Communication is a vital part of our society, whether you’re trying to do something as simple as ordering food or something as detailed as a presentation. As technology evolved, so did communication, and when people began to flock online in droves, it created what we know today as social media. Now, people are able to connect with a vast number of people, and with this communication came a change in the way that information is not only shared, but also stored. Massive amounts of data get exchanged all over the web, and a good amount of it is data that comes from sites like Facebook and Twitter. So the question is, if all of that data is out there, where is it being stored, and is it safe?
The answer is the cloud. You might have seen this phrase pop up occasionally when you have been trying to save a document or access some music, but in truth the cloud does so much work behind the scenes, even though many people don’t even realize that it’s there, or what it does. However, when it comes to social media, the cloud is incredibly important, as it saves and protects all of your pictures, posts, addresses, and other sensitive information, all while allowing you to access your personal data wherever you go.
To sum up how the cloud works, rather than storing data on a hard drive, the cloud saves your information on servers, which means that your data is accessible whenever you need it, wherever you need it. So rather than having to only use your home computer to access your Facebook account, the data is saved in a way that you can access your profile page wherever you go. On top of that, companies like SingleHop can help provide you services to help manage your data, adding an additional layer of security to all of your important information, whether it’s business or personal.
Below are some ways that the cloud works in everyday life
1.Backup and Recovery
Probably the biggest fear that everyone has when it comes to the Internet is losing some important piece of information that absolutely cannot be replaced. The cloud’s first and foremost duty is to back up all of the information that it has stored within it. So, if by some horrible accident you delete that incredibly important document, or you accidentally delete the album from your sibling’s wedding, you can download it from the cloud quickly and easily.
2. File Storage and Transfer
While in the cloud, all of your data is saved on a massive network of interconnected servers that enable web pages to run and load quickly. When you save data inside the cloud, all of your files are securely stored and shared whenever you want, to whomever you want. Instagram pictures, Snapchats, and Vine uploads all go through the cloud’s network, allowing them to be shared almost instantaneously.
3. Platform-as-a-Service
Platform-as-a-Service, or PaaS for short, is a form of cloud computing that allows people to create web apps without having to pay too much for software, design, and so forth. PaaS companies can help people develop and run applications such as games, organization software, social apps, and other social software to help people stay connected, and in general make the web a more fun place to be. The cloud stores all of these applications, and sites that can offer managed storage solutions can manage the software and the data so that you can focus on enjoying your next big app.
4. Web Hosting
Web hosting is what allows innumerable blog sites, as well as different emerging social websites, to find a home to grow. The website data is stored on the cloud and served up on demand to users across the globe when they visit the site. Web hosts often offer whole servers to clients that need more resources and computational power, while smaller blogs and websites are usually hosted on a shared server that is split between multiple “tenants.”
See also: Top 25 Best Web Hosting Services You Really Need To Know
5. Collaboration
This part is easy enough to see on a daily basis, and is a huge part of what is the core of social media: sharing. The cloud enables users to share anything anywhere, whether it’s a photo album, a resume, or a presentation. The cloud enables applications like Google Drive to work fluidly and instantaneously, allowing people to make quick suggestions and edits on their friend’s work. The cloud manages and saves all of this data in real time, so improvements and adjustments can be made quickly and efficiently.
6. Communication
Everyone who uses social media communicates in one way or another. In fact, the Internet has been using communication applications for years now, and a vast majority of them use the cloud’s network. Email, instant messaging, and posts all run through cloud infrastructure. Every message you send, every email that you type, gets stored in the cloud’s massive database for easier access in the future. So in case your email from your grandmother about that one recipe for her perfect apple pie gets lost, it can be easily recovered by accessing the copy of the email that is stored in the cloud.
The below Life in the Clud infographic from cloud-computing company SingleHop can help answer any other questions that you might have about the cloud. See how many of these functions you use on a daily basis!
