Cloud Storage - Is it worth it

TraceyW · Jun 8, 2022

Hi

I am seriously considering using cloud storage. I've not done so thus far due to the time needed to upload the sort of files I want to place in the cloud since currently I only have an 8Mbps upload speed. However, next week we'll be upgraded to Full Fibre 500 with BT since it has arrived in our locale and this should give us 73Mbps upload.

My current plan with BT already gives me 1TB cloud storage but having downloaded and installed the cloud app on my PC I'm damned if I know how it works as I can find little to no info about it. Not to be put off I've been looking at the way other services work and quite frankly I'm very little better off - possibly apart from one, Icedrive. However, I'm beginning to wonder whether its worth the hassle for what I want to do. All I am after is a means of uploading my Macrium Reflect backup files so I know they are safe in the unlikely, but always possible, event of the worst happening.

I have three lots of files for each of three PCs that would need to be uploaded on a rotating basis one PC per week. But is this a good use of a cloud service or should I retain the system I have at the moment, i.e. multiple copies of the last weeks files and at least two/three copies of the two/three weeks prior to that (not worded very well but I hope you know what I mean). The biggest file I would have to upload is around 320GB and another at around 215GB but all others are somewhat smaller than these.

So! Is it worth spending time uploading to a cloud service and indeed is there a limit imposed on the maximum size of files. These are all things I just don't know since I am a raw beginner in all this. Therefore if anyone can put me wise it would be very much appreciated and I thank you in advance.

Tracey

BunnyJ · Jun 8, 2022

Cloud storage is rather expensive and I would opt for buying storage IE.. HDD drives for backup. HDD is a one time cost.. cloud storage is a monthly expense.

HTH
Jeff

pparks1 · Jun 8, 2022

Cloud storage is great when you need files in multiple places across multiple devices. It's also nice in that it gives you a backup of sorts, so if your local computer dies, you don't necessarily lose your files.

As far as cost goes, i guess it depends. Since I was paying for Office 365 anyway, for my $99 a year, I get 6 user accounts who each get 1TB of cloud space. This works great for my family. Have all of our cell phones auto backing up to OneDrive, so nobody ever looses anything.

bronskimac · Jun 8, 2022

Microsoft OneDrive was flaky when I used it, it didn't consistently copy all the files that it should and often created duplicate files for no reason, that was a good while ago. I used Google Drive for a while with no problems, but I now use Dropbox because I can send someone a link for them to upload a file to share with me, handy for my video upscaling sideline. I have it set to mirror my documents and backups, mainly so if the house burns down, my data is safe. I use the Android app Dropsync to sync the folder containing my podcasts and audiobooks from my phone so my two phones, tablet and PC always have the up to date files. My only grumble is it's a bit fiddly to set up Dropbox to use a custom location for files, but most folk would probably be happy with the defaults.

cereberus · Jun 8, 2022

BT cloud storage is dead easy to use. Go online to mybt and there should be a link to setup bt cloud account, then you use BT app to set up folders that sync to online. I have 1 TB as well but I prefer to use onedrive. I tend to use my BT Cloud for older backups.

A 320GB file is huge and would take ages to upload. Just a minor glitch and upload will fail. I would break it down into say 10x32GB so you can back them up individually - less risk of a glitch and if one glitches, you do not have to reupload everything.

I know Macrium Reflect Free can break a large file into a number of smaller files - just tried it with 20GB max size per file. Not sure what the upper limit is but even at 20 GB that would only be 16 files.

Even though BT is fairly fast at 8 MB/s, 320 GB will take 40,000 seconds approx i.e. over 10 hours. Break file into smaller sections and you could do a few each night for 2 or 3 nights.

BT cloud allegedly has no maximum file size if you use BT app but long time since I tried it.

cereberus · Jun 8, 2022

BunnyJ said:
Cloud storage is rather expensive and I would opt for buying storage IE.. HDD drives for backup. HDD is a one time cost.. cloud storage is a monthly expense.

HTH
Jeff

OP has 1TB of cloud storage as part of ISP contract.

idgat · Jun 8, 2022

Consider cloud storage as a resource for sharing/accessing data/files between devices, only.

NEVER as the sole backup option, always maintain a local hard backup (as well?)

Also remember that many cloud storage services/software are SYNCHING services, not backup. Many a user has been bitten by deleting files off their device because they're already "in the cloud", only to find auto synching has also subsequently deleted the files from the cloud storage to match the device ... Now, I wonder why I immediately think of OneDrive ...? :grrr:

Note there is a difference between "cloud storage" and off-site (cold) backup services. The term "cloud" has become a bit too generic and is bandied about indiscriminately to describe these services, as well.

