Cloud Computing: What is ‘the Cloud’?

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The cloud, cloud storage, cloud computing – you might’ve heard these terms before, but what exactly do they mean?

In this article, we’ll explain what the cloud actually is, and how you can use the cloud to streamline your computer-use.

What is the Cloud?

Put simply, the cloud is the internet. When something is stored on the cloud, the file exists on internet servers rather than on a hard drive.

One of the greatest benefits of cloud computing is remote access. Because cloud storage takes place over the internet, files stored in the cloud can be accessed by any internet-connected device.

For example, we can check our email on our home computer, our work laptop, and our smartphone because our emails are stored in the cloud. In contrast, we can’t access the photos saved on our home computer’s hard drive from our work computer.

The cloud is a metaphor for the internet. Files in the cloud can be accessed by any connected device.

If your home computer breaks, you can still access your emails on other devices. Unfortunately, the photos saved on the broken computer’s hard drive are probably gone for good.

3 Reasons to Use Cloud Computing

Now you know what cloud computing is, why use it?

We’ve already touched on one benefit – remote access. Now, let’s look at three more specific reasons to adopt cloud computing.

Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service.

1. Cloud Computing Simplifies File Storage

From photos to word docs, spreadsheets and mp3s, you can store just about any type of file on the cloud. This means you can access these files from any device, as long as you have an internet connection. Plus, cloud storage can save you valuable hard drive space. Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud are three popular cloud storage services.

2. Cloud Computing Makes File Sharing Much Easier

Cloud-based file sharing can be useful in a number of circumstances. For example, in the workplace, when two or more people are collaborating on a single word doc or spreadsheet. Or, you might like to share photos via the cloud with friends and family.

3. Cloud Computing is a Safe and Secure Method of Data Backup

As computer repair professionals, we’ve seen our fair share of broken hard drives and lost files. Backing up your important data is the only way to protect it against hard drive breakdown. There are many cloud-based applications that backup your data automatically, so you can simply set and forget. If you’d like help setting up cloud-based data backup, get in contact.