Cloud storage is a cloud computing model that enables storing data and files on the internet through a cloud computing provider that you access either through the public internet or a dedicated private network connection. The provider securely stores, manages, and maintains the storage servers, infrastructure, and network to ensure you have access to the data when you need it at virtually unlimited scale, and with elastic capacity. Cloud storage removes the need to buy and manage your own data storage infrastructure, giving you agility, scalability, and durability, with any time, anywhere data access.

Cloud storage delivers cost-effective, scalable storage. You no longer need to worry about running out of capacity, maintaining storage area networks (SANs), replacing failed devices, adding infrastructure to scale up with demand, or operating underutilized hardware when demand decreases. Cloud storage is elastic, meaning you scale up and down with demand and pay only for what you use. It is a way for organizations to save data securely online so that it can be accessed anytime from any location by those with permission.

Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, cloud storage can deliver the agility, cost savings, security, and simplicity to focus on your core business growth. For small businesses, you no longer have to worry about devoting valuable resources to manage storage yourself, and cloud storage gives you the ability to scale as the business grows.

For large enterprises with billions of files and petabytes of data, you can rely on the scalability, durability, and cost savings of cloud storage to create centralized data lakes to make your data accessible to all who need it.