The future is uncertain whether cloud storage can be popularized in China

I don't know if it's a coincidence or another reason, "cloud storage" has been so hot recently: first Microsoft on April 24 launched its online storage services SkyDrive desktop clients, followed 1 days, Google announced cloud storage services Google Drive officially online; more interestingly, Two weeks later, Baidu Network Plate began to issue invitations, marking Baidu also joined the cloud storage area. Plus the domestic already in the operation of the fast disk, cool disk, Shanda network disk, Dbank, 115 network plate, Thunder Ark, as well as more other large and small network disk, providing online cloud storage services at least 2 digits. With Microsoft, Google, Baidu joined, cloud storage This is a previously tepid field, for a time became the sweet cakes.

What is cloud storage

What is cloud storage, and why does it attract so many companies to get involved? Cloud storage is a service, similar to cloud computing, through cluster application, grid technology or Distributed file system functions, a large number of different types of storage devices in the network through the application software together to work together to provide data storage and business access functions of a complete set of systems.

Cloud storage Diagram

In layman's terms, cloud storage is to upload your local data to the Web server space, and then can be viewed and downloaded from any other networked locations, such as the network disk mentioned at the beginning of the article, they are a concrete embodiment of cloud storage. Of course, cloud storage is not just a network disk, it has other forms such as online backup (as shown in the above).

The meaning of cloud storage

The significance of cloud storage to the user, whether individual or enterprise, is obvious: data stored on the network can be accessed anytime, anywhere (as long as it is networked), saving the additional hardware cost of local storage due to data growth, without considering maintenance issues such as data backup, Just select the appropriate cloud storage service provider and pay the related fees on demand.

Cloud storage, not just a service

For service providers, aside from those dedicated to providing cloud storage services, internet giants like Google and Microsoft are offering cloud storage not just a new business, but an important foundation for other Internet products. Most of Google's products are free to use, but if users log in to Google account, there will be further customization services, and these customized data to save the user's own cyberspace, previously saved in Gmail space, the future may be Google Drive space. Microsoft is the same, through the SkyDrive space, WINDOWS8 personal settings can be saved online and synchronized to any one of the computer login. In addition, the Microsoft Office Web apps as well as Google Docs two kinds of online Office document browsing editing services can not be separated from the support of their own network space. As for other domestic enterprises such as Baidu, involved in the cloud storage business, how many are in preparation for future development.

Cloud storage is not flawless

Although cloud storage has many advantages, there are also deficiencies and drawbacks.

The first is the data confidentiality problem, the enterprise will have very confidential data, the individual may have some very private things, if stored in cyberspace, users will easily produce some unsafe feeling. Although stored on the local hard drive will also have the possibility of leakage (such as computer repair or something ...) , but even if the security assurances given by the provider are much more difficult to completely eliminate user concerns. Lenovo to the recent domestic outbreak of a large number of user information leaks, will further increase the concern of this part of the user.

Data security is a serious issue.

The second is the performance of cloud storage, the data transmission performance problem, because the network transmission rate is obviously not as local transmission, taking into account the network situation around, the gap will be greater. If only the transmission is some small file, perhaps the problem is not big, in case of need to download or upload a lot of data, the time spent waiting may be very long.

Better service often means paying

The third is the data availability problem stored on the network, which is taken for granted because it costs a lot of money to provide cloud storage. Although they also provide some free basic services, there are a variety of restrictions, both in space capacity and transmission speed are not ideal. In order to obtain satisfactory service, only pay upgrade to the advanced users, enterprise users will accept, but individual users may not be easy to accept.

Finally, the cloud storage services must be networked under the conditions, in the event of an irresistible factor caused the network interruption, it is completely out of the way. Of course, this one is a little far-fetched, and you should just relax.

The future of cloud storage in China

Google, Microsoft, Baidu and other large number of internet companies officially into the cloud storage area, indicating that this is a big potential market, otherwise they will not be involved, but for now, cloud storage in the country has a long way to go. In addition to the application of network disk sharing resources, enterprise-class data storage backup service usage is low. In addition, Google, Microsoft and other foreign companies will encounter a more embarrassing problem, that is the current network situation in China: Google will not say, and occasionally inaccessible; Microsoft's SkyDrive server because it is located abroad, the speed of access may also become a big problem.

Foreign enterprises are subject to the network environment, domestic cloud storage services are not good where to go, whether the north-South network problem, or average bandwidth, no one does not limit the use of cloud storage. The good service faces about dozens of KB of speed, I believe many people will not often use.

Furthermore, the vast majority of the well-known cloud storage services are for individual users, the capacity of a few GB to dozens of GB, the real support for enterprise users terabytes of data storage needs of a handful. Even the free service, the most personal use of the most I am afraid to download other people to share pictures, videos or other applications, many of these users are the next to leave, as well as the temporary need to casually find a network disk upload files. After this, the rest is the user who often uses the cloud storage service, however, this includes some special use of the network disk as a download server, such as the Material forum. The end of the actual user base is not as big as it looks, you reader, when you last used the network disk is the download or upload files?

Wordy so much, actually want to say, cloud storage does have its value, but in the domestic future is not clear, the true meaning of the popularization also has a distance. Although a lot of users, but the application of a single, but also subject to network conditions and other factors to make it difficult to play all the strength, in the short term still can only stay in the individual user-oriented. It is now less than 1 months since Microsoft and Google released cloud storage services, but various discussion topics have been silenced for days, reflecting Izumo storage back to the tepid one months ago.

Bottom line: Cloud storage has a long way to go in China.