subject: An Introduction To Cloud Storage Providers [print this page] Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about "cloud computing". Its many different facets include web-based email, on-line office applications, file-sharing, and on-line backup. These functions fall into the category of cloud storage providers.
There are several good reasons to utilize these on-line services. Someone who uses an on-line office application might not want to pay for a normal office suite, or might just need to store the documents where he can access them from anyplace. Indeed, by storing documents on-line, you can go anyplace in the world where there's Internet service and still get to them.
Or, perhaps you just need to share some documents. On-line office applications let you grant access to anyone who may need to either edit or view your documents. Or, perhaps you'd want to store some family pictures on the web, so that everybody and his brother can see them.
Web-based email is another of these services. It's no longer mandatory to install an email client on your computer and download the email messages before you're allowed to see them. Now, wherever you go in this Internet-connected world, you'll be able to view your messages from any computer.
Another aspect is on-line backup. If your business uses computers, you've always been told about the importance of performing backups, and about how you should have both on-site and off-site backups. These backup services offer an alternative to having to build your own off-site facility.
Home users can use these on-line backup outfits, also. Some offer a program that can automatically back-up a computer as you're using it. That way, you'll never have to remember to do a manual backup. Most services work on either Windows or MacOS computers. (If you're a Linux user, you'll also find services that work with it.)
By searching the web, you'll be able to find plenty of cloud storage providers.
