Explainer
What is cloud storage?
Cloud storage means your files are not on your own computer or server, but on a provider's servers, reachable over the internet. Below you read how it works, what it offers and what to look out for.
Cloud storage means your files are not on your own computer or server, but on a provider's servers, reachable over the internet. Below you read how it works, what it offers and what to look out for.
With cloud storage you save files in a provider's datacenter. You open them through an app or browser, on any device with internet. The provider takes care of the hardware, the power, the security and the backups of those servers; you manage who can access which files.
The word "cloud" says nothing about a cloud: these are ordinary servers in a building. Where that building is, and which law the provider falls under, decides what may happen to your data. That is why the location matters more than the name of the service. See also our article on GDPR compliant cloud storage.
You drag files into the web interface or let a folder on your computer sync automatically with the cloud.
Your files are sent and stored encrypted in a datacenter, often on several disks or locations at the same time.
You work on the same files from any device and share them with a link or with users you give access.
| Cloud storage | Local disk or server | Own NAS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access from anywhere | Yes, over the internet | No, only on the device or network | Yes, if you set up remote access |
| Management and maintenance | By the provider | By yourself | By yourself or an administrator |
| Costs | Subscription per month or year | One-off purchase plus replacement | Purchase, disks and management |
| Backup | Usually included or optional | Arrange it yourself | Arrange it yourself |
| Data location | Decided by the provider, check this | With you | With you or in a datacenter |
Want your own Synology NAS without hardware in house? See Synology VPS or dedicated Synology NAS hosting.
Work from the office, home or on the road without carrying files.
You pay for what you use and expand when needed.
A broken laptop no longer means lost files.
Know where your data is stored and who can request it.
Without internet you are limited. Also check how you can switch and take your data with you.
Subscriptions keep running. Compare the price per user and per TB.
vBoxxCloud is our own cloud storage, hosted in the Netherlands. Read more about the options on European cloud storage. Want to know how much storage you need? Read 1 TB in GB.
Cloud storage keeps your files accessible and syncs them between devices. A backup keeps separate copies at a fixed moment, so you can return to an earlier state, for example after ransomware. Many businesses use both. See our backup solutions.
That depends on the provider and on your settings. Look at encryption, two-factor authentication, certifications such as ISO 27001 and where the servers are. At vBoxx your files are stored in ISO 27001-certified datacenters in the Netherlands.
That differs per provider and per amount of storage and users. You will find the prices of vBoxxCloud on the product page, excl. VAT.
Cloud storage can be GDPR compliant, but that is not a given. You need a data processing agreement and must know where the data is stored. Read more in GDPR compliant cloud storage.
Cloud storage that stays in Europe.
Try vBoxxCloud free for 14 days.