holistic. This approach allows iKOMG to deliver effective solutions customized to specific budgets and requirements without compromising on the quality of service. iKOMG is committed to operating its business to create value for all stakeholders. The company's sustainability strategy focuses on social, environmental, and economic responsibility.

http://www.ikomg.com

About STNSTN is a leading innovative, forward-thinking global teleport facility. With Satellite, fiber, and IP connections offering clients end-to-end, managed service communication solutions worldwide, all supported by a 24/7 Network Operations Center.

With an extensive reach and service flexibility the company assists clients to drive new revenue streams and ensure quality, secure and reliable communications. STN provides vast array of solutions, including Satellite, Data, Channel distribution, Playout, Co-Location and more.

Whether the need is to go global or reach the individual regions of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, STN will provide cost effective services fine-tuned to specific requirements. The company seamlessly accommodates increasing service demands and turnaround for time-dependent projects.

http://WWW.STN.EU

Press contact:Ayellet Bar[emailprotected]

SOURCE iKO Media Group

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Best Cloud Storage in 2022: Top 5 Most Secure Cloud Options

Cloud storage is essential to keep your files secure and access them from anywhere. Popular providers like Google Drive, iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox serve their purpose well but theyre not the most secure. These services often scan your files for marketing purposes.

To ensure your privacy, its wise to go for a secure cloud storage provider that uses zero-knowledge encryption and other security measures. Our top choices for the most secure and efficient cloud storage services are:

You can get Backblaze free for one year when you sign up for ExpressVPN. This gives you robust all-around protection, from your online browsing to your file storage.

Read all the details about the best cloud storage services in our full article below.

As we become increasingly reliant on technology, the need for secure cloud data storage becomes more apparent.

You may already be familiar with popular and free online storage providers, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and more. However, using these options come with security risks, as your data can be scanned by cloud providers for marketing purposes.

In this article, we look at the best and most secure cloud storage options on the market, and then we detail why settling for free storage isnt good enough. Keep reading to find out more.

A cloud storage service offers you a secure virtual space to keep your files. It can be accessed via your browser, a computer program, or a smartphone app.

A cloud storages purpose is to keep your files safe while making sure you can access them from anywhere, using any device. Using a cloud storage service can free up space on your computer or phonebecause now you dont need to store everything locally.

For a summary of the best secure cloud storage providers, see the table below.

MEGA is one of the best free cloud storage providers available. It offers you a generous 20 GB of free storage and uses zero-knowledge encryption so that nobody can get a hold of your data.

Moreover, all of its security features are available for free, so you only have to pay extra if you need more storage.

All your data is encrypted with a key derived from your password, meaning MEGA does not generate your encryption key and therefore doesnt have access to it.

MEGA lets you set up a recovery key that you can use to regain access to your data in case you ever do lose your password. Furthermore, if your device is ever infected by ransomware, you can use MEGAs file versioning and recovery features to revert your data to before the infection.

You can also create password-protected links when sharing files with others. Password-protected files can be downloaded without needing to sign up for a MEGA account. There are also some handy collaboration features that would be especially useful for businesses, such as private team messaging and secure video conferencing.

Although MEGA has a pretty generous free cloud storage plan, it has certain limits, such as a monthly file transfers quota. Also, the paid plans are pretty pricey when compared to some alternatives that are discussed below.

Another possible cause for concern is that a large portion of MEGAs stock is owned by individuals under with connections to the Chinese government, which is notorious for its invasive privacy policies. This may make some users uneasy, but theoretically, it shouldnt be a problem because of the end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption at play. The security measures ensure that nobody can gain access to your sensitive information.

To sum up: MEGA offers user-controlled encryption and does not directly access your data. Compare that to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, where your files get scanned for information that could be of use to marketers. You can read more about this in our article about what Google knows about you.

If you want more details about MEGA, click the button below to go to its website.

iDrive offers minimal free storage but is one of the cheapest security-focused cloud storage services available.

This service uses 256-bit AES encryption to transfer files and secures them with a user-defined key that isnt stored anywhere on the services servers. So, nobody can access your data without your key. Its an excellent online backup and sharing solution for individuals, small businesses, and enterprises.

iDrive features continuous file syncing, even those on network drives. Files deleted from your computer dont automatically get deleted from the server, so theres no chance of losing something important.

In fact, iDrive keeps up to 30 previous versions of all files added to your account. iDrive also offers iDrive Express, a service that sends you a physical drive containing all your data in case you lose it.

Whether you use personal or business plans, iDrive has easy-to-use apps and a straightforward web interface. It lets you share files by email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Moreover, there are several specialized features for businesses, such as the iDrive Thin Client application that lets IT admins backup, restore, and manage all their connected devices via a centralized dashboard.

Lastly, iDrive is one of the best cloud storage for photos, with a facial recognition feature similar to that of Google Photos and other popular services. This helps you automatically organize your memories and sync them across all your linked devices.

You can also opt for the separate iDrive Photos service that lets you back up all the photos and videos from your iOS or Android device in original quality.

iDrive subscriptions start at just $0.99 for unlimited storage for the first year, with a 7-day free trial. Pricing for the second year onwards is under $10, which is cheaper than both iCloud and Google Photos.

