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Cloud computing not same as cloud storage

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: Cloud storage and cloud computing are not the same although they have the same characteristics.

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Cloud computing is hosting of computing services over the network, usually the Internet. cloud storage on the other hand is a model of online networked storage where data is saved on an offshore storage system that is maintained by a third party service. It basically means you save your data on a remote database over the internet, says a release by Ninefold Cloud Storage, an Australian based cloud storage and computing company provider.

Also Read: Cloud computing: Who has what in their cloud box

Instead of saving your data on your computer hard drive, external drive or flash drive, you upload the data on to a system offering cloud computing. So, if you want to transfer or use the data somewhere else other than your own computer, you usually transfer it to a flash drive or an external drive. But if you have uploaded the same data on to cloud storage, all you need is an Internet connection and you can access the data from anywhere without having to carry a physical storage device.

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To the user, it may seem like the data is stored virtually on the Internet but in reality the data is stored on large data centres that be the size of a warehouse. You can also choose whether to give access and share your data with someone else. If you choose to put your data on a cloud storage service, you'll save on the cost of physical devices and maintaining them.

If you have an organization or a business, it also saves you the large amount of space needed for data storage.

There are four types of cloud storage: public, community, private and hybrid.

Public cloud storage is available to anyone, whereas private cloud storage is for a specific group or organization where all the data are maintained offsite. Community cloud storage is shared by more than one group, all having a common objective.

Finally, hybrid cloud storage is the combination of two or more of the other cloud storage types. Hybrid cloud storage lets users change between private and public cloud storage.

Cloud storage of any type can be used for storing e-mails, pictures, videos, documents, and other form of data. The data can be retrieved using a web based interface or an API (Application Programming Interface).

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