Cloud storage and cloud backup are two different types of services, that are often confused with each other and they are really two different tools for different jobs. Part of the confusion comes from the fact that some cloud backup services, like IDrive, SpiderOak, SugarSync and even Carbonite, offer cloud storage as well as cloud backup. To help understand the differences between cloud storage and cloud backup lets take a look what each one is.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage services are often equated with having a USB flash drive in the cloud that you can access from multiple devices. Cloud storage services typically offers users features such as:
- Easy access to files through a number of computers and devices.
- Easy sharing of files.
- Ability to sync files across devices.
The services you probably think of when you think of cloud storage are probably Dropbox, Google Drive, Box and OneDrive. The services make it easy to upload your files to the services, allow you to sync them to multiple devices and work on them where ever you are and then save them back to the cloud.
One of the pitfalls of many cloud storage services is often the lack of strong encryption but there are several cloud storage services that do offer stronger encryption and still provide users with many of the cloud storage features that they have come to expect. Services like Sync, Tresorit and MEGA still allow users to sync, share and offer easy access to files while maintaining a high level of encryption.
What Is Cloud Backup?
Cloud backup services main goal is to back up the files on your computer and store them safely in their data centers. Cloud backup service typically offers users features such as:
- Strong encryption with files being encrypted on the computer before being transferred to the data center.
- Regular backup schedules to constantly keep existing files backed up and add new files.
- Versions of files are kept to give the user the ability to restore from a previous point in time.
The services you might think of when you think of cloud backup are probably Carbonite, CrashPlan, IDrive and Backblaze. These services main goal is to help you restore all of your files not just a few select files you have moved into a special folder on your computer in the event your computer hard drive dies, is stolen or somehow no longer available.
As a general rule cloud backup services, while helping you restore all your files, they don’t create what is called a system image backup. Most cloud backup services are still only backing up your files not your entire system. This can be confusing to some people who have used system image backup tools in the past. There are always exceptions, with Acronis now offering a system image backup that is cloud based.
What Do You Choose? Cloud Storage or Cloud Backup?
These days with people having multiple computers and devices it is often not a decision between cloud storage or cloud backup but rather both. Many people need constant access to their most important documents that they work on while still needing the protection of constant and regular backups.
While each individual circumstances are different and you need to evaluate what your needs are but if you need to decide between a cloud storage service and a cloud backup service it might be possible to find a service that offers a bit of both. As mentioned at the beginning of this post some services offer both backup and some storage as well. This way you can get the best of both worlds while cutting down on the number of subscriptions you need and the amount you need to spend. It can always be possible as well to perhaps sign up for a backup service and then use a local syncing solution to sync your documents between computers and mobile devices.
What cloud storage and/or backup do you use? What is your backup plan? Let us know in the comments.
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