For more details and to sign up, visit the iDrive website by clicking the button below:

It can be difficult to keep up with different subscription payments monthly or annually. pCloud eases this problem by offering a lifetime cloud storage plan for one upfront fee. This works out affordable in the long term and offers great value for money.

pCloud has options for individuals, families, and businesses. All plans boast advanced collaboration and file-sharing features for convenience. Moreover, you can back up files from third-party platforms, including Dropbox, Facebook, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

pCloud supports all file formats and has built-in media players for video and audio. Plus, there are ample features for file sharing, syncing, and accessing across multiple devices, file versioning, and recovery.

pCloud uses AES 256-bit encryption and the TLS/SSL protocol during transfers to protect data. Once files reach a data center, five copies are made and distributed to at least three servers to maximize security.It also uses two-factor authentication to protect your account if someone steals your credentials.

You can get more details about pCloud by visiting their website. Just click the button below.

Sync.com is a cloud storage service thats zero-knowledge compliant and an excellent option for both personal and business use.

Sync.com is a cloud storage service thats zero-knowledge compliant and an excellent option for both personal and business use.

The service uses AES-256-bit encryption, TLS protocol to protect files in transit, and two-factor authentication to ward off hacking. Its apps are easy to use, and you can send files of any size to anyone, even those without a Sync account.

Additionally, features like file requests, expiry dates, password protection, notifications, and permissions ensure that you can always control who views your files.

Sync.com is a particularly good cloud storage option for businesses and teams thanks to its affordable pricing, high security, and wide range of features. For instance, each user on a team gets 1TB of space for only $5 each per month. If you need extra storage, the Advanced plan for 10TB per user is just $15 per month.

At the same time, you can benefit from excellent versioning features. Businesses can restore file versions dating back a year, which can prove incredibly nifty for data recovery. Furthermore, the Account Rewind feature helps you restore your full account from, say, a ransomware attack.

Sync.com also includes full support for Microsoft Office formats including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Visio, as well as Adobe PDF, PSD, virtually all photo formats, and more. So, its perfect for most types of businesses globally.

Lastly, admin tools make it easy to manage users and keep your cloud storage functioning effectively. Check out Sync.com by clicking the button below.

Theres a subtle difference between cloud storage and online backups, even though the terms can be used interchangeably. Mainly, cloud storage is for files you are consistently using, editing, and sharing. It lets you easily sync your files across devices and share them with others.

Backups are more for making a copy of your files and folders to keep secure in the long term and recover in case of data loss. Backups are not necessarily something you access regularly, and many backup services often compress the data into readable files until you need to retrieve them.

One of the best cloud services for backups is Backblaze. Its perfect for both personal and business backup needs but be warned that there are no handy file syncing or collaboration features. It stands out by easing the process of backing up your files.

All youve got to do is install the app, and it will continuously back up all important data on your device with no additional intervention on your part. You can access your files through the web or the Backblaze mobile apps for iOS and Android. So, no matter where you are, your files will always be with you.

Further, your data is secured with AES 128-bit encryption both at rest and in transit. Although 256-bit would have been ideal, even 128-bit is adequate. If you want to learn more about the difference, check out our guide to encryption.

You can also set a private key to lock your files. But you will need to share this with Backblaze for file recovery, so it doesnt qualify as zero-knowledge encryption. During recovery, you can either download files from the web or have Backblaze ship them to you on a flash or external drive.

Note that, while Backblaze offers unlimited storage at an unbeatable price, you can only backup one computer per account.

The great news is that you can currently get Backblaze free for one year when you sign up for our favorite VPN service, ExpressVPN.

In addition to all the benefits of an ExpressVPN subscription, such as online privacy and anonymity, you can now also get a free year of Backblaze and enjoy secure backups for peace of mind.

Cloud storage is known by many names, such as online storage, cloud backup, file storage, file hosting, and online drives. All of these terms refer to storing files such as documents, photos, and videos on the cloud.

The cloud is basically a server that you can access remotely online. That means you can access it from anywhere on almost any device via the internet. Cloud storage services can be free or paid and have different cloud storage tools for varying business and personal needs.

Some of the benefits of using cloud storage are that it allows you to:

Youve probably already used some of the most popular cloud storage services, like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, iCloud, and Dropbox.

Of these, the first three are owned by Big Tech companies (Google, Microsoft, and Apple, respectively), while Dropbox was started by two MIT students and grew to be one of the most valuable startups in the world.

All of these file-sharing services make it easy to store, manage, and edit your files. They have incredibly user-friendly apps across all platforms such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Moreover, they offer great integrations with other apps, adding to their convenience and functionality. They are also widely used as some of the best free cloud storage options.

However, what you might not know is that these well-known cloud services come with some security risks. Although they all use the highest encryption standards to store your data securely, thats not enough to ensure complete security and privacy.

For instance, all the mainstream cloud storage services regularly scan your data to find information that may be useful for marketing products and services to you. They also expose your data to vulnerabilities during the transmission process.

Furthermore, these popular services lack zero-knowledge encryption. Zero-knowledge means that nobody except you can access your data, not even the cloud storage service provider. This is usually achieved by making you set a private key thats needed to decrypt your data.

Security is essential when choosing the best cloud storage but so are program features and the specific functionality you need for your purposes. After all, its a service you will be using long-term, so its best to do your research beforehand.

Never believe any offers of free unlimited cloud storage. Cloud services require a lot of money for upkeep, so if a website is hosting your data for free, thats a sign they may be making money off of you another way (such as selling your data to other companies).

In a nutshell, consider the following points when deciding which provider to go with:

Is the storage offer sufficient to store all your files now and in the future? Can you upgrade later on if you need to? How much free storage is available?

For instance, on our list above, pCloud offers the best value with their lifetime plans, which cost more upfront but work out cheaper overall. However, theres no way to upgrade if you want more storage than the maximum of 2 TB. So, if you expect that youll need more space down the line, you could go for something like iDrive, which offers up to 5 TB.

