- Nowadays, you almost can't have "too much" cloud storage...
Most people use cloud backup systems to preserve important files like family photos and personal documents. Businesses use cloud backup systems to store contracts and digital resources. While these uses are fairly standard, there are several unique ways people use cloud backup services.
1. To replace the need for file-sharing services
Since most email accounts limit attachments to 25MB, most people use third-party file sharing platforms to transfer files. For example, many people use WeTransfer for large files and image hosting sites like ImgBB and Imgur.
Although these sites offer free services, they’re not as secure as a file sharing account. The servers might be secure, but you don’t have much control over who can access your files. If an unauthorized party finds your links in the future, your files will be fully accessible to that hacker. Worse, if you uploaded your files without an account, you can’t delete those files.
On the other hand, using cloud backup services from Box will give you greater control over your digital resources. For instance, you can set your links to expire after a certain period of time, and you can disallow file downloads.
When your links are set to expire, you don’t have to worry about hackers gaining access to your files in the future.
2. To avoid using Google products
Although Google makes amazing products, some people don’t want to use their services. Most of the time, people just don’t want to support a monopoly.
Part of avoiding Google products means not using platforms owned by Google or its parent company, Alphabet. That can be tough, considering the company owns thousands of smaller companies. However, it’s not impossible.
Since Google products include Drive and YouTube, some people use cloud backup systems to store their files and videos. For those who don’t want a subscriber base and comments, a cloud backup account is a good way to store video files. However, it’s not ideal.
Storing files in a cloud backup account is more practical than storing videos. There’s virtually no difference since you can log into your account to access your files.
3. As storage space for a private diary
There are plenty of online journaling platforms that offer private posts, but some people don’t want to take that risk. For those who want to journal, but don’t want to make their posts available online (or store them on their computer), cloud backup services are a good solution.
Cloud backup systems make it easy for people to share files, or not. The choice is up to each account owner. Account owners can make entire folders shareable, or share content one file at a time.
Security is easier to manage as well. For instance, on a good platform, shared links are unique and there is no hierarchy of folders for people to navigate. Permission must be granted explicitly for anyone to access files and folders.
4. To create an accessible genealogy repository
Some people are fanatical about their genealogy research and spend years or even decades collecting information. There’s no better place to store all of that information than in a cloud backup account.
Many people store photos, microfilm scans, and interviews with their relatives, and hand out the link to other family members who are interested in researching. When used for this purpose, a cloud backup account makes a great genealogy vault.
5. To store copies of YouTube videos
YouTubers need to store their videos somewhere, including raw video files and finished productions. Video files use up excessive space on an external hard drive, so cloud backup accounts are perfect.
6. To avoid sending files over email
Sending files over email isn’t the most secure way to transfer files. Many people use cloud backup accounts to store files they never want sent through email, even if those files are small enough to send.
Privacy is always a concern with email. You never know who will get ahold of emailed files. If someone’s email account gets hacked, anything you’ve sent as an attachment can be accessed by that hacker.
While you can encrypt your data before sending it through email, that’s a complicated process. Your recipient will need to use the same encryption program to decrypt your file, and there’s no guarantee it will remain encrypted on their computer.
Cloud backup services are for everyone
Cloud backup services are versatile. Whatever project you’re working on, a cloud backup account will be helpful when you need to store or transfer files.