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Dave Miller – Tech Enthusiast & Security Expert – March 13th, 2022
Data storage through cloud services has become one of the fastest-growing methods worldwide. Businesses and individuals can store data online in a cheaper, safer, and more secure way. You can store data in the cloud so that only those with whom you want to share it will have access to it. The data on the device will be completely protected even if it is stolen, so you don’t have to worry about compromise.
Data can be stored, backed up, and retrieved via the internet through cloud storage. You can access the files anywhere and at any time, and retrieval of the files is lightning fast. Most cloud data storage companies takes care of the daily maintenance of the storage infrastructure. Since cloud storage is becoming increasingly popular, many people wonder where all the data they upload to the cloud is actually stored.
So, where is cloud data stored?
Read more to find out!
The cloud is basically a storage space on a remote server where you can store data. The cloud allows you to access data over the internet so that you can access files from worldwide where you have an internet connection. By storing large amounts of data in the cloud, you eliminate the risk of limited storage space. Billions of people around the globe create and store large amounts of data; since the cloud stores data on servers rather than on the hard drive of the user’s device, users can access data and applications from virtually anywhere in the world.
You can purchase cloud storage from a cloud service provider that owns and operates data storage facilities. Cloud service providers usually have a large data infrastructure divided up into several smaller spaces. The data is stored on the portion allocated to each individual, and no one has access to another individual’s data. Having ready access to your data and apps is advantageous with this type of storage.
Besides being cost-effective, it also allows easy file sharing, back-up, recovery, and archiving. Examples of consumer cloud services include Google Mail, Instagram, and Facebook. Although the messages, conversations, and videos are not downloaded to the computer or mobile device, they are always accessible. The reason is that each Gmail account has its own separate place on the cloud where they are stored.
Honestly, you may never know exactly where your data is stored. Most server farms are located worldwide, but you can find out where your server is located by doing a little digging into your cloud provider of choice. Due to the issue of redundancy, data location has also become challenging. The information must be stored in more than one place. This is useful in case of a server crash or breakdown; you can still access your data at the other locations.
Your data on the cloud is stored in data centers across the globe. A data center is a place where multiple servers can be found. Cloud computing servers are located in these data centers. Depending on the needs of the cloud service provider, a data center can be located anywhere in the world. Today, companies that provide cloud services manage and maintain data centers. Furthermore, they protect your data from physical harm, theft, and destruction, as well as ensure that it is always available.
Usually, cloud storage data is stored on multiple servers owned by cloud providers and is available online to clients. Multiple servers provide clients with access to their data if one of the servers crashes. The main control server connects all of the other storage servers in the cloud. Cloud vendors offer cloud spaces hosted on individual servers in data centers and farms around the world. In most cases, service companies do not own their own storage space, so they rent it either from their own warehouse or from a third party.
The data center may be located in another country or continent, depending on the provider you choose. There are several cloud providers with several data centers located in different locations. You can access the data of multiple users on these servers remotely, but you can only access your own. According to customer requirements, the third party uses a virtual storage pool to store the data.
Now that you’re aware of where your data is stored, you may be genuinely curious about where it is located. Unfortunately, finding out isn’t as easy as it seems. There are many data centers and server farms around the world. Many cloud providers do not have their own storage, so they lease it. Furthermore, they may or may not lease space in the same general location.
You may have access to leased space from a UK provider, but the data center itself is in the US. There is the possibility of a US provider leasing space in Germany through a provider who rents space in Belgium. If you want to know where your data is physically stored, you must contact your cloud provider. You must remember that all data and applications you have in the cloud are physically located on servers in a data center or on a server farm.
Passwords are used to protect data stored in cloud storage, with extra security and encryption layers. The storage of data in the cloud is considered safer than storing data locally because the data cannot be compromised easily. Data sent to cloud storage is encrypted while transmitted from your system.
The encryption key is only known to the user, so the cloud service provider has no information needed to decrypt the file. When a file is intercepted during a transfer, an attacker lacks the information required to decrypt the file. However, some cloud storage features are adverse to users.
In simple words, the data is stored in a network of computers that cloud providers use to store data as a service. Normally, a cloud storage provider includes a master control server that connects to both the client computers and a network of various database storage servers.
Previously, users saved their data on their computer’s local drive. The cloud eliminates the physical server and stores all data on servers inside data centers. The server that stores the data of one particular user is leased/rented to the user every month. Customer usage is only billed according to usage and may increase or decrease. This is how cloud computing operates commercially.
Whenever you use cloud storage services such as OneDrive or Google Drive, your data is stored on a computer owned by the provider, located in a data center in your country. It’s more like a set of computers since they’ll copy your data to another one if the first one fails.
Cloud storage saves data on dedicated servers that are connected together. You can think of it as a warehouse for servers where they are placed one after another in a safe environment. As a result, the cloud was born because it wasn’t practical for a retail company, a university, a travel company, or any other business to concentrate on IT infrastructure. Instead, they should concentrate on their core business. In this way, it makes sense to use cloud storage for official files in a secure environment.
We live in an era of rapid technological advancement. Trying to imagine a world without cloud storage would be quite difficult. In the digital age, it’s essential to be able to work, share files, and access information. This is where cloud storage will play an important role. Despite still being in a state of evolution, storage providers are constantly upgrading to ensure they can handle cyberattacks that target sensitive information they have stored on their servers.
So where is cloud data stored? It is vital to understand that, even though your data is not physically stored in one exact place or location, it is still stored in multiple places simultaneously in order to keep your data from safe and from being erased completely in case of hacks or network outtages.
Since your data is still physically located somewhere, it may still be impacted by the same problems and failures as your local hard drive. There is no such thing as unbeatable servers; large cloud providers can be hacked, and data can be lost just as easily on a server as it can on your computer. Thus you should be cautious when storing important and confidential information in the cloud.
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Dave Miller is an IT Consultant for Online Cloud Security and has over 7 years of experience in the Information Technology space. He also specializes in repairing laptops & computers. In his spare time, he loves to talk about new technologies and hosts monthly IT and Cyber Security meetings in the Houston area.
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Online Cloud Security is here to recommend you the most secure devices, from laptops to smartphones, we only want to provide you with products that we have tested and used ourselves for online security. Every product that we recommend is heavily inspected and tested for security against hackers, viruses, malware, and any other intruders that may want to steal your information.
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