Does the cloud provider have apps for the platforms you use, whether its Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS? Is there an efficient web interface? Is the service available worldwide?

All of the cloud storage services weve mentioned above have an efficient desktop app and mobile app with availability in most countries. Moreover, they are also among the best free cloud storage providers.

Does the service use server-side and client-side encryption? Does it operate on zero-knowledge principles, or does the cloud storage provider have access to your private key? What are the privacy policies of the provider? Has it experienced data breaches in the past?

Does the cloud service let you easily collaborate with others when you need to? Can you share files and set permissions to control access? Is it easy to use?

Most of the services we picked are feature-rich and suitable for both personal and business use.

Does the cloud storage solution automatically sync and backup files on your computer? Or does it need regular intervention from you? What happens if you lose your data? Does it have a versioning system that can help you roll back to earlier files?

These factors can be life-saving in case your device gets affected by threats like viruses or ransomware that corrupt your data.

To sum up, whether you go for free storage or paid storage, its essential to invest in secure cloud storage that protects your privacy while keeping your files safe.

The great news is that all of our top options also offer some of the best free cloud storage options, which you can first try out to see if it works well for you. You can test out the file-sharing features, ease of use, and customer service before deciding which paid plan to opt for.

Its best to steer clear of the mainstream providers such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive because even though they may be cheaper, they use your data for marketing purposes and expose your files to vulnerabilities during the file transfer process.

Remember: the best cloud storage that money can buy is the one that keeps your files safe and secure. Even if youre using AWS S3, its important to learn how to secure and protect your S3 buckets.

Best Cloud Storage Services: Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about cloud storage services? Check out our FAQ below. Just click a question to see the answer.

A cloud storage service offers you a secure virtual space to store your files. It can be accessed from anywhere on the web or through a desktop or mobile app.

There are several things to consider when choosing a cloud storage service such as security, the volume of storage, and pricing. One of the options we recommend is pCloud, which has a lifetime plan you can pay for with a lumpsum one-time fee. Other options include MEGA, iDrive, and Sync.com.

iDrive offers a secure and affordable way to store your photos. The iDrive Photos servicelets you back up all the photos and videos from your iOS or Android device in original quality. It starts at just $0.99 for unlimited storage for the first year, with a 7-day free trial. Pricing for the second year onwards is under $10, which is cheaper than both iCloud and Google Photos.

Most cloud storage providers offer special plans for businesses. An excellent option is Sync.com. Each user on a team gets 1 TB of space for only $5 each per month.

At the same time, it offers advanced security, like AES-256-bit encryption, the secure TLS protocol to protect files in transit, and two-factor authentication. Its zero-knowledge compliant so that nobody, including Sync.com, can access your data.

Mainstream cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive promise safety but do not actually ensure it. This is because they expose your files to vulnerabilities during transfer and routinely scan your files for marketing purposes.

But safe cloud storage services do exist. These do not access your data at all and secure it with the safest encryption and protocols. Good examples are MEGA, iDrive, pCloud, and Sync.com.

Cloud storage and online backup are similar, but each has distinct functions.

Cloud storage is primarily for keeping files that you access routinely and share with others.

Backup, on the other hand, is about long-term storage for the purpose of recovery in case of data loss. Backup services dont usually have collaborative or file-sharing features. A great cloud backup provider is Backblaze that you can try for free for a year with an ExpressVPN subscription.

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Cloud Security: How Secure is Cloud Data? | Norton

Saving documents, photos, videos and reports on a computers hard drive? Thats becoming almost quaint. Today, people are more frequently saving their files in the cloud, storage space not located in their computers or devices but on servers hosted by third-party providers.

The positives of storing data and files in the cloud are many: You wont clutter your computer. If your laptop, tablet or smart phone crashes, youll still have access to your files. And it will take you a long time to ever use up all the space offered by most cloud providers.

But you might have concerns about cloud computing, including data protection, security threats, and potential data loss. You might worry that all those videos, photos, and reports might be vulnerable to data breach and hackers who could break into your cloud providers servers.

Or maybe you worry that your providers servers will crash, causing all those photos of your summer vacations or videos of your childrens elementary school graduation to disappear.

Heres some reassurance, though: Information stored in the cloud is likely to be more secure than are files, images and videos stored on your own devices. Why? Cloud companies often rely on far more robust cybersecurity measures to protect your sensitive data.

What is the cloud? You've probably used it more than you think. Ever write an essay that you saved in Google Docs? Then you've used the cloud. Ever watch a movie on Netflix, stored images in Dropbox, or sent email messages through Yahoo Mail? Those are all cloud services.

At its most basic, the cloud refers to any type of software or service that isn't located on your personal computer or devices but instead runs on the internet. The files, images and videos that you save on cloud services are stored on the servers of third parties, companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft*.

You can then get at these files whenever you are using a device connected to the internet. If you've saved photos from your most recent trip to the beach, you don't have to wait until you're at your laptop computer to access them. You can find them by logging onto the internet from any computer or device anywhere.

Popular cloud service providers include Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure, to name a few. Everything from Hulu and Dropbox to Gmail and Office 365 is hosted in the cloud, not on your personal computer or phone*.

Its natural to wonder if your data is safe when its stored in the cloud infrastructure. After all, your files, photos and videos are being stored on servers that are not under your control. You might wonder how vulnerable these servers are to cyberthieves.

Here's the truth, though: The data that you save with cloud service providers may likely be safer than the information you've stored in your computer's hard drive. Remember, hackers can use malware and phishing emails to get the information stored on your own devices. They might freeze your computer, demanding a ransom before they'll release the files and data they've frozen.

