Computer Repair in Kalamazoo

There’s a lot being discussed today about the “Cloud” on the internet. If you’re not sure what the “Cloud” is, check out our earlier article that defines it -> https://geek-easy.com/2012/02/are-you-in-the-cloud/.

Our purpose today is to discuss some of the uses for cloud storage and its advantages. The most popular (arguably) of the providers of these services is Dropbox [https://db.tt/a8BcOMv]. There are other popular services out there such as Google Drive, Box.net, Microsoft Skydrive, Sugarsync and more.

The best way I would describe cloud storage is it’s like a virtual USB thumb drive. You can backup and store your files in the cloud and access them from nearly any device. With Dropbox, for example, you install an app on your computer that creates a special Dropbox folder. Anything you save to this folder gets uploaded to your Dropbox account and syncs with any computer or device you have linked to your Dropbox account. Say I started this blog post on my desktop, and then later I’m on my iPad and decide to edit/add some additional information. I can do this seamlessly without sending myself the file or using a thumb drive; I can just grab the files from Dropbox and go.

You can also use cloud storage for sharing files. You can setup and share folders with anyone you choose. In some cases they may need an account for the specific service you use. Share documents with co-workers, lists or receipts with the spouse, or pictures with family & friends. These folders can be encrypted so no one has access but the intended person.

Backup is one of the most important needs in computing. A spilled cup of coffee, a pet or child pulling the plug, or a malicious virus are all ways to easily lose data on a computer. In the past off-site or online backup was complicated and expensive. Cloud services like the ones mentioned above have made things much simpler and more accessible with free or low-cost plans, cross-platform compatibility and online access.

Security and reliability are most likely the two biggest concerns when considering cloud storage. Most companies use a combination of methods:

Authentication – these are processes that require the user to create a user name and password.

Encryption – this is a security method using a complex algorithm to encode information. To decode the encrypted files, a user needs the encryption key.

Authorization – this is basically a list of the people who are authorized to access information stored on the cloud system. Some services use multiple levels of authorization. For example, you could give someone access to a specific folder or file, but not to the rest of your data.

These service providers have redundancy built in their data centers to provide you with nearly limitless access to your data. Of course, their servers are still subject to the same hazards or malfunctions that any other server is, but the redundancy makes the possibility of downtime much less likely to occur.  What redundancy amounts to is multiple backup servers that come into play if the primary servers develop issues or are compromised in anyway.  This way you have little to no interruption to the service.

Cloud storage is definitely a part of our productivity tool set. Starting out at a cost of FREE for around 2GB of storage (depending on the service), it should probably be a part of yours too!

For more info Click here –> https://geek-easy.com/contact-us/

420 N. Church St. STE 1

Kalamazoo, MI 49007

(269)548-TECH (8324)