Photos, videos, notes, Excel spreadsheets and app content: Sooner or later, both businesses and home users will wonder where to store files. But also the protection of the respective storage locations against unauthorized access by third parties or against loss is worth some consideration. Against the background of the basic data protection regulation and the “data leaks” of recent years, users are increasingly looking for an alternative to large cloud solutions. Depending on the application scenario, these offer both advantages and disadvantages. And this has more to do with the costs incurred than with the costs …
The USB stick: the fast cloud alternative
After the scratch-sensitive CDs and DVDs, the introduction of the USB stick was almost a revelation for private users. We weigh the pros and cons of their use.
Advantages of USB sticks
The plastic case protects USB sticks from the outside. But even in the “interior” they do not contain any moving parts. Compared to other storage media, USB sticks are particularly robust and insensitive to shocks and falls. They can be stored in your trouser pocket, in some variants the Cloud Alternative can even be worn on your wrist. The stick can be protected against unauthorized access with the help of encryption. In some cases, they can even be thrown at you as advertising material. Free storage space is a good idea in two ways.
USB sticks as an alternative to the cloud also have disadvantages
USB sticks are simply ideal for storing, transporting and transferring smaller files to another device. The available storage space has increased continuously in recent years. Nevertheless, the limits are quickly reached. Especially with photo or video files you quickly notice that you are far away from “unlimited storage space”. A file in MP4 format, for example, takes up a lot of space.
And also the size of the USB stick is advantage and disadvantage at the same time. Although a USB stick fits perfectly into a jacket or laptop pocket, it is unfortunately lost just as quickly – or washed with it. For sensitive data, storage on a USB stick is therefore only recommended to a limited extent. A slightly larger alternative to the cloud is needed!
The external hard disk: a practical, but also sensitive alternative
Today, external hard disks with high storage capacity are comparatively inexpensive – and therefore very popular for storing large amounts of data such as photo or video documents. If you only think of the memory used by a single app, you can already assume that a lot (memory) also (helps the user) a lot.
What are the advantages of an external hard disk?
Just like a USB stick, external hard disks can also be taken along in principle. However, they are much more sensitive than their “small” predecessors. External hard disks, for example, are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Direct sunlight should be avoided, as should storage near the heater. Factors such as horizontal storage or functioning ventilation also play a decisive role in the long-term maintenance of external hard disks.
External hard disk – only a short-term alternative
The question of compatibility is also relevant for external hard disks. Some hard disk types can be formatted either for Windows only or for Macintosh operating systems only, while the type of connection excludes use on mobile devices from the outset. Especially in companies, the external hard disk is therefore not used as a short-term storage medium. There, it serves more as a backup solution. However, the same applies here: If the external hard disk is damaged, the file stored on it can rarely be completely restored. Cloud applications can help here.
The private cloud: Cloud storage of a different kind
The offers of Dropbox, Windows, Google Drive and other US providers with their partly free storage are so-called “Public Cloud” solutions. This means that the services are generally available to everyone via the Internet. For a dropbox folder, for example, any e-mail address can be activated. However, both companies and private individuals have concerns about this availability. How can the data stored in the cloud be protected against access by third parties and by providers? This is where the so-called private cloud comes into play. In contrast to a public cloud, this type of cloud is only visible via an intranet or virtual private network. Online storage combines the advantages of an external hard drive with those of a cloud solution.
Two factors play a decisive role in the efficient use of such a cloud: the right server and the right software. In many cases, companies weigh security against effort when choosing a server. An in-house server, i.e. an on-premise solution, offers full control over the data, but also requires continuous maintenance and support. Especially for small and medium-sized companies, it can therefore be advisable to use an external provider who takes over the hosting of cloud services and at the same time guarantees absolute confidentiality. As a cloud storage provider with apps for all common operating systems and a web interface, TeamDrive exclusively uses the server location Germany, which also meets the strict German data protection guidelines.
