Cloud storage is off-site storage that’s maintained by a third party and an alternative to storing data on-premises. Cloud storage safely and securely saves your important files and docs to a remote database so you don’t have to store it to your computer hard drive or other storage device.
Cloud storage has many advantages over hard drive storage. First, you don’t have to physically possess the storage device as you would with a flash drive, for example, so you don’t run the risk of losing irreplaceable content. Second, cloud storage makes it easy to share content. Just share a Dropbox folder with a coworker and they can instantly access the content within it.
Another great reason to use cloud storage is the cost savings. It’s much more affordable—and smart—to buy as much cloud storage space as you need for a nominal fee rather than buying and maintaining lots of hard drive storage space.
In cloud computing, cloud storage services work as a network of connected data servers collectively used to share and access your files across devices. Cloud storage providers own and maintain the offsite servers that make up this network at their data centers. Users can upload files to the servers and access their cloud data via website, desktop app, or mobile app.
Cloud storage benefits include easily storing, accessing, and protecting your content via the internet. You can streamline work and outdated storage systems by uploading nearly any file and accessing it from multiple devices.
You can also rest easy knowing all your important files are stored in a safe, off-site location. This is especially useful in times of disaster recovery and if your hard drive lets you down.
Reducing resources used to manage your content is an additional benefit of online storage for businesses. Teams can choose the right cloud storage space and pricing that works for their needs, while also cutting energy and maintenance costs associated with data management.
Dropbox offers various cloud storage options. Whether you’re an individual, small business, or large company, using Dropbox for cloud storage lets you store everything safely in the cloud and access file uploads from multiple devices.
The benefits of Dropbox for business users include various storage space options to fit your team’s needs, collaboration and productivity tools, and robust data protection, including two-factor authentication.
The cost of cloud storage depends on the amount of space you actually need. Dropbox cloud storage offers a range of plans that uniquely meet personal, small, and large business plan needs. For those who don’t need a lot of storage, Dropbox Basic is a free plan with 2GB of storage.
For teams with larger file storage needs, Dropbox Advanced is designed to provide as much storage space as required. Teams on the Advanced plan may be eligible for additional space over time when requested, providing it is reasonable and can be granted in a way that allows us to manage storage responsibly.
You can access your cloud storage with Dropbox on your phone using the Dropbox app as long as your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. You can also access cloud storage via a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems one of two ways: either through the web on dropbox.com or with our desktop app. You just need to make sure your device is connected to the internet to upload and access your files.
