• The most secure cloud storage. Comparative review of cloud storage

    Comparisons of various cloud storages are often found on the Internet, but they are not entirely objective, since most people start from storage capacity and the availability of clients for iOS and Android, and no one thinks about data transfer speed. We decided on personal experience to consider the 5 most popular "clouds" and test them for the speed of uploading and downloading files.

    Tested OneDrive, Google Drive, Yandex Disk,iCloud Drive, And dropbox. Uploading to the server and downloading files was carried out exclusively through the web versions of the clients. All actions were performed through the Chrome browser on a Mac with an Internet channel of 100 Mbps. Cloud storage speed testing consisted of two stages - uploading a 1.28 GB file to the cloud storage server, and then downloading the uploaded file back to the computer.

    As time measurements showed, the slowest cloud storage out of the five turned out to be OneDrive. It took 43 minutes 13 seconds to upload a 1.27 GB video to this “cloud”, and 37 minutes 18 seconds to download back. Fourth place went to the legendary dropbox, which is actually the "father" of all cloud storage. It took him 19 minutes 33 seconds to upload the file to the server, and 16 minutes 19 seconds to download.

    Shared third and second places Google Drive And iCloud Drive. Measurements showed that the download time for a 1.27 GB file in Google's cloud storage was 3 minutes 2 seconds, while the "apple" iCloud Drive coped with this task in 4 minutes 39 seconds. In terms of downloading a similar file, Apple's "cloud" won with a result of 2 minutes 7 seconds (this is a record among all 5 cloud storages), while Google Drive took 2 minutes 49 seconds for a similar procedure.

    The first place is occupied by the Russian "Yandex Disk", which showed the best result in terms of download time to the server, and the second after iCloud Drive in terms of download time of the file to the computer. Uploading a 1.27 GB file to the server took a record 2 minutes 34 seconds, while the download took 2 minutes 21 seconds.

    For clarity, we have created a small table to make it easier to navigate the data. It turns out that Yandex Disk cloud storage turned out to be the fastest in terms of upload time to the server, while iCloud Drive gave the shortest file download time.

    Until March 10, inclusive, everyone has a unique opportunity to Xiaomi Mi Band 3, spending only 2 minutes of their personal time on it.

    Join us at

    A cloud is usually a large object that occupies a large area. In the technical field, a cloud is a virtual remote service that provides users with data storage, application hosting, or physical space virtualization services. Nowadays, cloud computing is used not only by large but also by small companies.

    There are basically three kinds of cloud services.

    SaaS(Software as a Service, software as a service) - providing users with access to other public clouds of large organizations to store their data, such as Gmail.

    PaaS(Platform as a Service, platform as a service) - providing the ability to host and run applications on their clouds, for example, Google App Engine allows users to host their applications.

    IaaS(Infrastructure as a Service, infrastructure as a service) - allows you to virtualize any machine and, using the client, the user can get the feeling of a real machine.

    Cloud storage means storing the user's local files on special dedicated servers on the network that are designed for this. CompuServe was the first to offer its customers 128 kilobytes of disk space that could be used to store their files. Now this area is under active development and due to potential threats such as loss of data or information, hacks, and other similar cases, many organizations are releasing their own cloud solutions that guarantee data privacy, this strengthens confidence in the success of cloud technologies.

    In this article, we will look at several solutions from this area. We will focus on open source software that is used by a huge number of people and large organizations. We will analyze only the best cloud services of 2016.

    In the list of the best cloud storages, OwnCloud is in one of the first places. A Dropbox replacement for Linux users, it provides many features similar to those of Dropbox. Just like Dropbox, OwnCloud allows you to sync files between your local computer and a remote server.

    Since this is an open source solution, users can get unlimited free storage space for their data by hosting this software on their server. The project started in January 2015 with the goal of providing an open source replacement for private, non-public cloud storage. It is written in PHP, JavaScript, and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, and has mobile apps for Android and iOS.

    OwnCloud uses a Webdav server for remote access and can integrate with a large number of databases, including SQLite, MariaDB, Oracle Database, PostgreeSQL.

    A large number of functions are supported, such as encryption, file storage, music streaming, content sharing by URL, Mozilla sync server, RSS aggregator for reading news feeds, one-click installation of programs, watching videos, PDF, editing office documents and much more.

    The latest version of OwnCloud 8.2 adds several new features such as an improved design, the ability to notify users, and a time limit for storing files in the trash.

    2 Seafile

    Another file hosting based on open source software. It is written in C and Python, and the latest stable version is 4.4.3, which was released on October 15, 2015.

    The best Seafile cloud storages provide a desktop client for Windows, Linux and OS X, as well as mobile clients for Android, IOS and Windows Phone. Along with the free implementation of the Community Edition, released under the GPL, there is a professional edition under a commercial license, which provides additional features - some user protocols and the ability to search for text.

    The project moved to an open source distribution form in July 2011, which has attracted a lot of attention. Its main functionality is data synchronization, with an emphasis on security. Main features: online file editing, differential synchronization, minimal network bandwidth usage and client data encryption. It is these features that have made this software popular in many foreign universities: the University of Mainz, the University of Berlin and the University of Strasbourg, as well as among many people around the world.

