Is Cloud Hosting a Safe Online Storage Solution?

There was a time when all of our photos, music, and documents were primarily stored on our hard drives, causing them to fill up quickly and slow down as a result. The next step was to place our files on CDs, but as we all know, they only hold so much, and that is not much at all. Of course, everyone was thrilled when memory cards and USB memory sticks became available because they gave us much more room. However, today one of the most popular methods of storing files is through an online storage account.

Is Data Properly Protected on the Internet?

This is an important thing to look at, especially if you have extremely sensitive material, you do not want to fall into the wrong hands. So, let us first take a quick look at what data security is all about. There are a couple of methods of being sure your files are safe. The first is that cloud servers offer you the option of generating your own unique password so that only you, and of course whoever you have given the password to can access them. However, this method of security is not fool proof and may only serve those who have nothing “important” in their account.

What is Data Encryption?

Prior to the advent of the internet and end users, data encryption was something primarily used by military and government agencies. Of course, today the public uses encryption all the time without even realizing it. Data encryption speaks to algorithmic schemes and math calculations that convert plain text into what is called cyphertext. Cyphertext is not a readable form of text, as it is basically just a bunch of code that looks like a series of numbers and symbols. Whenever you transmit chat messages, emails or just about anything else over the internet, the data is encrypted for your protection.

Is Data Automatically Encrypted on Cloud Servers?

This is a bit complicated, and the answer is not necessarily. This feature is one of the many options you will be given when looking at a cloud storage account. If you have financial, legal, medical, or other confidential material you would like to store then encryption is going to be vital. Because of this, you must be sure that you choose a plan that offers password protection as well as encryption. Hackers are quite good at using a variety of programs and methods to get your password. For this reason, being doubly protected is a very good idea.

What Happens If The Cloud Server Crashes?

The beauty of online cloud storage is that your information is not only stored on one server. If you choose a reputable company, you can be sure that your data will be placed on a number of servers located at various geographical locations. This is done for obvious reasons, as there is no way to tell when a natural disaster or other tragedy may strike. If your files are located on severs that happen to be in a building that explodes for example, they would be lost were it not for the fact your files are safe elsewhere as well. While this scenario is unlikely, it is nice to know the precaution is taken.

A good clue that you are transmitting or accessing data on a secure site is to look at your address bar. You may notice when you go to bank websites or other financial sites such as PayPal, you will see “https,” rather than “http.” This allows you to see that you are using a secure site. To sum it up, cloud storage is quite safe and convenient. The only thing you need to be sure of is that you are using the most reliable company and getting the best deal for your money.

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