Cloud services, including cloud storage and backup, are among those services which we tend to assume to be very similar across the board. Essentially, when we think of cloud services, we immediately link it exclusively to the system of storing, organizing, and sorting files through online and digital means. And although most of that is true, there are key differences between the companies that offer these services. In some cases, these minor differences could mean choosing one company over the other.
In this article, we are going to talk about the differences between the cloud service providers in the market right now. This article will cover cloud storage pricing, company reputation, extra features, and data management. Hopefully, this article will provide you with some key knowledge and help you make the best decision for your company.
Pricing
A common theme with most other commodities in whatever market is a relatively high degree of consistency as regards prices. This, however, is not the case when it comes to cloud storage and backup services. If you take a look at the market right now, considering a capacity-based setup, cloud services will range anywhere from $19,000 to $75,000 a year. That’s a considerably huge price gap for something that we often think of as quite similar across different choices. This concern is what highlights the importance of value when it comes to cloud services. It’s one of those things that have to take a good look or two. Because when we do, we quickly realize that as we go up in price, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re getting a much better service. It’s one of those things that we really have to break down, elaborate, and examine before we finalize a contract or a commitment.
Company reputation
This next item is somewhat of a given across all industries and markets. Naturally, the participants within a particular market will vary when it comes to their reputation. Although you could argue that all of the choices we have today are quite safe because they do offer legitimate services, there’s one thing that we often forget. And that would be experienced. Yes, most, if not all, of the companies in the market right now are legitimate, but none of them will be exactly the same as regards experience.
Some companies will have better backgrounds to speak of. In most cases, the company’s background is actually a really good indicator of the type of service that you’ll be receiving. Generally speaking, if the company is more experienced, they tend to be more reliable, and you will be relatively sure that you’ll have a decent customer experience with them.
Extra features
Virtually everyone in the cloud service industry is going to offer a similar set of features when it comes to the basic functionalities of a cloud storage and backup system. This will typically involve the ability to upload files into the cloud, organize file folders, renaming files, labeling, files sharing, and all that good stuff. However, some companies go beyond these basic functionalities and offer you a lot of added features on top. For example, some would include advanced computational features and even the ability to generate different kinds of reports. You will find these features to be really helpful if you tend to work with a lot of numerical and financial data. Other features include live file synchronization, multi-step authentication, biometric security features, and more.
Data management
The final thing that you have to look out for when choosing a cloud service provider would be their system of data management. Here, you have to look beyond the basic functionalities. This includes looking at how files are encrypted, how data is being handled, how it is compressed, how it is shared, etc. Again, these features are generally minor details, but if your operations are naturally quite specific, then it could mean the difference of having a great experience or having to settle with compromises. In order to make the best decision, be sure to be critical in your approach.
