BY JONATHAN REID

Cloud storage refers to online storage space that enables people to store, access, and share data online – instantly.

Gone are the days of lugging around expensive hard drives and manually syncing devices.

“It’s a way of taking the data that we would typically store on our own devices or on our corporate networks and put it out on the web where we can access it from many different places,” said Jan Vandenbos, the chief technology officer of CX, inc., a Phoenix-based cloud storage company.

The benefits of cloud storage
Because cloud storage enables you to access data on all your devices without the hassle of having to manually sync, annoyances such as having different calendars and contacts on multiple devices are eliminated. It’s more efficient than a physical hard drive because your content is maintained at a host company’s data center, allowing for easy connectivity between devices and sharing with other people. For example, if you download a song on your computer, you will be able to listen to that song on your iPad or iPhone without having to physically sync your device to a hard drive.

“Let’s say I want to show my parents some pictures I took of my last kayaking trip,” Vandenbos said. “Well, I don’t have to bring the hard drive along…I can just bring the photos up on our CX website.”

Since the cloud storage boom hit earlier this year, many companies have been rolling out or updating their own cloud storage networks for both personal storage and business interaction. Apple’s iCloud is one of the most publicized networks debuting the new capabilities of cloud storage.

Similar to Google Drive and Microsoft’s SkyDrive, iCloud offers cloud storage for data and enhanced connectivity with Apple incentives such as Photo Stream, iTunes music, apps and books that do not take up online storage space.

The ability to back up data online is arguably the most important feature of cloud storage. Losing your phone no longer means all your photos, contacts, and other data is gone forever – it’s secure in the “cloud.”

How to choose a cloud storage company
The price of cloud storage varies depending on how much space and group collaboration you are looking for. Therefore, it is important when choosing a cloud storage company to have an understanding of how you are going to use it. For example, iCloud is great for transferring data between Apple products, and CX cloud storage is effective for small businesses looking to share and edit content between groups of people.

And for the green at heart, cloud storage is at the forefront of sustainability in green computing. Some companies such as CX use third-party data centers to house their servers, cutting utility costs and increasing energy efficiency. Organizations can also use the cloud to cut their use of paper in the workplace because people no longer have to print documents to share information with co-workers.

No matter which company you choose, it’s still critical to back up your data. Things still happen to the largest cloud storage providers with the most secure networks – so don’t neglect your hard drive once you buy cloud storage, and always keep a physical storage space for all your data. A sobering proverb to live by is “technology will always fail you in the end. So back it up!” Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

But don’t be deterred by this warning…cloud storage has proven thus far to be an effective and reliable asset both at home and in the office. Vandenbos has found that when customers first start using CX, they use it for personal storage, but soon realize how valuable cloud storage can be for business.

“It’s all consumer or small business,” Vandenbos said of CX’s clientele. “One of the things that is dramatically changing for us is these consumers and small businesses are bringing these tools into the enterprise.”

Although cloud storage can still be useful for people who only have a single platform as a source to back up data, its biggest potential is for sharing data on multiple devices. So edit and share content with your co-workers in the office, and enjoy photos and music with your friends and family – cloud storage is an essential tool in the future of social and business interaction.