For those who worry about data breaches, personal cloud storage offers a solution. It is not only cheaper, but also more secure and faster than a subscription-based cloud service.
You’ll need to invest in a network-attached storage (NAS) device, but these can be purchased for under $200, saving you from recurring costs. Then it’s just a matter of connecting them to your home Wi-Fi network.
It’s more secure
A personal cloud storage system is an excellent alternative to public cloud services, but it’s not without its risks. For example, a personal cloud will need to be connected to your home WiFi network, which could leave you vulnerable to hacker attacks and other cyberattacks. You’ll also need to keep the system updated, but many companies are quite good at reacting to new threats and offering updates.
Unlike a public cloud storage service, you’ll have more control over your data. You’ll know where your files are stored at all times, and you can choose who has access to them. This is especially important for business users, who don’t want their data to fall into the wrong hands. Similarly, you won’t have to worry about your storage provider spying on you.
Another benefit of a personal cloud is speed. The system can be accessed much more quickly than a public cloud service, since your files don’t need to travel as far. The system also offers a higher level of privacy, as you’ll be the only one who can access your data. However, you won’t get the same level of protection against a natural disaster or a fire, as you would with a dedicated data center. Moreover, your data can be stolen in a home theft. This is why it’s a good idea to add an online backup service to your personal cloud storage.
It’s faster
While the syncing capabilities of personal cloud storage are not as quick as those offered by public clouds, they still offer fast access to files. In addition, they are more reliable because file data is copied to multiple servers located around the country or world.
Unlike traditional hard drive storage, a personal cloud allows users to easily back up all their data and access it from any device. This is particularly useful if the hard drive fails or if they want to change their computer. In addition, a personal cloud is easy to move between devices and offers more space than hard drives.
A personal cloud is a network-attached storage (NAS) device that is used by individuals to store their data, photos, music and videos. It can be accessed by multiple computers and mobile devices via a web browser or app. It is also compatible with various media formats and can be backed up to and restored from a variety of devices.
There are several vendors that sell NAS devices designed for personal cloud use, including Apple iCloud, Google Drive and Microsoft SkyDrive. Some come with installed hard drives, while others are diskless and require users to install their own. These NAS devices typically provide RAID or JBOD striping, and many offer single and dual drive models with capacity ranging up to 8 TB. There are also do-it-yourself options that allow you to set up your own server and run client-server software such as OwnCloud or Seafile, but this requires a bit more technical knowledge than buying a ready-made NAS device.
It’s cheaper
Personal cloud storage is cheaper than other forms of storage because you don’t have to pay for a company that hosts and manages your data. You also don’t have to pay for cooling systems and electricity that keep the servers up and running 24/7, and you don’t have to pay for hardware maintenance.
A home-made personal cloud can be set up in a matter of minutes by attaching a USB hard drive to a Wi-Fi router. Alternatively, you can purchase a consumer-friendly cloud system from companies like Western Digital and Seagate. These systems are based on NAS devices and allow you to store and access files from both wired and wireless computers.
Another advantage of a home-based personal cloud is that it’s faster than using a service provider because data doesn’t have to travel as far. This means that file synchronization is more reliable and media streaming is much faster.
In addition to being fast and cheap, a personal cloud gives you complete control over your data. This is especially important in a time when cyberattacks are common. If you are concerned about data breaches, a personal cloud is a great choice. Despite the advantages, there are some drawbacks to personal cloud storage, including the risk of losing data if the device is damaged or fails. It’s also possible to run out of storage space.
It’s easier
If you’re concerned about data breaches and want to keep your media local on your own devices, building a personal cloud at home can be cheaper and easier than using commercial services. It also avoids recurring charges, which is particularly important if you have a lot of files. Many personal storage solutions are under a couple hundred dollars, while others can be much lower.
A personal cloud can be made out of a network-attached storage device, or NAS, that connects to your Wi-Fi router. Some of these devices are diskless and users install their own drives, while others have drive bays that can be expanded. They typically support RAID or JBOD configurations and offer capacities up to 8 TB (a terabyte is equal to 1,024 gigabytes).
Another option for personal cloud storage is to build your own server. This do-it-yourself approach involves running client software on computers and mobile devices that will access the server. While this type of solution may be more difficult for average consumers to set up and maintain, it offers a high level of security.
Unlike public cloud services, which must share information with government agencies in order to comply with laws like the European Union’s GDPR, most private systems use zero-knowledge encryption to keep your data secure. However, you should note that if you fail to install updates or are negligent in protecting your system, the data on it could be at risk of attack.
