![]() ![]() Ask around (or just look through our review comments), and you'll hear sad stories of how cloud storage can go wrong. Not to mention that every internet service suffers the occasional outage. What could possibly go wrong? Human error accounts for a good deal of cloud storage tragedies, but the dropped internet connection is another common troublemaker. During that time, you get a feel for how it works and what might go wrong with your setup. This way you can fully integrate a service into your life for several weeks for real-world testing. We prefer providers that offer some level of permanent free service, even if you get only 2GB of storage space rather than a time-based trial. Many cloud storage services have a free account that usually comes with some limitations, such as the amount of storage or a size limit on files you can upload. The service waits until the next time you do have a connection and takes care of business then.įor a deeper explanation of the cloud, see What is Cloud Computing? OneDrive offers 5GB for free, and you get more storage with a Microsoft 365 account. Of course, you need an internet connection for it to work, but if you temporarily are without a connection, that's okay. ![]() You can also get to the files via your web browser. Once it's installed, it usually shows a small notification icon and creates your synced folder structure that fits into Windows Explorer or the macOS Finder. You can access your cloud files through an app or utility software installed on your computer. Dropbox, once installed, shows you icons in the Finder or Windows Explorer indicating the sync status of each file you save to the cloud. Instead, the file syncing service looks for changes to your files and uploads only them, saving your connection bandwidth. Well-designed services don't upload a brand-new copy of your files every time you change one little thing. Your data is usually encrypted before making the journey over the internet to the provider's servers, and it remains encrypted while it lives on those servers. Having data in the cloud gives you the ability to access your files through the internet. There's a half-joke saying in the tech world, "There is no cloud. Usually, it means the provider's servers. Just to clear up any confusion, the cloud part of cloud-based storage refers to putting your files somewhere other than your computer's hard drive. Box's web interface lets you manage your folders and files. Syncing, by contrast, is about backing up and managing selected files only. ![]() But dedicated backup services sometimes also create a disk image of your machine so you can restore not just your files, but everything, including system settings and programs. It follows logically that any files uploaded to a cloud service are also protected from disk failures, since there are copies of them in the cloud. Most cloud services do offer some level of backup, almost as a consequence of their intended function. Some of them, such as Carbonite, specialize in data protection and recovery, while others like IDrive, combine data protection with syncing and sharing capabilities. These products even double as collaboration software, offering real-time document co-editing.ĭistinct from but overlapping in some cases with cloud storage are backup services, particularly ones that offer online backups. Some cloud storage services, such as Apple iCloud, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, are generalists, offering not only folder and file syncing, but also media-playing and device syncing. SpiderOak One Backup emphasizes security. For example, Dropbox focuses on keeping a synced folder accessible everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific area. The range of capabilities of cloud-based storage services is incredible. With Google Drive's web app, you can access all your files, including images, from anywhere. Box and Dropbox are particularly strong in this regard. Especially in business, you want your other software and apps to be able to retrieve or access your files, so making sure you use a service that easily authenticates with the other tools you use is a big deal. ![]() The very best cloud storage solutions play nicely with other apps and services, making the experience of viewing and editing your files feel natural. Find our best picks below, followed by a detailed guide to understanding cloud storage and file-sharing services. Most of these services are extremely user-friendly, while others offer advanced customization for more experienced techies. It may also depend on your comfort level with computers in general. Which one you choose depends on the kinds of files you store, how much security you need, whether you plan to collaborate with others, and which devices you own. If you don't yet have an online storage and syncing service, you should seriously consider getting one. ![]()
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