What are the disadvantages of cloud computing?
There are lots of security measures in place but even so, you may worry about handing custody of your personal files to a third party so here are some things to be aware of;
There is the risk that unauthorised users might gain access to your information.
You are dependent on the provider of the Cloud services you access – in the very unlikely event that their server ceases to operate, you run the risk of losing all your information.
If you happen to be somewhere without a broadband connection you won’t be able to access your files.
There are many companies offering Cloud based storage with a variety of plans both free and paid for, so when you know how much you will want to store online you can choose the plan that suits your needs.
If you decide to use Cloud storage to back up your files, it is always a good idea to have at least one more copy of them stored safely elsewhere such as an external hard-drive and remember to use strong passwords for your Cloud accounts.
How easy is it to use?
The easiest way to start using the Cloud in my opinion is via a service called Dropbox. Currently the free allowance is 2GB. To upgrade your allowance to 1TB (approx 1000GB) the cost is currently £7.99 per month (as at April ’18). It takes seconds to create the free account, then all you need to do is download the desktop Dropbox application and drag and drop files into the new Dropbox folder that’s created. Your files are then copied (synchronised) to your online Dropbox folder and that’s it…
You would then be able to log into the online folder from where-ever you are and see the files you’ve stored there.
For many people this is still a new concept and can seem difficult to imagine at first, so if you’re interested to give it a try and would like some help – please get in touch.
If you would like me to visit and advise on setting up Cloud based storage, give me a call on 01452 506529 or send me a message via my contact page.
