In the age we live in, people and businesses alike have become data factories, churning out an incredible amount of information on the web each day. It is reported that our current output of data tips the charts at a humungous 2.5 quintillion bytes a day - a staggering figure to wrap your brain around, and one that is set to continue to grow over coming years.
We live in a world that has become increasingly connected, with an ever-growing number of mobile and electronic devices that enables the process of generating this data deluge. New technology has helped us manage data in just about every way, and whether it is playing online casino games without downloading any software, storing digital photos safely, or ensuring that soft copies of documents are easy to access online, we rely on cutting edge tech to simplify and streamline our lives.
Most people already use some kind of Cloud storage service to store their documents, pictures and media. Cloud storage services such as Dropbox, OneDrive and iCloud are integrated with operating systems on our devices, and for some it has become second nature to intuitively store all their data safely on the cloud. There is a definite trend evolving, which sees the shift towards tetherless storage and the freedom and functionality it affords. People don’t want to be tied down by clunky external storage devices and businesses no longer see the value of investing too many resources in maintaining data storage infrastructure themselves.
Are Hard Drives Staring Down The Barrel Of Obsolescence?
Far removed from those obscure floppy disks, we certainly have come a long way in terms of mass storage and hard drives. Solid State Drives (SSD) have steadily replaced the old but reliable mechanical drives that once were a standard feature in our desktops and devices. They are fast, affordable and outperform traditional hard drives by miles. The market has become so well acclimated to this shift, that most devices now come preinstalled with SSDs as part of their standard configuration.
Hard drive technology is certainly not standing still and we can expect to see a huge amount of innovation in the next five years. Despite the general trend to move towards an exclusive Cloud storage solution, there is still some way to go before we get there. Cloud computing and storage relies heavily on high-speed accessibility and connectivity. This means that until the majority of society enjoys the benefits of fast and unrestricted Internet access, many people and businesses will continue relying on the capabilities of external hard drives, in particular SSDs.
Benefits of Cloud Storage
Losing important information and data can be disastrous, so there is no real question as to whether to back up your data or not. But why should you consider using a Cloud storage service instead of an external hard drive? There are many convincing benefits to Cloud storage, however one of its biggest draw cards is that it offers individuals and businesses easy access to their data without the trappings of a physical device. Since your data is stored online, you can access it at any time, wherever you may find yourself, as long as you are connected to the Internet. Cloud storage makes it easy to share data with others, with functionality that allows members of a team to work on documents and files at the same time. This makes it incredibly convenient and encourages an efficient workflow dynamic, which is particularly appealing to businesses and organisations.
Cloud storage services have also stepped their game up dramatically when it comes to the safety and security of stored data, and employ the latest security technologies to provide their customers with peace of mind. Let’s not forget that external hard drives are subject to physical damage or loss, which makes the thought of having all your important information stored safely online feel pretty reassuring.
Thanks to these and numerous other benefits, opting for Cloud storage is an increasingly popular trend, and in the future this, or new tech advancements, may see us bid farewell to hard drives almost entirely.