Cloud technology has become very popular in recent years because it gives organizations and individuals non-demand access to software and hardware operated by service providers. Cloud storage services do benefit many companies. However, some organizations consider local storage to be a more efficient answer. To get started, we need to be clear about the difference between these two different types.
- Cloud storage is storing digital data in a space that extends to multiple servers and locations and is usually hosted by the company.
- Local storage is the act of storing digital data on physical storage devices such as hard drives (HDD), solid-state drives (SSD), and external storage devices such as USB memory drives and disks.
Cloud Storage vs. Local storage
Benefits of Cloud Storage
Cost
Buying hardware or physical storage can be expensive. Cloud storage is cheaper per GB as compared to using external drives.
Security
Cloud storage is way more secure than local storage, as providers have added additional security layers to their services. Thanks to encryption algorithms, only authorized employees like you and your employees can access documents and files stored in secure cloud storage.
Accessibility
With the help of cloud storage, you can access your files from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection.
Syncing and Updating
When you work with cloud storage, you sync and update every time you make changes to a file across all your devices. This saves time and makes work easier.
Recovery
If a hard drive crashes or other hardware malfunction, you can access your files in the cloud, which serves as a backup solution for your local storage on the physical drive.
Challenges of Cloud Storage
Downtime
Downtime should be considered when using cloud computing, as cloud storage providers may face power loss, poor Internet connectivity, service management, etc., all of which affect performance.
Internet connectivity
It is an element. Cloud computing requires a good internet connection. Otherwise, data from the cloud cannot be collected in any other way.
Benefits of Local Storage
Speed
Storing data on external hard drives is way much faster than uploading data to the cloud. You have full control over your backups and better control over who has access to your data.
Security controls
You have full access to how the data is stored, access to security protocols, and information about security protocols.
Capacity
One of the main benefits of local storage is capacity. 15GB is undoubtedly a reasonable amount for cloud storage, but hard drives can quickly provide 2TB.
Challenges of Local Storage
Accessibility
One limitation of local storage is that data is not easily accessible and is more challenging to share with others. To do that, you need to upload it to the hosted server and then send an email or link to the desired user.
Cost
The cost of hardware and infrastructure is high, and adding and upgrading storage only increases the value.
Backup/ Recovery
If your server dies, the data dies with it. This is a significant concern for startups when migrating data to the cloud. Locally stored data is more prone to unforeseen events such as fire and flooding and can quickly lose local storage and local backups—the best option.
As with any technology decision, the best choice for you depends on your business goals. Today, many businesses thrive with cloud storage vs. local storage, since cloud storage is easy to deploy and maintain. In case you want to gain more knowledge about the best cloud storage service and other document management solutions that we here at Docupile provide, contact us today.