Things To Consider When Choosing A Cloud Storage Provider

Cloud computing is one of the fastest growing technology sectors. Cloud storage is a big part of this new and emerging market. Currently there are numerous cloud storage providers and more and more companies enter the market including a lot of the big players like Google and Amazon. Cloud storage is usually defined as a type of storage where data are stored in a network of virtual servers managed by a third party.

Although we will not get into great detail, the benefits of cloud storage and online storage in general are many. Obviously the most important is the security of your files in case of disaster like a crash of your hard drive.

However, with all those available choices today the selection of a provider might seem daunting. Some of the most important things that you need to consider are:

Required Storage Space
How much space you need is important when you are in the market for a cloud storage provider. This is important because it will allow you to calculate your true cost per GB and will help you choose a provider and a plan that actually fits your needs at the best possible price. It should also be noted that if you need just limited space there are a number of free cloud storage services that offer anywhere from 1GB to 50GBs.

Pricing is obviously always a consideration. It is not only the actual price but also the pricing model. For example does the provider offer pay as you go plans or fixed price plans?

Compatibility is also an important decision making factor. The number and types of platforms that the provider supports is crucial especially if you want to be able to access your files using a variety of different devices and platforms.

Security is one of the main concerns of potential and current cloud storage users and rightly so. You need to check if your stored files will be encrypted and if yes what kind of encryption is used.

Possible limitations are also important. For example a provider may offer unlimited storage space but limit the monthly bandwidth, or the maximum file size, or the number of devices that you can use with the account. These are just hypothetical examples.

Support is another important factor. However, unfortunately we only get to experience how good a service's support is only after we have already become a client. A solution to this is to research for reviews of the companies you are considering.

Finally, it is always good to be able to try the service first. Thankfully, a lot of the available solutions offer free trials. This will allow you to try the actual service before buying and hopefully making the best possible and most cost efficient decision for your needs.