The security measures undertaken by larger companies providing cloud services are likely to be more robust and powerful than what you have protecting your home computer and devices.

What makes cloud storage so safe? First, servers are usually located in warehouses that most workers dont have access to. Secondly, the files stored on cloud servers are encrypted. This means that they are scrambled, which makes it far harder for cybercriminals to access.

Here is a look at some of the security measures that cloud providers frequently use to protect your data.

How often do you ignore those notifications to update your operating system, browser or email service? Thats a no-no in the world of computer security. Those updates often contain tools designed to protect your devices from the latest viruses or malware.

When you store your data in the cloud, though, the companies overseeing the servers should be consistently updating their security measures. You wont have to worry about forgetting to run an update. Your cloud service provider will regularly update its security measures.

Cloud providers are also turning to artificial intelligence, or AI, to help protect your data. This is important: It's not easy to find experienced security professionals to oversee data. Cloud providers, though, can instead turn to AI to tackle at least the first level of security analysis. These programs rely on built-in algorithms to seek out and identify possible vulnerabilities in security measures.

Cloud providers rely on firewalls, too, to help protect your files. As the name suggests, this technology acts a bit like a wall keeping your data safe.

Firewalls, which can be hardware- or software-based, apply rules to all of the traffic coming into a network. These rules are designed to filter out suspicious traffic and to keep your data behind the wall. This makes it more difficult for hackers to slip malware or viruses past the security measures used by your cloud service provider.

But what about hardware failures or power outages? Will you be able to access your data if your cloud provider suffers a natural disaster or large-scale outage?

Yes, because most of the biggest cloud providers practice redundancy. This means that they copy your data several times and store them on many different data centers. This way, if one server goes down, you can access your files from a back-up server.

Your cloud provider should also hire outside security companies to test their servers and software regularly to make sure they are safe from hackers, cybercriminals and the latest malware and viruses. This outside testing boosts the odds that your cloud provider will have the defenses needed to keep your files away from hackers.

Are you already storing your files in the cloud? If so, you can take certain steps to help enhance the security of that data.

First, make sure you send your files to a cloud services provider that encrypts your data. You want to make it as difficult as possible for hackers to get at your information. Storing your images and files with a provider that relies on encryption will give hackers pause. Its easier for them to steal data that hasnt been scrambled.

Make sure you only work with cloud providers that back up your data. You dont want all your information stored on just one server. If that server goes offline, you wont be able to access your data. You might also consider backing up your most sensitive information in your own external hard drives even if you are saving it in the cloud. This will provide you with an extra layer of protection should something happen with your cloud provider.

You can make life more difficult for hackers by enabling two-factor authentication. As the name suggests, two-factor authentication requires you to provide two pieces of information when logging onto a site.

Say you are logging onto your bank's online site. First, you provide your username and password, as usual. Then you wait for your bank to send a code to your email address or phone. You then enter this code online to access your accounts. This extra step makes it more difficult for hackers to get at your emails, personal information or financial information.

* The inclusion of websites, links, and/or providers does not imply endorsement or support of any companies, materials, products and/or providers listed herein.

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Object Storage Benefits for Backups – cloud.netapp.com

Object storage is a storage construct where data is not structured as files within folders, but rather as objects in a central storage solution. Its used to implement scalable and reliable storage solutions on-prem or in the cloud without any of the inherent constraints of traditional storage systems.

Aside from its use in applications, one of the most essential applications for object storage is in backup solutions as a destination for backup data storage. In this blog, we will cover object storage benefits and discuss the advantages of using NetApp Cloud Backup in order to create a reliable copy of your data.

The topics youll find here include:

Backup data was typically stored on backup tapes in traditional data center deployments. The Linear Tape-Open (LTO) drive has been the most prevalent standard for tape-based backup, with tapes often shipped offsite for long-term retention. However, the challenge with tape-based backup was that it required specialized tape drives for data retrieval and had the added overhead of maintaining the hardware and upgrading it every few years. Additionally, considering the exponential rate of data growth in organizations, tapes simply werent a scalable solution.

The next phase of backup media was disk drives. Though disks were more costly than tapes, they had several advantages that fuelled their popularity as backup storage. The main advantage of disks was the ease at which data could be restored and accessed without any specialized devices or software. They were also less susceptible to physical damage compared to magnetic tapes.

With increased data churn, especially in the range of petabytes, disks could also no longer be relied on as a viable long-term solution. Though discs could still be utilized for short-term retention and recovery, long-term backup data retention required a scalable, dependable, and less expensive option, which object storage provides.

The benefits of object storage have allowed it to become increasingly popular as the preferred destinationfor backup data. It has multiple advantages as a storage solution: cheaper storage rates, long-term retention, and hassle-free maintenance, to name a few. An object storage solution can either be cloud based or it can be a trusted on-prem object storage solution, such as NetApp StorageGRID. Lets take a look at some object storage benefits as a solution for backups.

Object storage uses a flat-file structure and therefore enables quicker data retrieval during restores. Theres no additional time required to mount and configure backup media for data retrieval. The process is smooth and instantaneous.

Object storage provides tiering capabilities where infrequently used data can be automatically moved to object storage and production data can be stored in costlier high performance storage tiers. In this scenario, backup and archival data would only be accessed during the event of data loss or an audit. Data tiering also helps businesses meet regulatory and compliance requirements while optimizing their storage utilization as per performance requirements.

Data is stored in a different format in object storage when compared to block storage devices. This offers an additional layer of security for backup data in object storage as it is stored in a different hardware and software platform in a different format, one that may not be affected by an initial outage or attack vector.

