The Pros and Cons of Using Cloud Storage to Backup Your Personal Files

Have you considered cloud storage for your personal files? It is so important to keep your valuable information, videos and treasured photos in a safe and secure place. Up to now, you may have thought that just backing up your files on your PC was enough.

What happens, though, if your PC suffers a major crash and all of your personal data is lost? The pros and cons of cloud storage are discussed below.

Pros of Using Cloud Storage

• Access from mobile devices - If you might need to access your personal files while you are out and about, cloud storage will certainly work to your benefit. It can be accessed on mobile devices and any personal computer that can connect to the Internet.
• Cost effective - Free cloud storage is available that can provide you with a good bit of space for your personal files. Storage that has no cost or a low cost is hard to beat.
• Ability to share - You may want to share some of your personal photos with family members and friends. When using cloud storage, you can easily do this. Your files will be accessible to others, enabling you to share information and photos with anyone else.
• Convenience - Cloud storage is very convenient since it can be accessed from any mobile device. If you are on the go and want to check something out in your personal files, you will not need to wait until you get back home and are sitting by your PC. You will be able to access your files anywhere at anytime as long as you have an Internet connection. Backups can be set to run automatically, so you don’t have to remember to manually backup new files.

Cons of Using Cloud Storage

• Need to have Internet access- With cloud storage, you can access your personal files as long as you can connect to the Internet. There’s the rub. If you do not have access to the Internet, you also do not have access to your files.
• Slow download - If you have a slow Internet connection and are downloading a large file, you will have a long wait. This can be quite a hassle during those times when you might be in a hurry for the information.
• Limited storage - Cloud storage can work fine for your personal files if you do not have large quantities of information to store. If you do, though, there may be a problem due to the fact that cloud storage can only provide you with a limited amount of space.
• Hacking - You will need to be certain that the particular cloud storage provider you choose can supply you with good online security. In a perfect world, hacking would never happen. Unfortunately, hacking is possible, and you may need to store your personal files in another location besides cloud storage just to be safe.

Cloud storage can be an asset to you when storing and backing up valuable and treasured videos, data and photos. You should consider the pros and cons, though, and compare the services offered by different providers to decide if this type of storage will work for your particular needs.

Guest blogger Lucy Matthews writes for a site that has more tips on using cloud storage, including reviews of the different companies offering this type of service.