Apersonal cloudis a collection ofdigital contentand services that are accessible from anydevicethrough the Internet. It is not a tangible entity, but a place that gives users the ability tostore,synchronize,streamand share content on a relative core, moving from oneplatform,screen and location to another. Created on connected services andapplications,it reflects and sets consumer expectations for how next-generation computing services will work.[1][citation needed]
The four primary types of personal cloud in use today are: Online cloud, NAS device cloud, server device cloud, and home-made clouds.
Online cloud
editThe online cloud is sometimes referred to as thepublic cloud.It is thecloud computingmodel where online resources like software and data storage are made available over the Internet.[2]
Typically, an individual or organization has little control over the ecosystem in which the online cloud is hosted, and the coreinfrastructureis shared between many individuals and organizations. The data and applications provided by the service provider are logically segregated so that only those authorized are allowed access.[3]
NAS device cloud
editAnetwork-attached storage(NAS) device is a computer connected to anetworkthat provides only file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to run other software on a NAS device, it is not designed to be a general purpose server. Cloud NAS is remote storage that is accessed over the Internet as if it were local.
A cloud NAS is often used for backups and archiving. One of the benefits of NAS Cloud is that data in the cloud can be accessed at any time from anywhere. The main drawback, however, is that the speed of thetransfer rateis only as fast as the network connection thedatais accessed over and can therefore be fairly slow.[4]
Server device cloud
editIn many ways cloud servers work in the same way as physical servers but the functions they perform can be very different.[5]Typically, the cloud server is an on-premises device that is connected to the Internet and gives users the functions available on the online cloud but with the added benefit and security of the files being in their control on their premises.
The server cloud has been historically enterprise-based deployed by businesses needing an in-house cloud. However, there are also in-house options available for individual users.
Home-made clouds
editFor the more technologically proficient user a common solution for using a personal cloud is to create a home-made cloud system by connecting an externalUSBhard driveto aWi-Firouter.This enables both wired and wireless computers to access the USB hard drive and use it for storage or for retrieving files a user needs to share on the network thereby acting like a cloud.
The challenge for the home-made cloud is that in order to set it up a user has to have a certain degree of skills in technology and network setup. This solution is not for novices and average consumers. If this setup is not done by a tech expert the biggest issue will be security and leaving the files accessible to anyone with technical knowledge.[6]Not every router supports this type of access and modification.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Gartner IT Glossary - Personal Cloud".Gartner. 2014-02-18.Retrieved2014-05-15.
- ^"Public, private and dynamic hybrid cloud: What's the difference?".Smarter Computing Blog. 2014-04-15.Retrieved2014-05-15.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Public Cloud vs Private Cloud vs Hybrid Cloud".Office of Finance. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-05-15.Retrieved2014-05-15.
- ^"What is cloud NAS (cloud network attached storage)? - Definition from WhatIs".Searchcloudstorage.techtarget.Retrieved2014-05-15.
- ^"What are Cloud Servers | Cloud Server Information".Interoute.Retrieved2014-05-15.
- ^"Default settings leave external hard drives connected to Asus routers wide open - Good Gear Guide".PC World Australia.2014-01-09.Retrieved2014-05-15.