Object storage also provides versioning and object lock that makes the data tamper proof. If the primary data copy is compromised due to malware attacks or hardware/software defects, the data in object storage can still be used for quick recovery.

While using object storage for backup, the data can either be stored on-premises or in the cloud. Depending on your organizations architecture, a combination of an on-prem object storage solution like StoragGrid can be used along with object storage from any of the hyperscalers. This provides much needed flexibility, especially when aggregating backup data for short-term and long-term retention

When adopting cloud-based object storage for backup, customers have the following benefits.

The clouds pay-as-you-go model helps to convert CAPEX to OPEX. All of the major cloud storage services offer less expensive object-based cold and archive tiers that can be used for long-term retention of backup data at affordable rates.

All the major cloud service providers offer object storage as a managed service with 11 nines of durability and assured SLAs. The data is automatically stored in different zones and regions to protect from failures. The high availability and redundancy needs of backup storage are taken care of by the cloud platform with no additional overhead to the user.

Object storage in the cloud has data and access plane security controls built-in that can be configured by customers to protect backup data. All cloud platforms provide encryption at rest capabilities using a service provider manager or customer-managed keys to protect the data. Data in transit is also protected through HTTPS/TLS encrypted connections.

Object storage serves as the perfect destination for the offsite storage of data. This is especially helpful to organizations that follow the 3-2-1 backup strategy and need a copy of their data stored offsite. Compared to traditional methods of shipping tapes to offsite locations, transferring data to cloud object storage is hassle-free over a secure connection.

As an organization's data estate grows so does the backup data size. Object storage in the cloud helps meet this growing demand without the upfront investment in costly storage devices. It also eliminates the need for capacity planning as cloud storage services from all major platforms can scale up to petabytes of capacity on demand.

The pay-as-you-go model of object storage in the cloud helps to convert Capex to Opex. All cloud storage services have cheaper cold and archive tiers that can be used for long-term retention of backup data at affordable rates. The same process using conventional backupdevices could involve additional costs associated with device maintenance and upgrades.

NetApp Cloud Backupprovides reliable backup and restore services for data stored in NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAPas well as on-premises ONTAP clusters. With a single-pane management view provided by Cloud Managerin the SaaS model, it offers a simple solution for automated backup of data from ONTAP clusters to object storage as shown in the reference architecture below:

There are a number of advantages to using NetApp Cloud Backup to harness the object storage advantages, irrespective of whether its stored on-prem or in the cloud.

NetApp Cloud Backup uses an incremental forever block-level backup approach to efficiently backup and restore data. The data is directly stored on object storage with minimal operational overhead.

Due to the incremental-forever nature of backup, the storage footprint required for backup data is minimal. Cloud object storage is cost-effectiveby nature, thereby lowering overall backup storage costs.

NetApp Cloud Backup automatically stores data in cloud object storage away from the source ONTAP cluster. This helps organizations with a 3-2-1 backup strategy to use object storage as their offsite storage location. In the event of data loss or corruption in the ONTAP cluster, backup copies arent impacted and point-in-time recovery of data is possible from the backup copies in object storage.

The data from ONTAP is backed up directlyto the object storage. There is no middleman technology or staging operations involved in the process. This helps improve the efficiency and security of the backup.

NetApp Cloud Backup provides a comprehensive backup solution that backs up the target files including open files, meta-data, and ACL. The granular restore feature allows you to restore entire volumes or specific files depending on your needs.

NetApp Cloud Backup uses NetApp SnapShottechnologyto create immutable backup copies that are stored in object storage. The backup copies are read-only and cant be altered by malicious malware. In the event of a malware attack, the backup copies will remain safe in cloud storage and can be used for a point-in-time restore of clean data.

The innate resiliency features of object storage enable backup data managed by NetApp Cloud Backup to be robust. As previously stated, object storage is designed for data durability of 99.999999999 percent (11 nines).

NetApp Cloud Backup uses AES-256-bit encryption to encrypt data at rest. When backup data is sent from ONTAP to cloud storage, TLS 1.2 HTTPS connections are used to encrypt the data in transit. The encryption key can be controlled by customers using their own key management solutions.

For organizations with high security demands or that prefer to keep their data and control plane on-premalso known as dark site deploymentCloud Backup offersthe option to back up data from a primary ONTAP to object storage stored on-prem with StorageGRID with zero internet connectivity needed.

For dark site deployment, not only is the data never leaves the customer's environment, and the control panel is disconnected from the internet and operated locally on premises. This requires maintaining the infrastructure on your own, but the benefits of object storage still come into play. In a dark site deployment the data plane and control plane exits on premises as shown below.

If you do not have a requirement for a fully dark site deployment, but still need the data to be on-premises you can take backup from ONTAP to StorageGRID using Cloud Backup . In this case data will still be on-premises but Cloud Backup can be deployed in the cloud. In this way, Cloud Backup and StorageGRID provide you the required flexibility to design the backup infrastructure as per your organizations compliance requirements.

Backup data is stored in object storage in a customers cloud environment. NetApp doesnt have access to the data, which is kept secure and handled by the customer. By default, public access to the object storage is turned off. Customers can further tie down the access to the object storage to users based on principles of least privilege using role-based access control methods from the cloud provider..

Object storage as an independent copy of your data in the cloud offers multiple benefits compared to its alternatives: reliability, scalability, security, and control, to name a few. Its quickly displacing traditional backup storage solutions by providing an air-gapped cloud storage option.

NetApp Cloud Backup is a secure and efficient backup solution that enables you to take advantage of the power of cloud object storage to meet your backup requirements. Watch the NetApp Cloud Backup group demoor sign up for a free trialto learn more.