Dru2 · Jun 8, 2022

bronskimac said:
Microsoft OneDrive was flaky when I used it, it didn't consistently copy all the files that it should and often created duplicate files for no reason, that was a good while ago.

As I like to say, there's always that person who comes up with the horror story. I don't care what it is, someone has a negative.

Anyway, maybe I'm lucky, maybe I know how to use the program, but I've had no issues with OneDrive. I drop and retrieve all sorts of files without issue.

I also love the fact that OneDrive will sync with any device running the OneDrive app (of course sign in is required). As a student, I have both a laptop and desktop, so when I'm in class doing my work, I just drop the files in the OneDrive folder. When I get home, I don't even have to grab my laptop, just go to the OneDrive folder on the desktop and retrieve my work. I can also access file online by signing into OneDrive.

I find OneDrive so convenient its now one of my must have apps. Even better is you get 1TB of free storage with Office 365 :)

Servo · Jun 8, 2022

I don't fancy my files floating around the earth. I prefer old school hard drive

asturias7 · Jun 8, 2022

Servo said:
I don't fancy my files floating around the earth. I prefer old school hard drive

Agree 100%.

TraceyW · Jun 8, 2022

With each reply I read I'm getting the feeling I shouldn't bother with cloud storage but there are some things I don't understand.

A couple of responders have used abbreviations without explaining what they mean. BunnyJ says buy storage IE but what is storage IE - it means nothing to me as its a term I've never seen or heard used before! Again, cerebus uses the term OP but what the heck does that mean although it sounds like you're talking about an ISP (no I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be but ISP is such a common term these days). Please, if you're going to use abbreviations please spell it out and follow it with the abbreviation in brackets so those who don't know the term know what you're talking about. Can I please ask the individuals concerned to please explain what the term they have used actually means to give me a better idea of what they are saying.

In all honesty though I really do appreciate the responses and it has given me a good deal of food for thought - its just the question of what IE storage is that I can't take into consideration because I don't know what it is.

Tracey

Ghot · Jun 8, 2022

@TraceyW

Cloud storage is like putting all your important files, in a file cabinet and then setting that file cabinet on the street corner, with a sign on it saying: "Check it out".

As someone mentioned... hard drives are a one time cost.

Another thing to consider is shrinking the size of your backups, by re-evaluating your backup methods.

Consider these 8TB or greater, hard drive's cost vs. any cloud solution's cost...

Internal...

Choose Storage - PCPartPicker

Choose Storage

pcpartpicker.com

External...

Choose External Storage - PCPartPicker

Choose External Storage

pcpartpicker.com

Maybe two of these (one an exact copy of the other). Easy to grab on the way out the door, in case of fire or whatever...

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 8 TB External Hard Drive (WDBA3P0080HBK-NESN) - PCPartPicker

Western Digital WD_BLACK D10 8 TB External Hard Drive (WDBA3P0080HBK-NESN)

pcpartpicker.com

2.2 lbs. each. 3 year warranty.
5000Mb/s through a USB 3.2 GEN 1 port.

Stigg · Jun 8, 2022

If you're a Microsoft Office user, then the Microsoft 365 Personal + 1 TB (1000 GB) OneDrive storage is a great deal.
If you choose Microsoft 365 Family, 6 family members including yourself gets Office + 1 TB (1000 GB per Person [6 TB Total])

Cloud Storage Pricing and Plans – Microsoft OneDrive

Compare plans and pricing for Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage. Get 5 GB of free cloud storage or upgrade to Microsoft 365 and get 1 TB plus advanced protection and Office apps.

www.microsoft.com

jaree1961 · Jun 8, 2022

@TraceyW

IE - is another way of saying "For Example" so it would read "buying storage for example HDD drives for backup"

OP - means "Original Poster" so it would read "Original Poster" has 1TB of cloud storage as part of ISP contract"

play2mefish · Jun 8, 2022

My opinion is...use an external hard drive. When using a "cloud" service you are putting your files/data on someone else's computer. Then you "they" can do what they want with them. If they go out of business, who do you think the files belong too? I bet there is a user agreement form that you just said ok to (where all guilty of this) that will tell you that your files now belong to them. Umm.

I do use onedrive but only for things I really don't care about...but nothing important.

Just my .2 cents. Hope this helps.

pparks1 · Jun 8, 2022

Ghot said:
@TraceyW

Cloud storage is like putting all your important files, in a file cabinet and then setting that file cabinet on the street corner, with a sign on it saying: "Check it out".

