Keeping data in the cloud means that there is always a remote backup, and it becomes accesable no matter where you are, so long as there is a decent enough Internet connection.
However, there are now many free to use 'cloud' services which are of some benefit for home users. What this means is that people can copy their important files, pictures and documents up to these cloud based storage locations thus removing the worry of something happening to their local hard drive, and potentially losing everything. And, many of these services are free up to a point. Here are some of the most popular ones;
SkyDrive dates back to 2007 when it was then released to a limited audience when it was known as Windows Live Folders. It allows up to 7GB of online storage free of charge but additional capacity can be purchased from Microsoft for £32 per year for 100GB.
Users who sign up to the service do need to have either a Hotmail or Live mail email account but again, these are free to use services.
Data can be uploaded or accessed by either downloading some client software (availabvle for just about every platform, including smart phones) or via a web broswer, so is extremely versatile.
It is also possible to created shared and public folders as well as secure and private ones.
iCloud is Apple's online storage and backup service for those people who have an Apple device with an associated account. It boasts 5GB of storage which is included free of charge.
Devices connected will automatically upload any setting, pictures, internet favourites and even text massages to the iCloud which means that it is easy to restorte a device from a backup or transfer all of this to a newly upgraded device.
Extra storage is available for £14 per year for 15GB, £28 for 25GB or £70 for 55GB.
Google drive is another great way of keeping information in the cloud and is a must for those people who use Gmail.
Like iCloud, it comes with 5GB of free storage and has a client for all popular devices, operating systems and amrt phones, including Android and iPhone.
Google Drive also work in conjunction with Google Docs, which means that if you're working on a project in a shared environment, then any changes will be replicated for all users automatically.
Additional storage can be purchased and there are a number of different plans.
Dropbox has been around since 2008 and is one of the worlds most popular free online storage solutions.
It is available to anyone and does not insist on a user having a specific email account.
It boasts a friendly and easy to use uinterface, can be accessed by eithe client software or a web browser and has private and shared folder options.
A stagdard account comes with 2GB storage which is free. More can be purchased but the account does get topped up if you refer a friend.
This is the newest of the bunch and like Google Drive, it offers 5GB of free storage.
However, unlike the others, as well as the data storage, it also has a free 'Cloud Player' service. This allows for up to 250 songs to be stored which can be then played back by any number of compatiable devices which are connected to the Internet.
Again, additional storage plans can be purchased for anything from 20GB right up to 1000GB.
In summary, this is just the start. Internet connections will become faster and more reliable and storage costs will come down, resulting in more space being availbe for less cost. Who knows, at some point in the future local data storage could become a thing of the past.
One final thought - where is the 'cloud'?
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