The 4 Main Differences Between Online Storage And Online Backup

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There is a widespread misperception that “online storage” and “online backup” are interchangeable. They are not, in reality. In this piece, you will discover the distinctions between online storage and online backup, as well as how you may use them in tandem to safeguard data and create a more efficient workflow. By the end of this post, you will understand the four main differences between the two. However, before getting into the main differences, it is essential to understand each of these options.

What Is Online Storage?

You can use online storage to store personal files, photos, videos, and other digital assets that you want to access from anywhere in the world. However, it is essential to note that not all online storage services are created equal, and some carry extra charges for their services. Some features of online storage include: 

  • Cloud-based file sharing and synchronization.
  • Access anywhere ability.
  • Performance-driven infrastructure.
  • Easy collaboration features.
  • Limited space.

What Is Online Backup?

Online backup is an important service that helps people protect their data from theft or loss, and providers store data in caches and servers across the globe. On-demand cloud backup is a type of online data storage. It is an automated process that creates backups automatically. The service typically stores selected volumes or just the changes made to the data to reduce size and cost. The main features include:

  • Automatic backups are to keep your data safe.
  • Usually, unlimited storage space is available.
  • Not typically used for collaboration or sharing.
  • Lower cost.

How Do These Two Types Of Storage Differ From One Another?

After understanding what each of these solutions is used for, you might wonder what the most obvious differences between them are.

Collaboration Is Made Easier With Cloud-Based Storage

Cloud-based storage is commonly referred to as a “shared” approach because it allows for collaboration among numerous users. The data can be stored in the cloud and accessed from any device, even those that are not connected to the network. Cloud-based storage helps companies reduce costs, increase efficiency, and facilitate user collaboration.

For example, a business like Google Drive or Dropbox is classified as online storage. It allows you to upload content and share it with others, often using a unique URL. While you can use Dropbox as a backup of sorts, you will rapidly fill up your allocated space and will need to pay more to get more storage. Therefore, if you are using a backup service and need to share specific files, you might want to download them from your backup storage, reupload the folders to Dropbox and then use the collaboration features they provide. You will have the best of both worlds, especially since many online storage solutions offer a free option with limited storage.

The Primary Purpose Of Backup Is To Protect Your Data

Data backup is essential for any company or individual as it ensures the continuity of work. When your data gets lost or corrupted, there is no way to undo it, and you may end up losing a lot of time and money. It is vital to back up your data regularly and keep it safe at all times. An online backup is an essential tool for keeping your files safe and provides a secure way of storing important data and photos. The main difference is that online storage solutions perform this backup automatically whenever you make a change, such as adding more data to folders you have designated to be backed up.

Backups Make Recovery Easier

Using an online backup service makes recovering your data much easier than using a storage solution. For example, many backup services will offer you multiple methods for getting your data back when needed. Some will even be able to ship you a physical HDD containing all the information you need to recover. In exchange for losing the collaboration options present with cloud storage, you gain faster data recovery, preferable for some people. This is an enormous difference compared to manually selecting and downloading your data from a cloud solution.

Online Backup Is Cheaper

Due to the increasing cost of cloud storage, online backup solutions are now more popular than ever. This is because they are cheaper and offer more data storage and flexibility in backing up files.

As you can see, the differences between the two solutions are stark. However, many people will benefit from a combination of the two as they provide radically different services. Online backup services are more affordable and offer unlimited space, but forgo the sharing features that make cloud-based storage convenient.