Does this sound familiar: “I received that file in an email like three months ago…what did I do with it?” This question is followed by half of an hour of random searches through the various email folders, but the missing file is nowhere to be seen. This is a very annoying issue if the missing data is not super important, and it is a tremendously upsetting issue if that data is vital.
Unfortunately, until now there was no way to get the lost data when files are accidentally deleted or lost. However, there is now cloud storage that can step in and save the day.
Using the Clouds
Though a lot of people are still getting used to the idea of the famous “cloud”, the premise is very appealing. Rather than using physical gear of your own - from thumb drives to free standing hard drives and disks - you purchase space on a remotely stored server. This server space may be in a single location or it may bounce around to ensure optimal safety and stability. The point is that your data is offsite, protected, and accessible no matter what.
You can use cloud storage services to automatically backup your entire system every day, or several times each day. You can have this system store everything from files to email messages, and you can make sure that it is accessible through a web portal in the event that your servers go down or you have some sort of major glitch with your equipment. Clearly, this is a very appealing opportunity, and it is already widely available.
Many people using online backup options may not even realize that this is what they are doing. For example, the people that upload images to social networks are actually putting those files into the “cloud”, so to speak, because the file is sent to a server in another location than their own computer or mobile device.
This, however, is not an optimal method of data storage because it is not exclusively controlled by the owner of the data, in other words, by you. So, what is the best way to use the clouds or rely on online backup? Currently, the wisest approach to the use of cloud storage is to work directly with firms that offer the widest array of options and features.
Know What to Do With It
The firms that provide the best solutions will have account options that work best for individuals, smaller firms, and large companies or groups. They will create options for larger amounts of memory, for unique controls over the ways that data is loaded to the system, and will allow their customers to do such things as:
- Restore files quickly;
- Create archives of deleted files, emails, and more;
- Provide optimal security at every level;
- Stream content if necessary;
- Provide access to multiple users (for easy sharing);
- Work with NAS (network attached storage) devices; and
- Synchronize files across multiple devices.
Imagine what this means to a business professional. They no longer have to endure that lost email situation we described at the opening of this article because even when the email was deleted from the server, the online backup would make it easy to find and restore.
Cloud storage is the best way to handle your data because it prevents you from losing even a single file. This is important in the modern world because most data is electronic and yet most electronics are still very vulnerable to damage, and this can easily harm a professional career or an entire business.
Image courtesy of fotographic1980 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
