As the world begins to move towards cloud computing, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what options are available. Regardless of what your reason for wanting cloud storage is, using the Best Cloud Server for Home Use is often a better option than going with a subscription-based cloud storage service. To get you started, we’ll explore the Best Cloud Server for Home Use.
Best Cloud Server for Home Use
What is Cloud Computing?
A Cloud Service is a service that allows you to access the internet from your home.Cloud computing refers to the ability for people to use the internet from anywhere in the world. There are many different Cloud Services, but some of the most popular ones include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and Rackspace Cloud.
How Do Cloud Services Work
Cloud services work by sharing resources between various computers on a network. This means that instead of having one big computer that does all your work, you have multiple computers working together to do your task(s). This can be helpful if you want to save time or if you want to be able to use different software on different computers at the same time.
What are the Different Types of Cloud Services
There are three main types of cloud services: public cloud services, private cloud services, and hybrid cloud services. Public cloud services are available to everyone and offer lower prices than private clouds because they’re open source and can be used by anyone without permission. Private clouds are reserved for businesses and organizations and offer higher prices than public clouds because they require a certain level of security and management expertise. Hybrid clouds combine both public and private clouds so that people can have their own personal cloud service while also using the resources of a public cloud service for tasks that need more strength or reliability than a public cloud service would provide.
Personal Cloud Storage Devices
1. pCloud
More Details About pCloud:
- Pricing: 10GB free, 2TB for $95.88 per year ($7.99 per month)
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: pCloud.com
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Choice of encryption levels
- Clever virtual drive
- EU servers available
Cons:
- Zero-knowledge encryption isn’t free
- No document integration
You’ll often see us praise pCloud in our cloud storage reviews, and it’s not hard to see why. It has a number of unique features wrapped in a sleek and secure package. Plus, it offers great pricing, putting it alongside Sync.com.
Top-Shelf Media & Sharing Capabilities
pCloud is a great option for media lovers. That’s thanks to features offered in the embedded pCloud music player, which automatically crates playlists by artist, album or folder. Its video player is also fairly advanced, even letting you change playback speed and convert video files to other formats.
If you’re running out of media storage space on your device, pCloud’s virtual drive will come in handy. pCloud can mount a virtual drive on your device (similar to Local Disk (C:)) which uses your cloud storage instead of your hard drive’s storage.
If you’re a creator that loves to post on social media, pCloud lets you back up images that you previously uploaded to your socials as part of its backup feature. This feature also lets you back up your entire device to the cloud, or even move all your files from another cloud service to pCloud.
2. Asustor Lockerstor 2
More details about the Asustor Lockerstor 2:
- Pricing: $399.00
- Check it out on: Amazon
Pros:
- Very powerful processor & ample RAM
- Easily upgradeable with more RAM or M.2 cache
- Full featured & ready for private or small business use
Cons:
- A bit costly for a two-bay device
The first personal cloud device on our list is the Asustor Lockerstor 2. While the price is a bit on the high end for a two-bay cloud storage solution, it manages to offer you your money’s worth with the hardware and features it brings to the table.
Starting with a peek under the hood, the Lockerstor 2 is powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron processor that reaches clock speeds as high as 2.7 GHz. The unit is also equipped with 4GB of RAM, which can be easily upgraded with an off-the-shelf DDR4 memory stick to up to 8GB.
As a two-bay device, it can accept up to two drives, either 3.5” hard drives or 2.5” solid state drives for faster read and write speeds, for a total of up to 36TB of cloud storage.
3. Sync.com
More Details About Sync.com:
- Pricing: 5GB free, 2TB for $96 per year ($8 per month)
- Number of devices: 5 on Individual Plans
- Website: Sync.com
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Secure cloud storage
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Slower than some rivals
Sync.com is our choice for the best cloud service, hitting the top spot in many of our cloud storage lists. It’s one of the most secure cloud services out there, and it keeps improving its service and adding new features as the service matures and grows.
