With countless amounts of data being handled by various organizations worldwide, it is vital to have proper storage and access mechanisms. That is where Cloud Storage Services come into play. A cloud is a group or a collection of servers distributed across different places and used to store and access data. It hosts a wide range of software and infrastructure. Apart from storage purposes, it also allows backup and recovery, testing and development, networking, etc. Third-party providers provide various cloud services such as platforms, software, and infrastructure. Since all these are available on the internet, it allows customers to leverage powerful computing resources without having to purchase or maintain hardware and software.
On-demand availability of computer resources over the internet is referred to as cloud computing. The 4 types of clouds include private clouds, public clouds, hybrid clouds, and multi-clouds.
What is a Cloud Storage?
The amount of data continues to increase and on the other hand, the demand for online access to resources is also rising. The in-house computing servers find it challenging to handle data over a particular limit. Cloud storage services overcome such difficulties and allow the management of data in large amounts. Cloud computing enables companies to access and manage resources and applications online over the internet just like we check our emails through online browsers.
Cloud storage allows the user to save data and files through the internet. Cloud eliminates the need for physical servers, the data is stored on the servers within the data centers. The servers are usually rented out to store particular users’ data and the billing is based on usage.
Benefits of Cloud Services
- Cloud makes it easy to test new ideas and applications and it is faster.
- It is more flexible and scalable.
- The cloud data could be accessed from anywhere, anytime.
- Cloud has disaster recovery features and thus prevents data loss.
- It can also strengthen the security infrastructure.
Best Cloud Storage Services
Various organizations provide cloud services. Amazon Drive, Apple iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Drive are the most common examples of Cloud Storage Services. The following are the best cloud storage services one can prefer in 2023.
1. Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud service by Microsoft. It allows the users to store, share and sync their files. The stored files, photos, and documents can be accessed from any device anywhere with OneDrive. It also makes collaborations easier, that is the users can work together on the office files from different locations. The files are safely backed up and protected. Even when the device fails, the files are saved in the OneDrive Cloud and are not lost. OneDrive has got a Personal Vault feature with an additional layer of protection to secure your files. Microsoft offers a free version to try out the basic features. The pricing of advanced plans starts from Rs. 1400 per year.
2. Google Drive
Google provides file storage and synchronization services through Google Drive. It provides encrypted and secured access to the file. The files can be synchronized across all devices and accessed from anywhere. You can also share files online for your partner or co-worker to view and edit, thus it becomes easy to manage and collaborate with the team members. The files stored may be photos, documents, spreadsheets, or slides. The free version lets the user store up to 15GB of data in their drive. Google Workspace Essentials Starter can work with Microsoft Office files to directly edit, comment and collaborate in them using Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
3. Dropbox
Dropbox Inc. is an American company that hosts file services. The services provided by Dropbox include cloud storage, personal cloud, file synchronization, etc. The files are safe ad secure with Dropbox. It lets the users store up to 5TB of data with standard plans and up to 2 GB of data with basic plans. A free version is also available with limited storage space. Dropbox can serve the best for computer backups and photo libraries. It also provides various functionalities. For example, Dropbox Sign allows you to sign legally-binding documents. Further, Dropbox Advanced can help in detecting threats to your team’s content.
4. pCloud
pCloud is one of the fairly priced cloud storage services. It provides up to 10 GB of storage space for free. It is also said to be safe and secure as it offers encryption to the files. The highest level of security provided by pCloud makes it the most secure storage service to keep your confidential files. pCloud allows sharing large files with ease. It also lets you collaborate and work together on a file. pCloud synchronization works well with multiple devices from anywhere. Its Lifetime Plan is said to be one of the best investments if you are looking forward to accessing a cloud service in the long run.
5. iCloud
Cloud Storage Service provided by Apple Inc. is the iCloud service. iCloud allows the storage and synchronization of the data across multiple devices. Just like Google syncs all calendars, notes, and photos when logged in, iCloud syncs Apple Mail, Apple Calendar, Apple notes, and contacts. You can simply use your Apple ID to log in across various devices. The basic storage is free and a subscription is required for more storage. iCloud is best used to keep personal information safe and up to date. iCloud+ provides additional storage and features like iCloud Private Relay which is designed to protect privacy.
6. Mega
MEGA Limited is an American-based company that offers cloud services. It offers cloud service through web-based applications. Mega comes with end-to-end encryption making the files stored safe and secure. This is platform-independent and thus allows the upload of files from Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, etc. Along with its security measures, Mega provides a large amount of free space. A free account can make use of up to 20 GB of storage space. A wide range of competitive plans up to 16TB of storage space could be availed based on Business or Pro Flexi plans. Sharing options are more flexible with Mega such that it even allows sharing with a non-account holder.
7. Amazon S3
Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) is a storage service by Amazon Web Services. It can be used to store and retrieve any amount of data at any time, from anywhere. One of the highlighting features of Amazon S3 is that the data stored are encrypted by default. It supports three types of deriver-side encryption. Thus, the security of the data is never compromised. Amazon S3 is a durable, high-speed, web-based cloud storage service specially designed for online backup services. Unlike other cloud services whose billing depends on limits of storage, Amazon S3 lets you pay monthly bills based on your usage.
8. Sync.com
Sync.com provides cloud storage and file-sharing services. It best serves small and midsize businesses. It not only provides a cloud-based solution but also gives on-site deployment options. It offers both synced and unsynced storage options. The former is for distribution across devices and the latter is mostly used for backup purposes. Sync.com features mobile applications for both Android and iPhones. It is secure and lays out a safe space to store, share and collaborate. The web interface is easy and simple to use. Each free account gets 5GB of storage space. Pricing options to get more storage are also reasonable with sync.com.
9. Box
Box is a cloud storage service provided by Box Inc. It allows the users to store, share, edit, and collaborate content. Quick access to any files from anywhere is possible with Box. It also offers built-in workflows and e-signature editing options. Box has got advanced security features making it trustworthy for business and storing sensitive information. It is flexible for integration with other third-party systems, making it appear as a part of the system rather than an add-on. Box has AES 256-bit encryption as standard, thus providing a secure space. It provides 10GB of storage space for free. Further, pricing options according to business and personal use are available.
10. IDrive
IDrive Inc. offers cloud storage and backup solutions for individuals and businesses. The service is available on Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS. The iDrive interface is said to be attractive, and clear to identify each section easily. It also saves a lot of bandwidth for large backups. It is affordable and supports file sharing too. iDrive also keeps the data protected as it makes use of AES 256 encryption. It has furthermore features like the iDrive Express for quick backup and retrieval of data, versioning to retain up to 30 previous versions of all files backed up, Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365 backup, etc.
Conclusion
We hope that the above article would have provided a clear idea about each Cloud Storage Service, its best features, and its purpose. Among all, Google Drive and Microsoft are said to be the most viable options. Each of the above-mentioned cloud services has its own pricing options though a free version is available. Based on your requirements check out their official website for billing options.
FAQs – Best Cloud Storage Services
Q1. What is the best cloud storage service for business?
Among all of the cloud storage services, pCloud, AWS IDrive are considered to be the best cloud storage services for business in 2023. However, companies also do prefer to go with Microsoft’s OnDrive, and Nextcloud.
Q2. What is the future of cloud storage?
Since we all are moving with the advancement of technology with the introduction of artificial intelligence, so the future of cloud storage is bright for both business and individuals.
Q3. Which cloud model is the best?
There are majorly 4 cloud storage models i.e. private, public, hybrid and multicloud. Among which, public cloud has been considered as the best cloud model.
