Advance type of computer data storage where data is stored in logical pools that span across multiple physical data storages that also span across multiple locations.
At Cloudpap, we believe any cloud storage service must store data in five parts. This include different hard drives, different physical machines, different data centers, different locations and different regions.
These facilities and the software that ensure data stored in the cloud is safe and available through web service Application Programming Interface (API) and more user friendly applications that utilize the API such mobile apps, desktop apps, web based portals e.t.c
Cloud storage is usually billed in terms of storage space consumed by the data. However, cloud providers also bill for API calls.
Providers like Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Alibaba Cloud charge for calls to retrieve data in additional to the storage space.
Type of Cloud Storage
Types of Cloud storage are defined by its use case, the kind of data it is suited to store. The popular cloud storage type include:
- Object Storage
- File Storage
- Block Storage
Object Storage
A type of storage that offers high scalability and metadata characteristics. Object Storage algorithm allow storage of data in multiple remote location and calling it using unique identifiers. Object storage is one key component in edge computing services like CDN. Popular example of object storage services include Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) and S3 – compliant object storage by OVH, WOZA, Cloudoon and other providers.
File Storage
File storage is the technology used on network storage services such as Network Attached Storage (NAS) server, NFS, SMB, which allow access to shared files for repositories, media, shared directories among others. Commercially popular services include the Amazon Elastic File System (EFS).
Block Storage
Databases and transaction intensive applications like ERP require dedicated and low latency storage. Block storage are usually provision with Virtual Machine just to ensure low latency. VM volumes are also stored in block storage.Commercially available Block storage services include: Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS)