Security & Collaboration in One Package
To start with, Sync.com comes with zero-knowledge encryption as standard. This means that if there was a security breach or the authorities demanded access to your account, the intruder would only see scrambled data because you’re the only one holding the encryption key.
To add to this, Sync.com offers advanced sharing controls, including passwords, download limits and expiry dates for sharing links. Plus, Sync.com allows you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents) in a privacy-friendly collaboration environment, without breaking zero-knowledge encryption.
4. Synology DiskStation DS220j
The DiskStation is a step down in processing power compared to the Asustor, but it still offers a great entry-level experience for a fair price.
More details about the Synology DiskStation DS220j:
- Pricing: $188.99
- Check it out on: Amazon
Pros:
- Excellent price for the performance
- Several security-oriented features
- Easy-to-use apps & setup
Cons:
- Weaker processor & less RAM compared to other options
- Modest read & write speeds
For those who aren’t necessarily looking for the most powerful personal cloud storage device that money can buy, the Synology DiskStation DS220j is a well-rounded yet budget-friendly option. Similar to the Asustor model we just looked at, the DS220j is a two-bay storage device that can accept hard drives with up to 16TB of storage each for an impressive 32TB total capacity.
However, it only comes with 512MB of non-upgradeable RAM and a processor that only clocks up to 1.4GHz. It also lacks an HDMI port and only comes with a single 1-gigabit networking port, as well as a pair of USB ports.
5. Icedrive
The Icedrive web interface, showing a list of encrypted files.
More Details About Icedrive:
- Pricing: 10GB free, 1TB for $49.99 per year ($4.17 per month)
- Number of devices: Unlimited
- Website: Icedrive.net
Pros:
- Secure Twofish algorithm
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Preview encrypted files
Cons:
- Zero knowledge isn’t free
- Limited choice of plans
Icedrive is a new entry on our list, and it’s a provider you may not have heard of before. That’s not surprising, given it has only been in operation since 2019. It’s been making waves, though, with highly competitive pricing and some interesting features that set it apart from some of its more established rivals.
Novel Encryption Methods & Zero-Knowledge Security
One of the biggest differences from the other providers on our list is that Icedrive doesn’t use the industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption. Instead, it uses an algorithm called Twofish.
Twofish was one of the final contenders for the Advanced Encryption Standard contest at the turn of the century. Some consider Twofish to be more secure (if sometimes slower) than the eventual winner, Rijndael (now known simply as AES). Icedrive points out that the current standard is backed by the NSA — make of that what you will, but don’t let it scare you just yet.
Paid accounts include zero-knowledge encryption as standard, so files should be safe from prying eyes. Unlike most other zero-knowledge providers, Icedrive lets you preview certain files by streaming them in encrypted form to your computer, where they are then decrypted on the fly.
For a company focused on security, it’s a shame that there’s no two-factor authentication (2FA) for Icedrive at present, which is something you’ll see offered by security-focused providers, such as Tresorit. That said, it has a no-nonsense privacy policy that rules out most problematic behaviors, and as a UK-based company, Icedrive is governed by stringent GDPR regulations.
Best Cloud Storage For Photos
1. Google Drive and Google Photos
Google Drive is more than just another storage app. This is a well-rounded cloud platform that connects to the comprehensive Google Workspace productivity suite, which supports file sharing and collaborative document editing.
You can store your photos and sync live changes and edits from your desktop computer using Windows and macOS applications. However, Drive does lack some of the photography-oriented features found with other services on this list.
That’s why the best way to use Google Drive to store your photos online is to use the connected Google Photos storage service. Until mid-2019, photos would sync automatically between Google Drive and Google Photos, but Google decided this was too confusing(opens in new tab) for users and discontinued the practice.
Today, photos can still be transferred, but once this is done, the two copies of the file are no longer linked. You can now use Google Photos to back up unlimited photos as long as they aren’t larger than 16MP. Although that limit shouldn’t cause a problem for family or holiday shots, professionals may wish to upgrade to a paid Google One membership(opens in new tab), which removes any limit on photo size.
