Cloud data - how does it work and is it beneficial?

A dozen or so years ago, good desktops had 8GB hard drives, and we transferred data on 3.5-inch floppy disks. Today, 8GB of memory has the weakest smartphones, and our cloud data is available all over the world. What will the future of such technologies look like?

Computer technology is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Year after year, it moves so much forward that what was new a few years ago is now a thing of the past. After the era of 3.5-inch floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, pendrives, portable disks, blue-ray disks, it is now popular to store data in the so-called cloud.

What is the phenomenon of data in the cloud

What is this phenomenon really? Operation in the cloud is the sharing and processing of data and applications that are located in remote locations, not on the drives of computers or phones. Encrypted information is stored on public or internal servers that we can access from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and any mobile device - we don't need physical data carriers. Importantly, access is simple and fast, requiring no specialized software. All you need is the simplest browser through which you log into a specific server to access our applications or files.

Cloud data - how does it work?

Managing files and applications in the cloud is simple and based on principles that we know, for example, from social media. After logging in and a few clicks, we have the ability to post files and share them with specific people. You can also create documents on virtual disks using applications that are located on servers. Therefore, we do not need to install them on our drives. An additional advantage of applications operating in the cloud is the lack of requirements related to the purchase of expensive office packages and licenses. The mobile ones are cheaper and more profitable.

What are the benefits?

It is precisely the reduction of costs that is one of the greatest benefits of operating in the cloud. Even if we use paid packages (for example Adobe or Microsoft), they are much cheaper than their boxed versions. Usually, the fees are a subscription, so we pay only when we really need these programs. This is a great opportunity for small businesses that often cannot afford to buy expensive software with licenses. Working in the cloud also turns out to be very convenient and improves everyday duties. People from different locations can work on the same project at the same time. Thanks to this, everything is faster and more effective.

What are the limitations?

In addition to the complete lack of internet connection in accessing our data, cloud data can limit other problems related to the Internet: from disconnecting connections to transfer speed. If our data is large in size, it can be problematic to download it with poor transfer. This is the only limitation in the coupling of data in the cloud with those on the physical disk. This is why files in the cloud are usually small in size, and the larger ones are currently stored on physical disks. On the other hand, popular applications and programs function in the cloud more and more often - there is no need to install them.

Cloud data and security

The topic of security is a river topic. We have been bombarded with information about data stolen from external servers for dangerous purposes for a long time. While stolen celebrity photos are not the world's biggest problem, top-secret information on national security or access to weapons is. While access to the cloud is simple and convenient on a daily basis, it also poses the risk of unauthorized access to it. We must also remember that for unspecified factors, the server with our data may be temporarily blocked or turned off, and in extreme cases data in the cloud may be lost. Therefore, it is worth keeping files also on local disks. Although every year companies offering cloud computing are increasing their expenses for further security, nowhere are files as secure as in our home.

Cloud data is becoming more and more popular. It is most likely the future of the newest technologies that will develop every year. At a time when the data in the cloud, existing on external servers will be 100% safe, and high-speed Internet access is possible in literally any place on Earth, work in this way can dominate the world. In the future, a hard disk may become redundant, and only the Internet will be needed to use the computer. Ultimately, computer equipment manufacturers may lose out on this - because if the applications work remotely, there will be no need to replace components with better ones. This can trigger a small revolution where everyone defends their business. So what will be the future of clouding? We will find out about it soon.