When Disaster Strikes!

Imagine working on your laptop and suddenly, for no apparent reason, it just turns off and restarts. Or, how about, you go to put your coffee down, and instead, it accidently slips out of your hand and pours onto your laptop. You try to reboot the laptop, but it is just not happening. The experts say the operating system is probably crashed and the only option is to format the laptop and install a new operating system. That means you risk losing all your important documents, your entire database and all your years of hard work may have gone down the drain.

I’m sure we can all tell stories of how we either lost our laptops or damaged them inadvertently. But how do we ensure we do not lose our important documents when this happens?

Cloud Storage is the perfect solution for you!

Cloud storage is basically storing information on a virtual drive and making it accessible for all approved users through a dedicated software from any device which has internet access.

There are a host of cloud storage software out there that help to manage the data of individuals and/or businesses.

In this blog, we are going to consider some popular options and discuss their key features to help you decide on what best suits you.

Let’s get started.

Google Drive

Google Drive works as an extension to already existing google applications (Google Workspace) like Google photos, Sheets, Slides and Docs. This simply means Google Drive provides the opportunity to the user to work from the interface.

It offers free 15GB for new account users. Users have the option to upgrade the plan if they want to enjoy higher storage capacities with a low monthly fee. You can also access other great offers here. Dominant features of Google Drive that makes it one of the outstanding cloud storages are:

• Easy to work with

• Simplicity

• 15GB free storage space

• Affordability

However, the security protocols on Google Drive can be improved upon. It does not have end to end encryption which does not give it the best security especially for businesses. The web interface can also get a little complicated for some users.

IDrive

IDrive ranks highly among the best cloud storage software out there. It’s available across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It boasts of top-notch features like;

• High Security

• End to End Encryption

• Ease of use

• Competitive pricing

• Compatibility with most devices and Operating systems

IDrive offers up to 5GB free for new users who want to test it out. It further offers up to 10TB for individuals & 50TB for businesses for paid rates. The rates for individuals are reasonably low for the first year but then do rise substantially in the following year. Detailed breakdown of rates can be accessed here.

OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive is the main cloud storage software for Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 users. It is fully integrated with Windows Operating System and has the ability to share files with users who may not have OneDrive accounts. OneDrive enables users to free up space without necessarily deleting files.

It offers up to 5GB free for new accounts which can also be upgraded to fully paid plans which can start with a low monthly minimum amount. For a plan (more details here).

Some key features for OneDrive include;

• Enhanced Security

• Free for Microsoft 365 users

• Customizable sync experience

• Data Loss Protection

Despite the amazing features, OneDrive can only be accessed on a maximum of 36 devices which may sound a lot, but some other software can be accessed on unlimited devices which is a huge advantage if you have a big organisation. It also does not readily support third party integrations and has limited offline access.   

Dropbox

Dropbox is the leading app in file sharing. It boasts of several features that helps to make sharing of large files with others quite easy. You do not necessarily have to register for an account on Dropbox to access shared files. It also boasts of a free plan of 2GB for new users which can be upgraded to a paid monthly plan (more details here).

Dropbox is usually recommended for users with personal cloud storage needs. It offers very affordable rates with an incredible user interface. Key features on Dropbox are;

• Encryption of data at Rest and in transit.

• Affordability

• Ease of Use

• Ease of third-party integrations

However, one limitation on Dropbox is that it has no backup features. It only stores what you transfer to the Dropbox folder on your device.

Now that you are better informed on the options for cloud storage, take your time, review, and select the software that suits and meets you and your organization’s needs the most.