How to Choose the Right Cloud Storage Provider
With the market being flooded with companies who call themselves “the best” in cloud storage, it is hard to narrow down which one actually deserves that title. With each boasting certain features and promises, it’s easy to want to believe they will meet your needs. However, what companies don’t often advertise is their fine print. You need to make sure that you are fully aware of all the details of your plan before spending your hard earned money and entrusting them with your important data. Fully exploring a cloud storage provider’s terms and features will make sure that you get the best possible experience and back up possible.
Many providers will state that they offer unlimited storage and upload/download speeds. However, once reading into their fine print, you may find that is not the case at all. A great majority of those boasting “unlimited” actually throttle your upload or download speed after a certain level of use. What this means for you is slow speeds and cut offs on how many devices you can back up. Companies can get away with using the term “unlimited” because that is true up to a certain point: their throttling. It is very important to fully read into their unlimited terms to make sure you are getting what you think you are.
If you are shopping for a plan that you know is limited, meaning that a certain amount of storage and upload/download bandwidth is allotted to you, there are things you should watch for as well. For example, what is the cost per GB? Carefully look at the amount of data you plan to back up along with how often you will need to upload and download to determine how much you need. An unlimited plan or plan with another provider might be more cost beneficial for you in the long run. Also look at how many devices you can back up. Some limited plans only allow a certain number of devices that you can upload from. If you have a lot of devices, this may be detrimental to you and your business.
Another thing that is important to look at is the overall features that the provider offers. Ease of backing up and syncing your data, as well as general accessibility, will be incredibly beneficial to you through the years. Most companies will try to boast their own special set of features, so be sure to compare them to determine what the best ones are for you and your data. Are they strictly a backup service or do they offer syncing as well? Syncing can be incredibly beneficial for those who access and modify their data in the cloud directly and frequently.
If you wish to use the cloud, either for your family or for your business, you may be interested in setting up user accounts. Inquire if you, as the owner of the account or an account administrator, will have control over those users and their permissions. Does the service offer the ability to share files easily? Some cloud storage providers will provide options to share your data via a link or quick email. This can be a great feature for sharing photos or important documents with your family. What about collaboration, branding, hosting, or direct media streaming from your web browser? Carefully evaluate your potential provider’s feature list to see if they offer extra options in the cost of your plan and if those options will be of value to you. Make sure you don’t have to pay additional fees for certain extra features you need.
Perhaps one of the more important things to look at is how your security and privacy will be handled by a particular company. Some cloud storage providers do not offer the same level of security as others. Try and locate a security statement from them, and if you cannot find one directly on their website, ask for one. It is a must, as well as your right, to keep your data safe and private at all times. See if they offer constant scans by antivirus software and what firewalls they use. Also ask about their data centers. Are they monitored? How strict is their accessibility and what information of yours can the company’s employees view and access? Be sure to ask what kind of connection your files are transferred through as well. Make sure that your files are safe at all times, including while they are being uploaded or downloaded, and while they sit in the cloud.
Not all cloud storage companies are created equal. Before paying for a plan, read through the company’s fine print. Also closely read over their features to determine which option will work best for you and make sure you understand what you are signing up for. Your data is important and deserves a great cloud storage provider. By doing your research and asking questions, you can make sure you make the best and most informed decision for yourself and for your important data.