Google One also expands the amount of Drive storage space you get for other file types. Free Google Drive users get 15GB, while Google One subscribers paying $1.99 a month receive 200GB. Subscriptions of up to 30TB are available.
2. IDrive
IDrive is one of the best cloud storage services overall – making it a natural choice when looking for the best photo cloud storage solution.
A free plan gives you 10GB, which might be enough if you don’t have that many photos. Users who need more space can upgrade to a 5TB plan priced at $59.62 per year. That said, you can get a staggering 10TB of online cloud storage space for a mere $74.62 for the first year.
Business customers can choose from a range of tailored storage options, up to 50TB, giving real flexibility to scale up (or down). Photographers who use multiple devices will be glad to hear that they can back up their photos on unlimited devices across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android to a single account.
With the “Auto Camera” option, users can automatically upload photos (and videos) from their device to the IDrive account, while retaining image quality (if they choose to). Additionally, users can benefit from a facial recognition feature that can be used to automatically organize photos, as well as sync them across all linked devices. Also, IDrive has a separate app for iOS and Android, called IDrive Photos, which costs $9.95 a year for unlimited storage.
In our review, we noted “for those that have a lot of devices with data that needs to be secured at reasonable prices, then iDrive could well be the service for you. It has a great feature set that covers a lot of ground, with enough security protection and extra features such as folder sync and bandwidth controls to satisfy the majority of users.”
However, we believed the best photo cloud storage was “best suited to businesses – from self-employed individuals and small teams to huge, international corporations – thanks to the level of flexibility across three different plan types.”
3. Microsoft OneDrive
If you’re looking for a straightforward cloud storage platform where you can store your photos without having to figure your way around new and unfamiliar interfaces, Microsoft OneDrive is worth a look. Microsoft has intentionally made OneDrive’s appearance similar to that of Windows 10, which means there’s basically no learning curve for any Windows users moving to the platform.
OneDrive is a general-purpose cloud storage platform, and its chief selling point is seamless integration with popular Microsoft 365 applications like Word and Excel. But that’s not to say that OneDrive doesn’t have some excellent photo management features. In fact, it supports tagging, photo search, and album creation.
Pricing(opens in new tab) is pretty affordable too. It matches Google Drive’s budget plan, with 100GB costing $1.99 a month. If you’re a fan of Microsoft’s productivity tools, a better option is to go with the Microsoft 365 Personal subscription which, for $69.99 a year, gives you 1TB and access to core Office apps.
4. Backblaze
Backblaze has been around since 2007, offering a very convenient backup solution that makes it one of the best photo cloud storage solutions around.
But there’s a downside: you can’t share your photos, or benefit from any additional features whatsoever – all Backblaze does is backup and store your images (and other important files), and that’s it.
The upside: Backblaze has several major strengths. One of those is its slick operation, with no input required from the user – everything is backed up continuously, and that all happens in the background automatically.
Not only this, but you get unlimited cloud storage capacity with the sole (personal) subscription plan, so there’s definitely no need to worry about having tons of pics (or videos, or anything else) to back up.
The caveat is that while storage isn’t limited, you’re tied to just one computer with one account. If you want more, then you’ll need another subscription for additional devices (one for each, and mobiles aren’t covered, just PCs).
However, at $70 for a year of unlimited storage (and bandwidth, with no file size limits), the price is certainly tempting if this solution fits your requirements.
When we reviewed Backblaze, we found it to be “a comprehensive, set-it-and-forget it backup solution for protecting your data should the worst happen…while the service misses some things, it should certainly be near the top of your shortlist if you want a comprehensive, no-limits, secure backup of the data for your home or business computers.”
How to Get Started with Cloud Computing.
Cloud computing is a term used to describe the use of computers and other devices that are connected to the internet and used for digital storage, communication, andoperation. There are many different cloud services available, so it’s important to choose one that will suit your needs.
To get started with cloud computing, you’ll need to choose a cloud service and set up your environment. In this section, we’re going to explore some of the more popular options and see how they can help you save money on your next cloud computing project.
