loud storage is one among the new “cloud computing” options, whereby data and apps are stored in remote locations, to be retrieved wherever you are, as long as you have an Internet connection. Unlike storing data on a hard drive, cloud storage lets you store data and apps on a remote server, and then access it as you need to. You can also set your cloud computing functions up so that groups of people can access that information from its “cloud” location; that characteristic is particularly useful, for example, with collaborative projects.
However, in part because it is so new, cloud online storage has a few gray areas yet. There are some best cloud storage practices you should follow until cloud storage is better established, so that both your data and your rights are protected.
Best cloud storage practices
- Be careful with “service level agreements”
Cloud providers give their clients what are called “service level agreements.” Be careful with these, because many of them can be deliberately “cloudy” about things like guaranteed recovery of data, and promised destruction of data should you close your account. Read the fine print very, very carefully, so that you know what you’re getting into.
Another problem was service-level agreements is that the service itself is generally what’s addressed in the agreement, not the management of or access to the data itself. You may not always be able to access your data, example, because for most companies, service has to be down for at least 10 minutes before the company considers it an “outage.” That means that if an outage happens for nine minutes, it’s not actually considered an outage. This can leave you without access to your data during those times.
- Watch for hidden costs
Again, because cloud computing is so new, there really aren’t any best cloud storage practices for companies out there yet. This may change, but for right now, be careful that you don’t get soaked with hidden costs. Some providers, for example, will tell you how much it will cost you for a gigabyte of storage upfront, which can help you figure out what it will cost you month-to-month for that storage. That’s fine, but what some service providers won’t tell you is that they’ll also charge you for transfers, deleting or copying files, and yes, connecting to the cloud itself. Again, these things may very well be ironed out as cloud computing becomes more commonplace, but for right now, be aware that these hidden costs could show up on your bill.
- Figure out what you need now
Another of the best cloud storage practices is that you should address what you need right now. It gives you on the go access to your data, such that you can access and manage files, for example, right from a small device like a smart phone.
That’s great, but because cloud technology can also be expensive, it may be wise to dispense with it for the time being unless you actually need this on the go access. If you don’t, and you can simply manage data locally from your home computer (which probably has a large enough hard drive to store your data as well as let you access it), the best cloud storage practice may be to wait a little bit until service-level agreements are ironed out and you’re sure you’re always going to have access to your data when you need it.
- Keep an eye on new developments
Even if you’re not going to become a customer of the best cloud storage company out there right now, keep an eye on new developments as they happen. As wireless connections get faster, and as people and businesses increasingly become more mobile, the best companies involved in cloud storage are going to be ready for that to happen. More and more people are likely going to be using cloud technology to store, share and access their data and applications — not just on their own personal computers or other local media. It’s wise to be ready when that happens.
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