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Three insights you might have missed from the ‘Secure Storage Hot Takes’ event – SiliconANGLE News

Its easy to forget that there are more options for cloud storage than AWS, GCP and Azure. The top three cloud providers dominate the market, with AWS 33% and Azures 21% adding up to more than half of the Q4 2021 global market share. However, history has proven that even the biggest brands need to keep an eye open for innovative competition.

Among the cluster of companies aiming their slingshots at the Goliath clouds is self-proclaimed hot cloud storage provider Wasabi Inc. During the recent Secure Storage Hot Takes event, cloud storage experts from Wasabi and The Hotchkiss School joined theCUBEs industry analystDave Vellante to discuss modern storage solutions and give theCUBEs community insights into why Wasabis hot storage solution has the hyperscalers looking over their shoulders.

In case you missed the Secure Storage Hot Takes event, here are theCUBEs top three takeaways from the event:

The pressure is on every organization to adopt cloud. But choosing a cloud provider can be a fraught process of balancing security, speed and cost. And the truth is, not every organization can allocate budget for the high storage fees the big cloud providers charge.

The Hotchkiss School, a private grade 9 through 12 institute in Connecticut, fell into this category. And, like many others, the school needed more than just affordable cloud storage. It also needed storage that met data regulation and compliance statutes to protect student, staff and donor privacy, as well as host a small content delivery program. And with the rise in attacks on small, public sector organizations, it needed to be sure it was protected against ransomware.

It was a difficult task to fill on the schools information technology departments limited budget, and Director of IT DervicesKevin Warenda (pictured), wanted to make sure the school didnt lock in a contract with a cloud provider and then discover it came with high bills from hard-to-anticipate add-on fees.When he saw promotional material from Wasabi, he was impressed by the companys low barrier to entry.

I said, We can try this out in a very low-stakes way to see how this works for us, he told theCUBE during the Secure Storage Hot Takes event.

Like most Wasabi customers, Warenda didnt need the full 30 days of the free one-terabyte trial to know that hot cloud storage was a great option for The Hotchkiss School. Today, his department manages a secure and cost-effective hyperconverged infrastructure built on hot cloud storage and technology from Wasabi alliance partners Nutanix Inc. and HYCU Inc.

Watch Kevin Warenda discuss how Wasabi protects The Hotchkiss School against ransomware:

Wasabi co-founders David Friend and Jeff Flowers are serial entrepreneurs with a background in cloud storage solutions. Predicting the coming onslaught of data would make existing cloud storage architectures inefficient and slow, Flowers built a highly parallelized scalable architecture that can cope with huge amounts of data. This architecture, which forms the basis of Wasabis hot cloud storage, enables fast, cheap and secure object storage that removes the need for customers to choose between cheap and slow storage or expensive accessible performance. It is, according to Friend, a whole new generation of object storage.

Wasabis architecture was designed to be completely interoperable with AWS S3 storage standards and supports many AWS tools and services. This means customers already using S3 application programming interface-based applications can migrate their data to Wasabi with a simple redirect command. But dont make the mistake of thinking the company is built on top of AWS.

We are our own cloud storage service. We dont run on top of anybody else. Its our systems, its our software deployed globally, and we interoperate because we adhere to the S3 standard, Drew Schlussel, senior director of product marketing for Wasabi, told theCUBE.

The vision Friend and Flowers built Wasabi to serve is that of a world five to 10 years in the future where the majority of the worlds data lives in the cloud and data storage is considered a commodity much like electricity or bandwidth are today.

[Cloud storage] will comply with the local regulations. Itll be fast. Itll be local. And there will be no strategic advantage that I can think of for somebody to stand up and run their own storage, Friend stated.

Watch theCUBEs complete video interview with David Friendbelow:

Paying a ransomware demand can wipe out years of cheap cloud storage savings in seconds. So, many companies choose to go with a cloud provider known for security rather than risking losing data to a cyber thief. Wasabis interoperability with AWS S3 storage means that all the security S3 has, Wasabi has as well. This includes 11 nines durability a figure so close to 100% that the difference is negligible.

The term secure object lock matches AWS S3 terminology. Other vendors refer to the concept as immutability as in unable to be altered.

Immutability is the equivalent of the old WORM [write once read many] tapes but applied to cloud storage. It has become core to the backup strategies and disaster recovery strategies for most companies, Friend explained.

With Wasabi S3 Object Lock, a client selects a timeframe for which they want to make objects (files) immutable. This could be a week, or it could be years. For that period, that object is immutable, untouchable [and] cannot be altered in any way, shape or form. It is truly carved in stone, Schlussel stated.

This gives an impressive guarantee of security, as even if cybercriminals compromise a companys account and steal credentials, they still cannot gain access to locked data. Plus, Wasabi immutability is a feature accessed via API request and included in Wasabis flat monthly fee.

Other storage providers charge you for every API call. Every Get, every Put, every List, Schlussel said. Its your data, its your storage so why shouldnt you have unfettered access?

Watch theCUBEs complete video itnerview with Drew Schlussel below:

Watch the complete Secure Storage Hot Takes event video below:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the Secure Storage Hot Takes event. Neither Wasabi Technologies Inc., the sponsor of theCUBEs event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

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The global cloud storage market size is projected to grow from USD 78.6 billion in 2022 to USD 187.3 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate…

New York, July 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cloud Storage Market by Component, Application, Deployment Type, Organization Size, Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04141095/?utm_source=GNW

Solutions segment to hold a larger market size during the forecast periodCloud storage solutions, including block, file, and object, are offered differently for different applications.These solutions are instrumental in offering end-users reliable, cost-efficient, time-saving, and scalable cloud storage features.