Use the Right Tools to Start Cloud Computing
The most important thing you can do when starting out with cloud computing is to use the right tools. This includes familiar software like Microsoft Windows or OS X Mavericks or Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS (Lubuntu) — both of which are highly compatible with clouds and offer great user experiences.
If you’re new to clouds and don’t have any experience using software, there are plenty of resources available online that can help guide you through the process of setting up acloud Computing installation. Additionally, many tech support centers offer free tutorials that can help you get started with clouds.
Set Up Your Cloud Computing Environment
Once you’ve chosen a cloud service and set up your environment, it’s time to begin using them! In this subsection, we’ll cover how to set up your computer in order to access and use your clouds services. We also recommend following these tips in order to keep your cloud computing experience smooth:
1) Create an account with one of the most popular clouds – such as Google Drive or Apple iCloud – in order to start saving data onto them easily
2) Use multiple accounts for variety – such as for work or personal photos
3) BACKUP YOUR COMPUTER EVERYDAY – even if you don’t think you’ll need it during the day
4) MANAGE YOUR CLOUDS WITH A CAREFUL CONFIGURATION – just like at home!
Tips for Successfully Using Cloud Computing.
Cloud computing is a way to access the internet from anywhere. By using cloud computing, you can improve your workflow by allowing you to access the internet from any device, including your computer. You can also use cloud computing to save time by having everything controlled from one place.
For example, you could use cloud computing to manage your workfiles on your computer while you’re away. Or, if you have a lot of data stored on the internet, you could use cloud computing to keep track of that data and borrow an idea from another article or website without having to search for it online.
Similarly, using cloud Computing can help reduce your stress by eliminating some of the hassles associated with traditional computer usage. For example, if you have a lot of work that needs to be done but don’t want to deal with typing in addresses or using mouse and keyboard commands, using cloud computing may be the best solution for you.
Similarly, using cloud Computing can speed up your workflow by allowing you to access information and applications at any time without having to wait for them to load.
In addition, many software applications are available as free downloads that allow you to use them while working on your own projects or in collaboration with others. This makes it a great option for people who want more control over their work life and want not spend hours trying find the right software application or refreshing their browser every few minutes in orderto get ahead of their work schedule.
Use Cloud Computing to Save Time
One of the most important things you can do when using cloud computing is saving time. If you’re able to take advantage of features like remote administration and multiple user support, then spending less time managing your computer will speed up your workflow overall. Additionally, by setting up aliases and profiles for different parts of your computer so that only certain programs run in specific contexts (say “work” instead of “server”),you can save even more time by cutting down on start-up times for programs I’m not neede to use.
Similarly, if you’re using cloud Computing to store data, make sure you set up efficient storage options so that your data is not taking up valuable space on your computer. For example, by using deduplication software and off-the-shelf hard drives, you can reduce the amount of space your data takes up on the internet.
Use Cloud Computing to Increase Your Efficiency
One of the most important things you can do when using cloud computing is to increase your efficiency. By setting up tasks and projects in advance and organizing them into folders, you can save time by working on a task rather than having to search through a pile of files to find what you need. Additionally, by creating shortcuts or automations for commonly used tasks, you can speed up the process by making it easy for me to do one task instead of multiple tasks at once.
Section 3.4 Use Cloud Computing To Increase Your laptimes.
Another great way to increase your laptop’s running time is by using cloud computing applications like Chrome or Firefox as opposed to traditional programs like Windows XP or Windows 7. These applications allow you to access the internet from any device without waiting for the program to start loading again from the first time it was accessed (so long as there are no network problems). Additionally, these applications often run faster because they access resources from remote servers instead of from your computer’s memory which could take a long time if done manually.
Conclusion
Cloud Computing can be a great way to improve your workflow and save time. It can also be used to increase efficiency and reduce costs. If you’re interested in starting or using Cloud Computing, make sure to use the right tools and follow the instructions correctly to get started. Thanks for reading!