Cloud storage refers to storing files and data on remote servers accessed over the internet rather than local hard drives. This allows users to access their files from any device as the data is stored in data centers. Some key benefits of cloud storage include accessibility of files from different devices, security through data backups in multiple locations, and reduced costs compared to maintaining physical servers. Popular cloud storage providers include Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive.

1. Cloud Storage

2. “The cloud” refers to servers that are accessed over the
Internet, and the software and databases that run on those servers.
Cloud servers are located in data centers all over the world. By using
cloud computing, users and companies do not have to manage
physical servers themselves or run software applications on their own
machines.
The cloud enables users to access the same files and
applications from almost any device, because the computing and
storage takes place on servers in a data center, instead of locally on
the user device. This is why a user can log in to their Instagram
account on a new phone after their old phone breaks and still find
their old account in place, with all their photos, videos, and
conversation history. It works the same way with cloud email
providers like Gmail or Microsoft Office 365, and with cloud storage
providers like Dropbox or Google Drive.

3. Types of cloud computing
There are four main types of cloud computing: private
clouds, public clouds, hybrid clouds, and multiclouds. There are
also three main types of cloud computing services: Infrastructure-
as-a-Service (IaaS), Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-
as-a-Service (SaaS).
Public clouds
Public clouds are cloud environments typically created from
IT infrastructure not owned by the end user. Some of the largest
public cloud providers include Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services
(AWS), Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
Traditional public clouds always ran off-premises, but today's
public cloud providers have started offering cloud services on
clients’ on-premise data centers. This has made location and
ownership distinctions obsolete.

4. Private clouds
Private clouds are loosely defined as cloud environments
solely dedicated to a single end user or group, where the
environment usually runs behind that user or group's firewall.
All clouds become private clouds when the underlying IT
infrastructure is dedicated to a single customer with
completely isolated access.
But private clouds no longer have to be sourced from
on-premise IT infrastructure. Organizations are now building
private clouds on rented, vendor-owned data centers located
off-premises, which makes any location and ownership rules
obsolete.

5. Hybrid clouds
A hybrid cloud is a seemingly single IT
environment created from multiple environments
connected through local area networks (LANs), wide
area networks (WANs), virtual private networks (VPNs),
and/or APIs.
The characteristics of hybrid clouds are complex
and the requirements can differ, depending on whom
you ask.

6. Advandage of cloud storage
Usability and accessibility:
Accessibility Most all of the cloud services come with an
easy-to-use user interface and provide a feature of drag and
drop. For instance, you can think of Google drive from Google or
iDrive from Apple. They both have a simple interface, and you
can easily upload your file
Security:
If anything is associated with the internet, then safety
becomes our primary concern, and mostly the big and small
businesses use cloud storage services, so before they choose a
cloud service for their business.

7. Cost-efficient:
By only using the cloud storage service, the business
outsources the storage problem. By using online data
storage, the enterprise reduces the expenses of internal
resources. With this technology, the company itself does
not need any inner power and support to manage and
store their data

8. Disadvantages of cloud storage
1.Drag and drop
The drag and drop option may move your original data
from one location to another, so make sure instead of using the
drag and drop option. Simply use the copy and paste method.
2. Internet dependency
Without the internet, you cannot access your data while
downloading the file from cloud storage. If there is an internet
failure, it might corrupt the data which you were downloading.
3. Data security and privacy
Many cloud storage vendors lack data security and privacy
fields, and there are many cases where the data from the cloud
storage gets leaked.

9. Application of Cloud Storage
1. Box
Box is one of the most popular and comprehensive cloud
storage apps on the market. It comes with built-in support for
the most popular productivity tools, including Google Docs and
Microsoft Office 365.
2. Dropbox
Dropbox is among the most famous cloud storage
providers and for good reason. Users get 2 GB of free storage
and an app for virtually every device, including all Apple and
Android products as well as Windows. Security is high, and your
files are protected by AES 256-bit encryption.

10. 3.MEGA
MEGA is a comprehensive cloud storage platform that also includes
file sharing and chat. The platform places a premium on privacy.
Everything from file uploads to chat is covered by end-to-end
encryption with keys that you control.
4. pCloud
pCloud offers free and secure multimedia cloud storage. What
sets pCloud apart from most other providers is its no-knowledge
local encryption service. This encrypts documents on individual
devices to such a level that not even pCloud administrators can
access them.
5. Sync
Sync offers comprehensive and private cloud storage. Files are
automatically synced across all devices, including iOS and Android,
and everything is protected with end-to-end encryption.

11. Cloud Storage
With cloud storage, there's no need for CDs,
external hard drives, or localized servers.
Data is quickly and automatically updated in the
cloud and available for your retrieval whenever you
need it .
One of the greatest benefits of cloud storage is
its ability to grow with its users.
With no need for physical, on-site storage
space, you can have a smaller workspace, less
equipment to buy, and fewer IT employees to
maintain your equipment and manage your data.

12. How to access cloud

13. AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most
comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform,
offering over 200 fully featured services from data
centers globally.
Millions of customers—including the fastest-
growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading
government agencies—are using AWS to lower costs,
become more agile, and innovate faster.

14. Advantages of AWS
o User-friendly
o Flexible
o Secure
o Cost-effective
o Reliable
o Scalable and Elastic
o Highly Performant
Disadvantages of AWS
o Limitations
o Lack of Experts
o Price Variations
o General Issues

15. Google Cloud
Why Google Cloud ?
Digital transformation is more than “lifting and shifting”
old IT infrastructure to the cloud for cost saving and
convenience. True transformation spans the entire business and
enables every person to transform. We deeply understand today's
technology requirements and the need to continuously innovate.
That's why organizations build their transformation cloud and
solve their biggest challenges with Google Cloud
Google Workspace provides flexible storage options so you
will always have enough space for your files. With centralized
administration, data loss prevention, and Vault for Drive, you can
easily manage users and file sharing to help meet data
compliance needs

16. Drive uses Google AI to predict and surface what’s
important for you in real-time. Drive recognizes important
content, collaborators and events, using features like Quick
Access and ML-based search enhancements to connect each user
with files that may require attention.
Organise team files in a shared spaceUse shared drives to
store your team’s work in secure, easy-to-manage shared
spaces. Any files added to shared drives are owned collectively
by the team, so everyone stays up to date.
Drive for desktop gives you access to files directly from
your computer, without impacting all of your disk space. Spend
less time waiting for files to sync and more time being
productive.

17. ICloud
• iCloud is a cloud-storage and cloud-computing service from
Apple Inc. launched on October 12, 2011. As of 2018, the
service had an estimated 850 million users, up from 782 million
users in 2016.
• Apple has eleven company-owned and -operated data centers
supporting iCloud services. The company has six data centers in
the United States, two in Denmark, and three in China.[8] One
of Apple's original iCloud data centers is located in Maiden,
North Carolina, US.
• Beginning in 2011, iCloud is based on Amazon Web Services and
Microsoft Azure (Apple iOS Security white paper published in
2014, Apple acknowledged that encrypted iOS files are stored
in Amazon S3 and Microsoft Azure[10]). In 2016, Apple signed a
deal with Google to use Google Cloud Platform for some iCloud
services.

18. Conclusion
Cloud storage is an emerging technology and has
a great changing impact on the way businesses and
organizations manage their information and data.
Cloud storage provides massive scalability, high
performance, data resiliency, and 99.999% readability.
In conclusion, cloud computing is recently new
technological development that has the potential to
have a great impact on the world. It has many benefits
that it provides to it users and businesses.