Cloud storage: the best way to manage and store data

Cloud storage is a place on the internet where you can safely store your files — like photos, videos, documents, or music. Instead of saving everything on your phone, laptop, or USB stick, you keep it in the “cloud” — a kind of online vault.

The great thing is: all your devices can access it. So you take a photo on your phone and later open it on your laptop. Everything comes together in one place, and you always have access to it — wherever you are, as long as you have an internet connection.

You can find more information about cloud storage in this blog article: What is cloud storage?

When you save something to the cloud, it’s actually sent to a big computer (a server). That server is located in a data centre somewhere, like in Norway if you use Jottacloud. You use an app or a website to upload or view your files.

Jottacloud is a great example. If your phone is almost full, you can move your photos and videos to Jottacloud. That way, you free up space without deleting anything. You can still view everything in the Jotta app, just like it’s still on your phone.

You can find more information about cloud storage in this blog article: What is cloud storage?

The cloud isn’t something floating in the sky. It’s made up of real computers, often large servers in secure buildings. With European services like Jottacloud, these servers are located in Europe. That’s reassuring, because Europe has strict privacy and security laws.

So: your files are stored safely somewhere, but you can always access them via the internet.

You can find more information about cloud storage in this blog article: What is cloud storage?

Cloud storage helps solve a few common problems:

• Your phone or laptop is full. Move your files to the cloud and free up space.
• You lose something. If your device breaks or gets stolen, your files are still safe in the cloud.
• Access from multiple devices. You can reach your stuff from anywhere, whether you’re on your laptop or phone.
• Security. Cloud storage is often safer than an external hard drive or USB stick.

You can find more information about cloud storage in this blog article: What is cloud storage?

A NAS is a device you connect to your home network. You can also store files on it, but you have to manage the security yourself. That can be pretty tricky.

And things can go wrong. Well-known brands like Synology and QNAP have had issues with hackers in the past. Due to flaws in their systems, outsiders could view or even delete files.

With cloud storage like Jottacloud, the security is already taken care of. Your files are stored safely, with passwords, encryption, and extra layers of protection. In addition, Jottacloud offers unlimited storage, so you never have to worry about whether you can upload all your files.

Below, we've created a comparison table that shows the differences between cloud storage and a NAS.

Local storage is quite straightforward: you save your files on a physical device, such as your computer, an external hard drive or a USB stick. The advantage? You always have access, as long as you have the device with you. The downside? If the device crashes, gets stolen or lost, your files are gone too. Plus, you have to manage the security yourself, something most people struggle with. This makes your files more vulnerable to viruses and malware.

Cloud storage, on the other hand, means your files are stored online. You upload them to a server via the internet and can access them from any device – whether you’re at home or on the other side of the world. Well-known examples of cloud storage are Google Drive, Dropbox, Jottacloud and OneDrive.

You can find more information about the difference between cloud storage and local storage in this article: cloud storage vs. local storage.

Cloud storage is mainly focused on accessibility: you manually move or copy files to the cloud so you can open them anywhere. That’s convenient, but it doesn’t offer full protection against errors, data loss or cyberattacks. On top of that, version control in cloud storage is often limited. You can sometimes go back to a previous version, but not to one from months ago or dozens of iterations earlier. Malware like ransomware often overwrites several versions, making the version history of cloud storage virtually useless in such cases.

Cloud backup goes a big step further. This system automatically makes a copy of your files – and sometimes even your entire system – and stores them securely in the cloud. A detailed version history is maintained, which you can configure to restore to a situation from six months or even a year ago. Perfect if you accidentally delete something, but also essential during serious incidents like a crash or ransomware attack. In those cases, you can restore everything precisely.

Cloud backup also comes with strong security: encryption, anti-ransomware and other protective measures ensure your data stays safe. That’s unlike cloud storage, where such security is not standard. Think of cloud backup as a secure online vault: data can go in, but not just come out. If something is retrieved, it must be because you started the recovery process yourself.

Finally, with cloud backup you can, in principle, restore everything. Not just your files, but also Windows, your programmes, databases, settings, licences – your entire digital workspace. Cloud storage only focuses on the files you manually select and upload.

You can find more information about cloud storage and backup in this blog article: cloud storage vs. local storage.

You probably know the drill: you get a message that your cloud storage is full, and now what? There are a few options:

• Time for a clean-up! Delete duplicate or unnecessary files. Think of all those screenshots you never look at again.
• Upgrade your storage: Often, you can get extra storage space for a small fee.
• Switch to a different provider: Is your current provider inflexible or too expensive? Then switching could be a smart move.

With Jottacloud, for example, it’s easy to upgrade to unlimited storage, so you don’t have to stress about what to keep or delete.

You can find more frequently asked questions about cloud storage in this blog article: frequently asked questions about cloud storage.

A very reasonable question, especially if you're uploading confidential documents or personal photos to the cloud. Luckily, cloud storage is generally secure, as long as you choose a trustworthy provider. For instance, check if the provider encrypts your data and whether the servers are located within the EU, which has stricter privacy regulations.

Jottacloud scores well in these areas: your data is stored on servers in Norway, where strict privacy laws apply. Plus, everything you upload is automatically encrypted. That means even if someone tried to snoop, they wouldn’t be able to access your files.

Tip: always use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication for extra security.

You can find more frequently asked questions about cloud storage in this blog article: frequently asked questions about cloud storage.