Question 1

What's the difference between cloud storage and cloud backup?

Accepted Answer

Cloud storage is a place to keep and access files anytime (like a shared drive in the cloud). Cloud backup is specifically designed to restore data after accidental deletion, corruption, or ransomware, often with scheduled backups, retention rules, and point-in-time recovery. You can use cloud storage for backups, but backup tools add extra recovery and retention features.

Question 2

When should I use cloud storage?

Accepted Answer

Use cloud storage when you need to access files from multiple devices, share files with others, store data without buying hardware, or build apps that need scalable file storage (images, videos, documents, logs, backups). It’s especially useful when your storage needs grow over time or you want high durability without managing disks and servers.

Question 3

How much does cloud storage cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs usually depend on (1) how many GB/TB you store per month, (2) how often you read/write data (requests/operations), (3) how much data you download to the internet (egress), and (4) the storage tier (hot/standard vs infrequent access vs archive). Many providers also charge for features like replication across regions or advanced data management. For consumer tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud, pricing is typically a monthly subscription based mainly on storage size.

Cloud Storage

Definition

Real-World Example

Related Terms

Cloud Provider Equivalencies

See Cloud Storage in Action

Serverless E-Commerce Platform with Real-Time Inventory

Global E-Commerce Platform with Multi-Cloud Failover

Scalable 3-Tier Web Application

End-to-End ML Platform with AutoML

Explore More Cloud Computing Terms