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Small and medium sized enterprises generally use centralized servers and external hard drives for storing their data. But this technology is getting fairly old as new technologies are emerging in the market everyday. Small business should look into changing their storage solutions because hard drives can be easily stolen, are not so secure and can not cater to excessive data. A better option is to use online data storage services via cloud solutions.
Cloud storage provides an easy way to store and protect data. The benefits of using cloud storage are as follows:
Accessibility
Business timings from the traditional 9 am to 6 pm day are no longer valid. With the advancements in technology, timings have become extremely flexible with options for working at home or another location in a different region. Cloud storage allows users to access data from anywhere in the world through a software or an online site. The data can easily be uploaded and shared with unlimited people.
Excessive Capacity
Cloud storage is not confined to the limitations of a hard drive in terms of storage. The maximum space needed can be easily adjusted. So the payment is only for the space utilized. There are also options to schedule backups every day, every week or every month.
Security
When using physical objects for storing data, there are some risks involved. The drive can be lost, stolen or damaged. However, data centers are equipped with very high security and there are no chances for misplaced or stolen data.
There are many services which provide cloud storage at an affordable price. A review of the best of these for small businesses is giving below. You can also find further details on cloud storage services here: http://bestonlinecloudstorage.net/
Dropbox
Dropbox is a very simple program to use. It allows users to work with the same programs and tools. The only thing which is required is saving them in a different location, which is the Dropbox folder. All files saved in this folder can be accessed through the online site as well as other systems with the Dropbox application installed. Even if there is no internet connectivity, the files will still be available in the folder. Changes in different folders on separate PCs are automatically synced.
Dropbox runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry and even Android phones. It is easy to install the software. Admin accounts control other accounts, and can limit employees’ feature or give them more access.
Google Apps
Google Apps don’t make use of any software. The administration and time to use this service needed are minimal. 25GB of storage is given to each employee in their email account. The accounts are integrated with Google Docs, which serves as a medium for storing files using the cloud technology. The drawback is that initially only 1GB is given for storing files but more capacity can be bought at a low price.
Google Apps is preferred by many because of its spam protection. There are many features which contribute to an increase in productivity. It can be used from PCs, smart phones, and any other device with an Internet connection.
Amazon Cloud
You can use Amazon Cloud Storage to hold your files and access them via a PC download client or through devices like the Kindle Fire line of tablets.
Microsoft SkyDrive
Another online service that has PC and mobile applications which allow you to transfer and share your files and documents online that offers a fairly large amount of initial free space. It used to be 20GB of free storage, but they had since lowered the free storage plan storage.
There are numerous services you can use for your cloud storage needs, which ones do you currently use or prefer?
We are influencers and brand affiliates. This post contains affiliate links, most which go to Amazon and are Geo-Affiliate links to nearest Amazon store.
I have been obsessed with computers, tech, gadgets and games since the early 1980’s having grown up on the Commodore 64 and Amiga computers.
By day I work in the IT Security Industry and have been in IT for over 20 years. On my spare time I am a Vlogger, Blogger, Streamer, Gadget Reviewer, affiliate marketer, influencer and entertainer. I am also an avid movie fan, TV Show fan, Anime fan, video game fan and fan of trying anything and everything new.