What is cloud storage
Cloud storage is a service to store and retrieve data from remote storage through the internet. In cloud storage, data can be stored, backed up and always available on need. Clients pay for the service as they use cloud storage. Cloud service providers are responsible for cloud storage services. These services are available through a web service application programming interface (API) or internet protocols.
History of Cloud Storage
History of cloud storage is started with the history of cloud computing. In the year 1960 joseph Carl Robnett Licklider invented the concept of cloud computing and cloud storage, to connect people from different places for the sharing and storage of data. Later on, the system updated and different service providers started the storage services.
How does cloud storage works
By using the cloud storage service users store their data on third-party servers instead of their hard drive or storage media. There is no need to buy a physical storage media they just pay for the service to access the servers via the internet. Users can scale up and down the cloud storage as the pays. Cloud storage servers may be located in different places. Service providers are responsible for security, availability, backup, and capacity of storage.
Types of cloud storage
Cloud storage is mainly divided into three types.
- Public cloud storage
- Personal Cloud Storage
- Private cloud storage
- Hybrid cloud storage
- Community cloud storage
Public Cloud Storage
Public cloud storage is a shared storage service for the general public to store their data on cloud storage services. Clients have a shared storage infrastructure, because of storage. Clients just pay for the services for use. As the storage is shared among different user so there are security concerns as the hijacking of data.
Examples of public cloud storage are
Advantages of public cloud
- Scalable
- Costless
- Reliable
- Expert monitoring
- No maintenance need for clients
Personal cloud storage
Personal cloud or mobile cloud is used to store the data of an individual mobile user’s to store on cloud storage via the internet. A personal cloud is also known as a subset of the public cloud. Users can store their photos, documents or other important data of mobile to cloud storage.
Examples of personal cloud storage are
- Icloud on IPhone.
- Google drive on android devices.
Private Cloud Storage
Private cloud storage is owned by an organization to store its data. Infrastructure is individually for a single client or organization. Organizations can scale up or down the capacity of cloud storage according to their needs. Their data is secured then public cloud because infrastructure is not divided among different clients.
Examples of private cloud storage providers are
- Microsoft Azure.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- IBM Cloud
- Google Cloud
Advantages of private cloud storage
- Scalable
- Efficient
- Better security
- Customizable
Hybrid cloud storage
Hybrid cloud storage is a combination of both public and private cloud storage. Hybrid cloud storage is used by organizations because sometimes they need private storage to keep data safe and public storage for their clients. Like banks.
Examples of hybrid cloud storage providers are
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Google Cloud
- IBM Cloud
- IBM
- Dell EMC.
- VMware
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Microsoft Azure.
Advantages of Hybrid cloud storage
- High control of storage infrastructure
- customizable
- Costless
- High security (by the use of public and private servers)
Community cloud storage
Community cloud data storage refer to data that is stored by different department of an organization or storage available for more than two organizations. Organizations may be located in different places but they can access the storage.
Examples of community cloud storage providers are
- Microsoft Azure.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- IBM Cloud
- Google Cloud
Advantages of community cloud storage
- Cost-effective
- High security
- Scalable
- Customizable