Guess it all depends upon what your files are. For example, the vast majority of my files in the cloud are
1). Personal pictures taken with my cell phone. Nothing super private here, these pictures go on facebook and the like
2). Quick documents that I have written describing how I set something up or a small script that I wrote. Hardly anything sensitive
3). Notes about a variety of things, for example the spare parts that my lawn mower takes, or the maintenance logs for my cars.
4). Backup copies of my licensed software that I have bought. In case I lose my home copy. Again, nothing private.

So it really comes down to what you store in these files. For things like tax returns and the like, I don't store them in the cloud, I keep them on a drive at home. But if I were to store them in a cloud, I could use the vault functionality of OneDrive to store them securely there, in an ecrypted format. That keeps them pretty safe. And for a person who isn't diligent about taking bckups of their data, in the event of a hard drive failure, or something more catastrophic (like when my sisters house burned down), having a copy of the data offsite could indeed prove valuable.

imanlien2020 · Jun 8, 2022

TraceyW said:
Hi

I am seriously considering using cloud storage. I've not done so thus far due to the time needed to upload the sort of files I want to place in the cloud since currently I only have an 8Mbps upload speed. However, next week we'll be upgraded to Full Fibre 500 with BT since it has arrived in our locale and this should give us 73Mbps upload.

My current plan with BT already gives me 1TB cloud storage but having downloaded and installed the cloud app on my PC I'm damned if I know how it works as I can find little to no info about it. Not to be put off I've been looking at the way other services work and quite frankly I'm very little better off - possibly apart from one, Icedrive. However, I'm beginning to wonder whether its worth the hassle for what I want to do. All I am after is a means of uploading my Macrium Reflect backup files so I know they are safe in the unlikely, but always possible, event of the worst happening.

I have three lots of files for each of three PCs that would need to be uploaded on a rotating basis one PC per week. But is this a good use of a cloud service or should I retain the system I have at the moment, i.e. multiple copies of the last weeks files and at least two/three copies of the two/three weeks prior to that (not worded very well but I hope you know what I mean). The biggest file I would have to upload is around 320GB and another at around 215GB but all others are somewhat smaller than these.

So! Is it worth spending time uploading to a cloud service and indeed is there a limit imposed on the maximum size of files. These are all things I just don't know since I am a raw beginner in all this. Therefore if anyone can put me wise it would be very much appreciated and I thank you in advance.

Tracey

Im not into any business stuff nor do I have private or confidential things I need kept safe, however I use cloud storage for my Ebooks and the apps I use so i can reinstall easily as Ive been throught the multitude of software to backup my PC only to have it fail on me twice. So now thats all i store in the cloud. And with that Ill tell you I use the typical..Google, Mega, Dropbox and a few other popular ones. I did try out a few newer ones I researched and only to have all my stuff deleted and gone the next day. So, with that in mind it really may just be a matter of which one you trust. Now granted Google or similar others may be totally safe to use but I explained my story to suggest It can be a great thing but use caution as it can also be not so great. Good luck.

Graulges · Jun 9, 2022

jaree1961 said:
@TraceyW

IE - is another way of saying "For Example" so it would read "buying storage for example HDD drives for backup"

OP - means "Original Poster" so it would read "Original Poster" has 1TB of cloud storage as part of ISP contract"

IE stands for that is from the Latin id est. For example is eg from exempli gratia.

idgat · Jun 9, 2022

TraceyW said:
With each reply I read I'm getting the feeling I shouldn't bother with cloud storage but there are some things I don't understand.

A couple of responders have used abbreviations without explaining what they mean. BunnyJ says buy storage IE but what is storage IE - it means nothing to me as its a term I've never seen or heard used before! Again, cerebus uses the term OP but what the heck does that mean although it sounds like you're talking about an ISP (no I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be but ISP is such a common term these days). Please, if you're going to use abbreviations please spell it out and follow it with the abbreviation in brackets so those who don't know the term know what you're talking about. Can I please ask the individuals concerned to please explain what the term they have used actually means to give me a better idea of what they are saying.

In all honesty though I really do appreciate the responses and it has given me a good deal of food for thought - its just the question of what IE storage is that I can't take into consideration because I don't know what it is.

Tracey

IE should be written i.e. - a widely and commonly used expression from the Latin id est which means "that is" (not technical/computer related)

OP, a standard across multiple internet forums referring to either the Original Post (message) and/or the Original Poster's (person) messages (first and/or subsequent messages)

HTH (Hope This Helps

)

Fortitude · Jun 9, 2022

Servo said:
I don't fancy my files floating around the earth. I prefer old school hard drive

As long as you follow the 3-2-1 backup rule it's fine. Three backups, on at least two different storage media, one at a remote location.

Cloud Storage - Is it worth it

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