September 26, 2023
Internet, Management Tools, Technology

Cloud Backup vs Cloud Storage : What’s The Difference?

Storage of data and recovery of data has become important these days. Now organizations, businesses, and individuals are depending deliberately on computing for their day-to-day activities. The cloud allows you to approach your files and documents from far away even from different devices and locations.

You may have heard about cloud storage and cloud backup. However, it is difficult to find which one of them is better. Because each of them has its own functions and benefits, it might be possible that you need both of them at once.

So, moving forward let’s find out the functions and pros and cons of each of them.

What is Cloud?

First, we will get to know what a cloud is so that we can better understand cloud storage and backup. In wider terms, the cloud is such a place on the internet that stores your digital data and it allows you to easily access your data at any time.

The Internet is simply a network that allows computers to communicate with each other. An online function that gives you an approach to data that is stored distant is using the cloud in it. All websites on the internet have to store their data in someplace.

They could also store this data with themselves in some central location. But most websites like to use third force servers like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud. That means most websites on the internet use cloud technology.

Examples of Cloud

If you are not familiar with the cloud you can understand it in better ways with the help of these examples:

When you open your Google account you will have different features in it like Google Maps, Google Photos, and a triangle shape of three colors blue-yellow-green. It is google drive that stores your data safely and securely.
If you are using an iPhone, then you are well-informed with iCloud. It also stores your data.
We should also not forget about DropBox, which helps us a lot to store our important files and documents.

What is Cloud Backup?

Cloud backup is an application that is based on cloud computing. It allows you to automatically back up your applications, files, virtual machines, and servers and stores them securely for any catastrophic recovery process. It continuously runs and replicates your data rapidly in the cloud as soon as you have changed it. Cloud backup is a safeguard of your data and for the continuity of your business.

Cloud backup is usually developed around a local application that works on an automatic program in the background several times daily. This application gathers contracts, encodes, and transmits data to the service company’s servers. Service providers provide additional backups after the primary full backup to lessen the amount of data transmission rate and the time it requires to transfer files.

The original data remains in the actual location while the online backup is securely stored in the cloud so that it can be used for data recovery when needed. The cloud backup saves all data with a custom detention policy so you can secure corrupted data by bringing back initial file versions.

Types of Cloud Backup

It is essential to have a backup system to avoid system crashes or any antivirus threats or to take control of cyber threats.

Cloud backup has three different types, you can adopt any of these to store your data securely.

Below are the types of cloud backups let’s have a look at them:

1. Full Backups

A full backup copies all of your data on a certain day. We can use this type of backup to restore everything on your phone or laptop. The drawback of full backup is that it takes a lot of space.

It can be costly for you because you would have to buy storage space. Such types of backups are performed on a weekly basis.

2. Incremental Backups

Incremental backup is the one which only copies the data which you have changed after the last backup performed. This type of backup is more adequate because it does not copy the extra data which is not yet changed.

The drawback of this type of backup is that it takes a lot of time to restore your data. Every incremental backup has to be done in order. These backups are carried out every day.

3. Differential Backups

This type of backup copies all of your data that has been altered after the previous full backup. This type of backup is more effective in terms of storage because it does not copy unnecessary data. The downside of this type is that it takes a long time to restore.

Benefits of Using Cloud Backup

Below are some key benefits of cloud backup:

1. Easy to Use

One of the important benefits of cloud backup is that it is very user-friendly. You can quickly and conveniently backup your data with a few clicks.

There need to install any special software or hardware for this. And you can access your data without any hurdle with a secure internet connection.

2. Easy to Access

It is very easy to access your backup data, especially for business owners who can need their data at any time and anywhere.

It is very easy for them to access their data. With an internet connection, you can store and restore your data at any time.

3. Well-secured

Cloud backup is very secure to store your data. You can easily rely on this even for your confidential data. Because it is totally protected from cyber attacks or any hackers.

You can also use the encryption option for your data storage to make it more secure and safe.

4. Reliable and Cost-efficient

Cloud backup is extremely cost-effective. If you are using iCloud or DropBox, it provides its users with free primary plans.

Also, in their premium version the paid plans are very affordable. Cloud backup is very reliable, you can easily trust it for your data.

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is a data storage service that stores your digital information such as photos, videos, documents, and other types of media. It stores your data on virtual or cloud servers organized by third parties. It permits you to store your data on an offsite storage location which you can access easily later on. Cloud storage offers a lot of benefits. Its key benefit is providing us with a large storage capacity and low user cost.

To better grasp cloud storage, you can assume cloud storage as parking lots or rental apartments, which we use when we are in need of extra space. Because our laptops or smartphones do not have enough storage space. So, we have to rent out this extra space.

Cloud storage uses a minimum of one data server, and users can be connected to it through the internet. The user can send files to the data server and then the data server forwards the message to different servers. They sometimes do this manually or in an automated way by using the internet. The data stored can be accessible by using a web user interface.

Types of Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is almost an online hard drive to store and access digital data anywhere.

It has different types let’s check out them:

i. Private Cloud Storage

A private cloud storage system is also known as internal cloud storage. In this case, data is stored on the intranet of the company. This data is protected by the company’s own cyber security.

It is a great opportunity for companies that have extremely confidential and sensitive data.

ii. Public Cloud Storage

In public cloud storage, the user or the company doesn’t need to maintain data on their own. Public cloud storage is done by different service providers.

So, the opportunity to customize the security field is very less because they are common for all users. AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are some common cloud service providers.

iii. Hybrid Cloud Storage

It is a combo of both Private cloud storage and Public cloud storage. As its name is indicating, Hybrid cloud storage provides the best of both to its users.

In this, our data is stored on the private cloud, and information progressing tasks are being done on the public cloud by taking help from cloud computing services.

iv. Community Cloud Storage

This type of cloud storage is similar to a private cloud with some moderation in it. It offers cloud services to some particular businesses and communities.

Cloud storage customizes its cloud architecture, development tools, and software to meet the demand of the community.

It is best to be used by legal companies, health, and financial companies because they have confidential data.

Benefits of Cloud Storage

Here are some benefits of cloud storage :

i. Collaborative Tool

Cloud storage does not only sort out our space issues but also simplifies things for us. It also serves us with the accessibility of data and sharing of data.

Isn’t it cool that cloud storage is also a collaborative tool? Cloud storage service combines shared functions and cloud sync.

If cloud storage is installed on any device, it can access and work on files easily.

ii. Remotely Accessible

The most significant benefit of cloud storage is that it can be accessed easily at any time and at any place.

Even if you are away from your hometown enjoying vacations, you can also access your data there just by having an internet connection.

You can reach out to your data through your mobile phone.

iii. Limitless Adjustability

You can adjust your space requirements yourself. It Depends on how much data you store in storage, you can adjust storage according to your need.

It’s better to use cloud storage than using old hard drives which don’t give you the flexibility to increase or decrease storage as per your need.

iv. Cost & Time Effective

By using cloud storage, you can save time and money in an efficient way. Because many companies offer low offers to buy more storage which is quite affordable.