Cloud storage vendors offer customized cloud storage solutions to meet property managers real-time and complex requirements.These solutions also assist corporates and property managers in aligning business strategies with the enterprises long-term growth strategies.

Cloud storage solutions enable optimal maintenance throughout the asset life cycle, leading to high asset utilization and cost optimization. By vertical, Telecommunications industry to register highest CAGR during the forecast period

The growing need for storing customer-related data, such as call records, transactional data, and user preferences, is expected to drive the growth of cloud storage in the telecommunications vertical.The telecommunication industry leverages powerful cloud-based storage platforms to improve data flexibility and scalability through multiple-line access via desktops and smart devices.

The cloud storage market enables centralized control and management for the telecommunication enterprises over the data stored. Hence, the telecommunication vertical is expected to adopt cloud storage solutions due to improved flexibility, better scalability, and reduced costs.

Europe to register higher growth rate during the forecast periodThe region is among the early adopters of cloud computing technology due to the strong technical expertise and better IT budget of enterprises in this region.Europe is expected to be the second-largest regional market in terms of revenue.

This region is the second most preferred location among cloud storage providers for expanding cloud infrastructure regions.The UK is the most developed country in Europe and is expected to contribute significantly to the cloud storage market.

Cloud storage solutions and services have been widely adopted by European enterprises, as they provide improved flexibility, increased productivity, provide better control, and reduced involved physical infrastructure costs.Countries considered for market analysis include the UK, France, and Germany, which are expected to contribute significantly to the European cloud storage market.

Europe has strict rules and regulations for data privacy and security, owing to which many cloud storage providers have improved their infrastructure to address the data localization needs of companies in the region. By Company Type: Tier 1 32%, Tier 2 49%, and Tier 3 19% By Designation: C-level executives 33%, Director Level 22%, and Others 45% By Region: North America 40%, Europe 20%, APAC 35%, Rest of World (RoW) 5%Major vendors offering cloud storage solutions are AWS (US), Google (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Alibaba Cloud (China), Huawei (China), Oracle (US), Rackspace Technology (US), HPE (US), Dell Technologies (US), Dropbox (US), Box (US), Tencent Cloud (China), Fujitsu (Japan), VMware (US), NetApp (US), Hitachi Vantara (US), Scality (US), and Citrix (US).

Research CoverageThe market study covers the cloud storage market size across segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of the market across segments by component, application, organization size, deployment type, vertical, and region.

The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key market players, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Key Benefits of Buying the ReportThe report will help the market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall cloud storage market and its subsegments.The report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and to plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report will also help stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04141095/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Score a $50 gift card with Office 365 family sub that comes with 1TB of cloud storage at $93 – 9to5Toys

Through tomorrow, as part of itsPrime Day Deals,Amazon is offering a digital subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Family with a bundled $50 Amazon gift card for $92.95 shipped. While the Office subscription will be digitally delivered, the gift card will be physically mailed. For comparison, youd normally spend $93 to get just Office 365, let alone the included $50 gift card, making this one of the best deals weve seen to date for the productivity suite. Youll get access to all of Microsoft Office for up to six people including 1TB per person of OneDrive cloud storage. Youll be able to use Microsofts software on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, and Android with ease. Do keep in mind that this subscription will auto-renew at the then-current price next year unless you cancel it after subscribing. Head below for more.

If you dont need access to Office for six people, then consider picking up a1-year Office 365 personal subscription for$59at Amazon. This is also a digital download and can function on both macOS and Windows, making it great for users of either system. While it only allows one person access to Microsofts programs, it still brings with it 1TB of online cloud storage with OneDrive, meaning you wont lose any features between the two subscription tiers.

Are you planning on using Office for school in the upcoming semester? Consider picking up Apples previous-generation M1 MacBook Pro thats on sale from $880 right now in refurbished condition. Its up to $499 off and ships with a 90-day warranty. The 17-hour battery life also means that Apples laptop will last you all day without having to be plugged in, making it an ideal solution for college students. Once you check that out, be sure to check out our Prime Day 2022 hub for all the other ways you can save this week.

One convenient subscription for up to 6 people. Microsoft 365 Family comes with premium Office apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Each person will receive 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage which allows you to access, edit, and share your files and photos across all your devicesall while knowing your information is always backed up and protected. Also included is a $50 Amazon.com gift card.

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Storage Without Centralization: Where Will Web3’s Explosion of Data Live? – BeInCrypto

Storage is a big issue in Web3. The human race is responsible for an explosion of data production, and that data has to live somewhere, says Dr. Max Li, the CEO of Computecoin.

These days data mostly ends up stored on our phones, hard drives, or cloud storage services. Tools like Dropbox and Google Drive have made it easier than ever before to upload and access computer data from anywhere in the connected world.

But all of these different solutions suffer the same primary drawback: they are centralized, and centralization comes with certain fundamental vulnerabilities. What happens if you lose your hard drive in a house fire? What happens when Dropbox servers suffer some network outage?

Furthermore, how much do you trust that a third party like Dropbox is protecting your privacy as opposed to abusing it?

Web3 is the term commonly heard flying around conversations about the shift in our relationship with the internet. Where the original World Wide Web was mostly a read-only experience for the end-user, Web2 ushered in a read-write experience. Social media made it possible for people to cultivate and interact with their own audience. Powerful media and marketing tools are available to anyone who wants them.

Now crypto principles and blockchain technology are heralding Web3 as a read-write-own experience. In this paradigm, its not only possible to track ownership of virtual assets but to buy and sell those assets on an open market.

