Cloud Storage vs. Local File Storage
Cloud adoption is one of the most popular IT trends for businesses, especially in the new era of remote work. However, while businesses quickly jumped on cloud collaboration platforms, cloud storage prompts some questions and concerns.
They mostly boiled down to the same point: Is cloud storage better, faster, more secure than local file storage? In short, it depends on your business goals. Understanding the pros and cons of cloud storage vs. local storage is a good place to start investigating.
Benefits of Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is a model of digital storage in which data is stored on multiple servers in multiple locations, owned and managed by a hosting company. These servers and locations make up what you refer to as “the cloud”.
The benefits of cloud storage include:
- Cost-Effectiveness: It is cheaper to use servers owned by a hosting company rather than pay for physical storage space and hardware.
- Security: Cloud storage uses encryption algorithms to keep your data protected from unauthorized users.
- Accessibility: You can access files stored in the cloud remotely.
- Recovery: Cloud storage keeps backups of your data on its remote servers. If a hard drive fails, you can still recover data in the cloud. When you update files, they automatically sync to the cloud so you can always access the latest version.
Benefits of Local Storage
Local storage is a model of digital storage that involves storing digital data on physical hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs) and external storage devices.
The benefits of local storage include:
- Speed: Storing files locally is faster than uploading data to the cloud.
- Security: You can monitor who accesses the physical storage systems. You should have a surveillance system in place.
- Storage Space: Physical hard drives often provide up to 2TB of storage space. This is more than basic cloud subscription plans allow.
Disadvantages of Cloud Storage
There are certain disadvantages of cloud storage. For example:
- It takes longer to upload data to the cloud.
- Unless you have online access established, you can only access cloud files with an Internet connection.
- If many people are using a cloud server simultaneously, you may experience slow load times.
Disadvantages of Local Storage
Local storage also has several drawbacks, many of which revolve around limited accessibility for modern workflows. If your company has remote workers or multiple locations, local file storage may present problems like:
- Employees cannot access data remotely, and it is harder to share files with teammates in different locations.
- If your server dies, you lose all of your data. Even companies that use local storage should still have a cloud backup solution for data recovery.
- Local storage is more expensive to obtain, maintain and upgrade. Your company needs to purchase all of the hardware.
Is Cloud Storage Right for You?
If your company wants to streamline data storage capabilities, migrating to the cloud might be the best solution. ITConnexion can work with you to develop a personalised cloud storage solution that includes the technological capabilities that matter to you. To learn more about your cloud technology options, call us on 1300 892 200.
