Should you store your data straight to the cloud or stick with the classic hard drive? What is the best option for you to storie your photos and videos in the future?
Do you remember the computer world at the end of the 90s, where many said, “Internet, nobody needs that”? Now we are faced with a similar decision: do you really need a terabyte of storage?
Let’s do the math: a cell phone photo is about 5 megabytes. 200 photos fit into a gigabyte, and a terabyte (1000 gigabytes) can hold 200,000 photos. That’s a lot, because who takes hundreds of thousands of photos? But if you run out of space one day, you risk losing important photos, and your grandchildren might only know you by reputation.
However, there’s another memory-hogging trend on the rise – the super-fine 4K video resolution in cell phones. Just a few minutes of 4K video can fill up an entire gigabyte.
Consequently, spare memory is a must-have. Your Storageshould also be in a central location – so that it can be accessed from any of your internet-enabled devices – whether a Cell-Phone, Tablet, or PC – and can be shared with family members. Various solutions are available for this.
In this option, you utilize a hard disk on the internet that you rent for a fee. Your storage is part of large facilities, which are often distributed geographically and referred to as “clouds.”
For such rented storage, you can expect to pay approximately 10 euros per month for one terabyte, or around 100 euros per year with a discounted annual plan. This is roughly the same amount you would pay for a large hard drive.
However, cloud storage has two additional advantages. Firstly, you can connect it to your computer or cell phone so that new files are automatically saved there. Secondly, the cloud provider guarantees that nothing will be lost. They continuously generate data backups and quickly restore the old status after any technical issues.
Pros
Scalability: Cloud storage allows for scalable storage options, where you can easily adjust your storage needs based on your usage requirements.
Accessibility: Cloud storage can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, this makes it a very convenient option for people who work remote or travel a lot.
Data Backup: Cloud providers often provide data backup and redundancy services, ensuring that your data is safe even if a server fails.
Collaboration: Cloud storage makes it easy for teams to collaborate and share files in real-time.
Automatic updates: Cloud storage systems usually update automatically, ensuring that you always have the latest version of the software.
Cons
Security: Cloud storage comes with the risk of data breaches and security breaches. While cloud providers invest heavily in security, it’s still important to ensure that your data is properly encrypted and secure.
Dependence on internet connectivity: Cloud storage requires a reliable internet connection, which can be problematic in areas with poor or unreliable internet connectivity.
Data Ownership: Cloud providers own the hardware where your data is stored, and you may not have full control over your data. Some providers may even restrict access to your data, making it difficult to transfer to another provider.
Cost: Cloud storage can become expensive over time, especially as your storage needs increase.
Privacy Concerns: There are a lot of concerns around privacy and data protection when people are using cloud storage -especially in cases where data is stored in countries with lax data protection laws.
External Harddrive
You can also transfer data to an external hard drive, which is the easiest option and doesn’t require any technical expertise.
However, the downside is that you have to physically move the hard drive between different devices. The same applies to a USB stick, although it has a shorter lifespan than a hard drive.
Pros
Capacity: External hard drives have significantly more storage capacity compared to USB drives, making them a great option for large data backups.
Cost: External hard drives are relatively inexpensive and are available in various price ranges.
Portability: While they are not as portable as USB drives, external hard drives are still relatively compact and easy to transport.
Compatibility: External hard drives are compatible with most computers and operating systems, making them a universal storage option.
Data Security: You have control over your data’s security, as you can choose to encrypt the data or physically secure the hard drive to prevent unauthorized access.
Cons
Lifespan: While external hard drives are durable, they do have a limited lifespan, and they may fail after extended use or after being dropped or exposed to other physical damage.
Portability: While they are portable, external hard drives are bulkier than USB drives and can be less convenient to carry around.
Data Corruption: External hard drives can become corrupted, especially if they are not properly disconnected from the computer or if they are subjected to physical damage or other environmental factors.
Dependence on a single drive: You wil be dependent on a single hard drive to store your data, which means that you could loose all your data if this Single Drive fails or is lost.
Data Security: While external hard drives offer control over data security, they are still vulnerable to data breaches, theft, and physical damage, making it crucial to handle them with care.
NAS Storage – Network Attached Storage
With NAS storage, your files are stored on your own hard drives. The acronym NAS stands for “Network Attached Storage,” and your storage is directly connected to your home network.
This is just as convenient as cloud storage on the internet, as you can access it with different devices, and your family members can also access it.
To make this possible without technical expertise, NAS devices have their own operating system. Additionally, they typically have two hard disks in pairs, where the data is mirrored and available twice. If one hard disk fails, the data is not lost.
You could even access NAS storage outside of your home. To do this, you need to set up a password-protected “hole” in your internet router from the outside. However, this is the downside of this solution, as making mistakes can result in strangers gaining access and causing damage. Therefore, a NAS requires regular maintenance work.
Pros
Data Security: All your data is stored on your own hard drives and not on a third-party server, this gives you greater control over your own data security.
Accessibility: NAS storage is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, making it a convenient option for people who work remotely or travel frequently.
Cost-Effective: NAS devices are cost-effective since they can store large amounts of data while avoiding the recurring costs associated with cloud storage.
Data Backup: NAS storage often includes backup options, ensuring that your data is safe even if a server fails.
Scalability: NAS storage is scalable, and you can easily adjust your storage needs based on your usage requirements.
Cons
Technical Expertise: Setting up and configuring a NAS device can be challenging for people without technical expertise.
Dependence on the Device: If the NAS device fails, all your data will be lost or inaccessible until the device is repaired or replaced.
Security Risks: Making mistakes in configuring the device can expose your data to external threats, such as hacking and malware.
Maintenance: NAS devices require regular maintenance to ensure that they remain secure and functional.
Cost: The initial setup cost for a NAS device is relatively high, and it requires additional hardware purchases, such as hard drives and network equipment.
Summary
When you should decide between a cloud storage provider and external hard drives or NAS storage, it is Important that you consider all the pros and cons of each Storage-Option.
Cloud storage offers scalability, accessibility, data backup, collaboration, and automatic updates but can be expensive, dependent on internet connectivity, and raises privacy concerns. External hard drives are relatively inexpensive, portable, and offer data security but are dependent on a single drive and have a limited lifespan.
NAS storage provides data security, accessibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and data backup, but requires technical expertise and regular maintenance. Ultimately, the best option depends on personal preferences, needs, and technical abilities.
My Name is James R. Kindly i am the founder and primary author of Storaclix, a website dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights on Linux administration, Oracle administration, and Storage.
With over 20 years of experience as a Linux and Oracle database administrator, i have accumulated extensive knowledge and expertise in managing complex IT infrastructures and databases.
Perhaps many Publisher were shocked by an email from Amazon Associates, where Amazon announced that they no longer Support the SiteStripe Features “Image” and “Text+Image”. Links created on Publishers Websites using Image or Text+Image creates Read more…
Contents1 “The Potential Dangers Backlinks Can Pose for SEO”2 “What’s Google’s Issue with Backlinks?”3 “Building a Clean and Effective Backlink Strategy”4 Successful SEO Without Backlinks:5 “Consequences of a Google Penalty: The Manual Action by Google”6 Read more…
In today’s digitally connected world, ensuring the security and stability of software applications has become a critical aspect of development. Sandboxing is a technique that provides a secure environment for testing and running applications, isolating Read more…
0 Comments