The evolution of Web3 is driven by decentralized blockchains that can offer greater accessibility to cloud storage without any of the security risks. In a Web3 storage paradigm, files are stored on a network of computers rather than on a single server. With help from encryption, data mining resistance, and peer-to-peer networking, Web3 principles offer a more secure, breach-resistant storage solution.

Web3 storage is also significantly cheaper than traditional cloud storage options. With no central authority controlling the platform, users are free to choose their own storage providers, like Storj, Ankr, or my own company Computecoin.

Storj is a key player in the decentralized storage space and is comparable to Amazon S3 in terms of features and functionality. However, while Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) costs $22/TB/mo on average, Storj services cost only $4/TB/mo.

Storj can help both Web2 and Web3 companies save on their storage costs. For example, media and entertainment companies might use Storj to serve their content, or machine learning companies can use it to host their data more cost-effectively.

Ankr is on a mission to make blockchain technology more accessible to developers. The company provides developer tools and infrastructure services that optimize the blockchain experience. Some of Ankrs notable partners include Binance, Polygon, and Avalanche.

The distinguishing feature of Ankrs approach is its focus on the compute layer. The companys servers are located around the world on bare metal, which provides faster speeds and more reliable service.

The Computecoin network aims to provide compute and storage in a decentralized fashion. You might think about it like Amazon Web Services (AWS). But, it doesnt rely on a central authority like AWS.

AWS currently offers dozens of different services, yet Computecoin plans to replace each one in a decentralized fashion. This would provide the same services currently offered by AWS, but in a more robust, resilient way with reduced downtime. And, it is less prone to malicious hackers.

As companies face high educational and technical barriers that make it difficult to adopt decentralized cloud systems, Computecoin aims to make that process easier and more accessible to all.

Just as Expedia provides an easy end-to-end booking solution that simplifies the process and ensures users a smooth user experience, Computecoin provides an end-to-end computing and storage solution thats easy and intuitive to use. The aim is to offer reduced costs and increased privacy to compete against traditional centralized providers like Amazon and Google.

The web has come a long way since its humble beginnings. We have gone from a few simple pages to a complex, interconnected web of information. But as the web has grown, problems have developed along the way.

From data breaches to overreaching government surveillance, the centralized model of the web has left users vulnerable and exposed. Web3 is the solution. By decentralizing the infrastructure of the web, we can build a more resilient, secure, and private internet.

Yes, its about storage. But its about the future of the internet at the same time.

Dr. Max Li is the founder & CEO of Computecoin, co-founder of Nakamoto & Turing Labs (N&T Labs), and managing partner of a New York-based VC Aves Lair. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University (in the City of New York).

Got something to say about decentralized storage or anything else? Write to usor join the discussion in our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Twitter.

DisclaimerAll the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.

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When it comes to data on your phone, deleting a text isn’t the end of the story – KTOO

When you save or send photos, videos, texts and other digital messages on your devices, that data is extremely difficult to remove, even if you delete it from your phone or computer. (Photo by Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

Texts and other electronic messages from the U.S. Secret Service have become a point a controversy after the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general told Congress that those records were deleted after his office had requested them. But can a text or other digital messages ever truly be erased from existence?

People delete text messages and other electronic messages for many reasons: to free up room on their device; to break contact after a sour conversation; and, from time to time, to wipe out a conversation, for one reason or another.

But deleting a digital correspondence isnt as easy as you might think. For starters, depending on the program youre using, the recipient still has a copy of the message you sent them. And that data might live on in cloud storage.

Alfred Demirjian, founder and CEO of TechFusion, has spent the past 35 years in digital forensics and data recovery in Boston. He said that once you hit send, that information will likely exist forever, especially if the government wants whatever youve sent.

My theory and I believe I am right anything digital gets recorded; you text anything, it gets recorded somewhere, Demirjian said. If its for national security, they will open it up, if they want it, they will find it.

When you delete a piece of data from your device a photo, video, text or document it doesnt vanish. Instead, your device labels that space as available to be overwritten by new information.

Digital investigators trained to sniff out deleted data use a method called jailbreaking to retrieve information from computers, iPhones, Androids and other devices.

Once the memory on that device fills up entirely, new information is saved on top of those deleted items. Which could be good for those who take loads of innocent photos and videos. Those larger files overwrite old texts, photos and so on.

When you delete something, it doesnt erase it, it basically makes it available for the system to copy on top of it, Demirjian said.

But these days, phones, computers and tablets come with larger and larger storage. Which means the odds of you filling up that device before having to clean house is less likely, improving the odds of an investigator recovering that data.

Even if an individual has maxed out their memory time and time again, investigators may still be able to retrieve deleted items.

Even if it is overwritten, it is still recoverable, but not everything, Demirjian said. It takes a very long time and its very expensive, but some things are recoverable.

If a person is desperate to wipe their device, they can have it professionally erased, Demirjian said, but it can be costly. Which may be why some resort to extreme measures to destroy digital evidence.

People have tried bashing their phone with a hammer and throwing laptops into the ocean, but even then, a skilled digital forensics specialist could likely recover what they need. Burning a device into a molten pile of plastic, however, tends to do the trick.

Demirjian has done work for NASA, IBM, Harvard and MIT, police organizations, the Department of Transportation and more. And though he considers himself an expert in digital forensics, he says some government agencies have access to data recovery tools that even he doesnt have.

That being the case, Demirjian said its best to practice being politically correct, if sending something questionable.

Dont write something that youre going to be sorry about later if someone brings it up to you, he said.

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