Cloud storage: the benefits

Cloud storage - do you know what it is?
Discover its definition, advantages and disadvantages here.

What is the Cloud?

The Cloud is a dematerialised storage system: your data doesn't take up space on your computer. Files, stored on servers, can be accessed anywhere, at any time. The only requirement to access the Cloud is having an internet connection and software that saves and retrieves data from it.

The Cloud can be used to store personal data, as well as to play games or use software. Systems that use the Cloud, such as Google Drive or iCloud, offer a free basic tier. To get more storage, you'll need to dig into your wallet.

Cloud storage: the advantages

1. Storage is unlimited

Storing your data in the Cloud is unlimited. There's no restriction on file size. If you use Gmail, you should know that an attachment that's too large can be stored in the Cloud while waiting to be opened and downloaded by the recipient.

2. Stored data doesn't take up space on your computer

By storing your files and data in the Cloud, you avoid taking up space on your hard drive. You can still access your data wherever and whenever you like. This is an ideal solution for storing your photos or videos, as these files tend to be quite large once they build up.

Don't forget that a computer whose hard drive is clogged with files can slow down.

3. Storage is secure

Don't worry: your data is secure in the Cloud. Cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox are governed by very strict rules: two-factor authentication to access data, encryption of your files ... Security is their top priority!

The same goes for data centres, those places full of computer servers that host and store your files. Physical access there is strictly controlled, and not just anyone gets the chance to go anywhere near a single cable.

4. Your data is accessible anywhere, anytime

Your data and files are accessible in two or three clicks. All you need is an internet connection to view them. Whether you're in Brussels, New York or Manila, at 6am or 5pm, you'll always have access to them.

Since your files are linked to an account you created with your email address, you don't need your own computer or smartphone to access them. You can just as easily log in on your parents' computer, on a distant cousin's, or on a friend's on the other side of the world.

A quick tip: If you log in on a device that isn't yours, don't forget to log out when you're done!

Cloud storage: the disadvantages

1. The data is very much on Earth, not in a cloud

Computer data follows the same principle as Lavoisier's famous saying: "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." Data stored in the Cloud is indeed stored somewhere. It doesn't take up space on your computer, but it does on servers.

This storage is therefore not immune to destruction. The fire at OVH's data centre in Strasbourg in March 2021 proved this: many companies lost data essential to their operations.
Fortunately, this kind of event is extremely rare. Data centres are highly protected. Every variable (temperature, humidity) is closely monitored to protect your data.

Since data protection is extremely important, there are also "Cloud to Cloud" systems. These are Cloud services that act as backups of other Cloud services, in case of a technical failure.

2. The Cloud consumes a lot of energy

The physical storage spaces of the Cloud are data centres. They're also called "server farms". Picture endless corridors full of large machines, powered by electricity day and night. The Cloud therefore can't be considered an eco-friendly alternative.

In a 2018 article by the CNRS, computer engineer Françoise Berthoud tells us: "The new technology sector alone accounts for between 6 and 10% of global electricity consumption, according to estimates – or nearly 4% of our greenhouse gas emissions. And the trend is clearly rising, at a rate of 5 to 7% each year."

3. The Cloud can't guarantee 100% security

The Cloud remains one of the most secure storage methods, but it's not immune to hacking attempts. These hackers can take many forms, ranging from a lone hacker to malicious organisations (sometimes even state-backed!).

While many of these attempts are thwarted, some can slip through the net. Remember the Cloud hack of American celebrities that led to private photos being published online in 2014.

To protect yourself in the event of a cyberattack, don't hesitate to discover our Safe & Connected assistance.

Cloud storage in a few figures

• In 2019, 43% of Belgians used the Cloud for private purposes.
• The global Cloud Computing market could be worth $623 billion by 2023.
• Human data production could reach 175 zettabytes by 2025. This figure is astronomical: 1 zettabyte represents 1 billion terabytes, or 1 byte followed by 21 zeros! For comparison, 1 terabyte is equivalent to 500 hours of HD video.
• 42% of these 175 zettabytes could be uploaded to the Cloud by that same year, 2025.

The origins of Cloud Computing

In the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, Americans Licklider and McCarthy were each thinking about the flow of information and the development of computing. In 1962, Licklider sketched out a "Galactic Computer Network", which foreshadowed the interconnected web.

It wasn't until the 1980s that the first computer networks appeared. These networks handled tasks that ordinary computers couldn't process.

In 1997, the term "Cloud" appeared, coined by Professor Chellappa, who defined it as a "new computing paradigm".

The Cloud system was first used in the USA in the ARPANET system. This was a computer network, the ancestor of the internet, which linked together the various centres of power in the United States.

Your data stored in the Cloud will be even better protected thanks to a secure password.
And to prepare for any mishap, discover Safe & Connected assistance.

Article written in collaboration with We are the Words.