Nowadays everyone spends a lot of time acquiring data on computer and then try to find number of ways to store it. Finding enough storage space to store a large number of bytes can be challenging though. People invest in hard drives and some others external storage devices such as compact discs or thumb drives. And some delete entire folders of old files so as to make space.
The new trend of cloud storage allows you to save data to an off-site storage system which is maintained by third party. Thus instead of storing data on to your computer’s local storage or hard drive, data is saved to remote database and with an Internet connection you will be able to access data from any location. Thus you don’t need to use the same device to save and retrieve data or carry a physical storage device around. The cloud service also provides file back up so that they are never lost, even if your computer crashes or phone breaks. The number of services available in the market can make it difficult to pick one based on storage, paid plans, operating system, etc., so below are descriptions of some of the most popular:
#1. pCloud
pCloud is a personal cloud space where one can store all folders and files. It offers a user-friendly interface where everything can be located easily and clearly. pCloud servers are based in Switzerland, so is great cloud service for business users concerned about privacy as the NSA cannot go through the data. If you choose the premium option, pCloud also provides you with private encryption which is known by you only. It works for almost all platforms and devices including Linux, Windows, Mac and Android and iOS devices.
You can install pCloud on computer through pCloud Drive, which creates a secure virtual drive that expands local storage space. All devices are synchronized, so any change you make in pCloud can be seen immediately on your tablet, computer or phone. pCloud offers 20GB of storage space for free which is an excellent alternative for personal users. The files are searchable and can be filtered on the basis of file formats.
There are quick search icons for documents, audio, and images and clicking on them opens the specific files. Any files deleted from pCloud account will be in the Trash folder for a specific number of days, depending on which plan you choose. You can then share your content with multiple users whether they are on pCloud or not by giving them permissions. With the shareable Upload and Download Link features, anyone you choose can upload and download files to and from your pCloud account directly.
By turning on the Automatic Upload feature then any mobile media will be automatically uploaded to your pCloud account. You can instantly synchronize files between multiple devices and your cloud storage platform with one click. It uses TLS/SSL encryption when data is transferred from a device to servers, ensuring that your data stays protected.
#2. Google Drive
Formerly known as Google Docs, Google Drive lets you store, edit, collaborate and create documents on a cloud-based server. It offers free storage up to 15GB. It requires little setup if one have a Google account. It comprises of Slides (an online version of Microsoft Office’s Powerpoint), Google Docs (a version of Word) and Sheets (a version of Excel). Drive has apps for Android and iOS for managing and viewing files from phone.
While you can access any file from Drive web site, you can also download the Drive desktop app for PC and Mac to manage files on your system. You can even choose to access them when offline so you don’t have to worry about having a constant Internet connection. You can organize all your files in the desktop app, and they will sync with the cloud so you can get to them from anywhere. It also offers large number of extras like third-party apps which can sign documents or send faxes. In addition, Google Drive has the feature of dragging and dropping of files into the Drive website to automatically upload it. You can also preview the attachments from Gmail (Google’s mail service) in Drive, and can save those files in the cloud also.
Google Drive also introduced Google Photos, which is an online photo locker in which you can organize your photos into albums. You can find it in Drive as separate tab. One neat feature of the app is that you are not required to download Google Photos app on your tablet or phone to back up the pictures you take. The Google Drive app will take care of that automatically for you.
#3. OneDrive
OneDrive was formerly known as SkyDrive. It comes with Microsoft Office’s Online Tools and Outlook email to integrate your apps as well as synchronize your data. OneDrive will synchronize all your files in single folder on a system which gives you access to all your important files from any location on an unlimited number of devices.
OneDrive comes as a free addition to any Microsoft account including MSN, Hotmail, Live, Outlook and Xbox Live. Microsoft gives you 15GB of free storage though it can be increased to 18GB by installing OneDrive on a portable device. It also enables you to automatically upload your camera roll.
If you’ve got the social bug, you can increase your storage to a maximum of 25GB storage by inviting ten friends as you will get 0.5GB for each successful referral. The service has also recently increased the maximum file size from 2GB to 10GB, which means even the largest videos and photos don’t need to be split up into smaller files before uploading them. In a final distinguishing feature, the files stored in OneDrive can be embedded into a web page, making it easy to place tables or images onto a website.
Either of the above three cloud storage systems can be a great tool for accessing your business or personal data from wherever you need. Try out any of these services to increase your storage and to back up all of your data!!
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