The terms “cloud storage” and “cloud computing” are oftentimes used interchangeably. One may be tempted to believe they have the same meaning, but this is far from the truth. As much as cloud computing and cloud storage have a lot in common and are derived from the same source (the cloud), they are actually different concepts. We will examine the differences between these concepts in this article.
Cloud Storage
When the average person first thinks about cloud storage, they will likely think about storing files, (example: songs, videos, and applications) on a remote server to be retrieved from multiple devices any time he or she needs them. This is correct! Cloud storage is essentially a system that allows you to store data on the Internet, as you would save on a computer. Whether you’re talking about Google Drive, DropBox, or iCloud, the definition of cloud storage remains the same. It enables you to upload data through the Internet to cloud-based servers. Once you’ve stored your data on the cloud, you, or any other person you give access to, can then go ahead and access it from multiple devices using the Internet as a medium.
Businesses use cloud storage to store documents and share them with others. It helps in preserving your important documents and files while at the same time giving you a better opportunity to collaborate on a project with other people through data sharing. Personally, you can use it to store media files and emails. It gives you almost unlimited data storage space. Also, it's cheaper and more secure than traditional storage mediums. No wonder cloud storage is quickly replacing physical storage systems!
Cloud Computing
You use cloud storage to save and keep data. Cloud computing, on the other hand, is used to work on and complete specified projects. Cloud computing is linked with cloud storage in that you have to move data to the cloud (cloud storage) before you can make use of cloud computing systems. Once the data is moved to the cloud, however, you or someone else can process it into useful material and send it back to you. An example of Cloud Computing is Software as a Service (SaaS), where you input data on software and the data is transformed remotely through a software interface without your computer being involved.
Cloud computing is gaining ground in the digital and business world. This is because of its numerous benefits. It ensures better collaboration, transparency, efficiency, and innovation in its solutions. It also reduces barriers to communication and gives you access to a wider audience, including customers and contractors.
Some distinguishing factors between cloud storage and cloud computing include:
- Cloud computing requires higher processing power than cloud storage. Cloud storage, on the other hand, needs more storage space.
- Cloud computing is essentially targeted towards businesses. Cloud storage, on the other hand, is utilized both for professional and personal reasons.
- Cloud storage is simply a data storage and sharing medium, while cloud computing gives you the ability to remotely work on and transform data (for example, coding an application remotely).
These are the essential differences between cloud storage and cloud computing systems. In as much as they are interconnected, they are different concepts and shouldn’t be muddled up.