    3.Pydio

    This is a free cloud storage, or rather, file hosting, formerly known as AjaXplorer. Its purpose is to provide its users with file hosting, file sharing, and synchronization. The project was started in 2009 by Charles DeJue and since 2010 has been delivered on all NAS equipment from LaCie.

    Pydio is written in PHP and JavaScript and is available for Windows, Linux, MacOS as well as Android. There are now about half a million downloads from Sourcefoge. The service is endorsed by companies such as RedHat and Oracle. It is one of the most popular cloud storage on the market.

    By itself, Pydio is just a core that runs on a web server and can be accessed through any web browser. The Webdav interface makes it an ideal online file management solution, SSL/TLS encryption makes data transfer secure and keeps your privacy. Also available is a text editor with syntax highlighting, audio and video playback, integration with Amazon S3, FTP, or MYSQL, an image editor, sharing files and folders using public URLs.

    4. Ceph

    Ceph was originally developed by Sage Well for his PhD, but in the fall of 2007 he continued to work on the project and expanded the development team. In April 2014, Red Hat took part in the development. So far, eight versions of the program have been released, the last release was on April 7, 2015. It is a distributed cluster written in C ++ and Perl with a high degree of scalability and, moreover, freely available.

    Data can be pushed to Ceph as a block device, file, or object via a RADOS gateway that supports Amazon S3 and OpenStack Swift.

    These free cloud storages are data safe, scalable and reliable, here are some additional features:

    • Network file system with great performance
    • Compatibility with virtual machine clients
    • Object Level Mapping

    Syncany, released about two years ago in March 2014, is one of the lightest on the list - the best cloud services of 2016 for storage and file sharing. Now actively developed by Philip Haeckel and available as a command line tool for all systems. The graphical interface is still under development.

    One of the most important features of Syncany is that it is just a tool. Therefore, you need to have your own storage available via FTP, SFTP, Webdav, Samba, or Amazon S3.

    6. Cozy

    This tool provides not only file access and synchronization, but a complete package of functions that will help you build your own application platform.

    Like Syncany, Cozy provides flexibility for the user in terms of disk space. You can use your personal servers or trust data to Cozy servers. This software needs two more projects to function properly - CouchDB for database storage and Whoosh for indexing. The program is available for all platforms, including smartphones.

    The main features that make this solution one of the best: the ability to store all contacts, files, calendar in the cloud, synchronize it all between a laptop and a smartphone.

    Another notable feature is that Cozy is resource-intensive. A version of Cozy Light has been released that can even run on Raspberry Pi or cheap VPS hosting.

    7GlusterFS

    GlusterFS is a network file system for storing files. The project was originally developed by Gluster Inc, but has now been taken over by Red Hat. Following a 2011 lawsuit from Gluster Inc, RedHat renamed their product Red Hat Gluster Storage. It is available for most platforms: Linux, OS X, NetBSD, OpenSolaris. The project was used as a basis for scientific research.

    GlusterFS uses a client-server model, with servers deployed as storage clusters. The client can connect to the server using its own protocol over TCP/IP, Infiband or SDP and store files on the GlusterFS server. To ensure the reliability of data storage, data mirroring based on files and replications, load balancing, disk caching scheduling, etc. are used.

    Another useful feature is that the data is stored in native filesystems such as ext4, xfs, etc.

    StackSync is a Dropbox-like tool that runs on OpenStack, designed to solve the problem organizations have to keep all their data in sync in one place. It is written in Java and released under the GPLv3 license.

    Its structure consists of three main components: synchronization server, OpenStack, desktop or mobile client. The server handles metadata and logic, OpenStack is focused on data persistence, and desktop clients help users sync data to their personal cloud.

    SyncStack uses various data optimizations that allow you to scale the system to meet the needs of thousands of people for efficient use of cloud resources. Additional features: RESTFull API as a Swift module that allows you to use mobile and third-party apps to synchronize data. There is also a separation between data and metadata making this solution very flexible to deploy on a variety of configurations.

    Git-annex is another prominent item on the best cloud storage 2016 list, and is a file synchronization solution developed by Joy Hess and released in October 2010. This solution also provides file sharing and synchronization, but does not rely on any commercial service or central server. It is written by Haskell and is available for Android, Linux, OS X, and Windows.

    git-annex - manages the user's GIT repository without saving the session. Instead, it only stores links to files in the GIT repository, and manages the files linked by the link. It also provides file mirroring, which is necessary when restoring data.

    In addition, this service provides instant access to files as soon as they are needed. It should be noted that git-annex is available for many Linux distributions, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debain, etc.

    10. Yandex.Disk

    Yandex Disk is a cloud storage and synchronization service released in April 2012 and available for all major platforms including Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, iOS and Windows Phone. It allows users to sync their data between different devices and share it with all users on the internet.

    Yandex Disk provides its users with many different functions: a built-in flash player, file sharing between users by exchanging links, synchronizing files between different devices, unlimited storage time, WebDav support.

    11. Bitcasa

    Developed by Bitcasa Inc, a California company, this is another cloud storage and sync service. Available for Windows, OS X, Android and Linux. Not all components of the program are open source, but it is still relevant because it uses projects such as gcc/clang, libCurl, OpenSSL, APR, Rapid JSON, etc.

    The main features are file storage, sharing, as well as encryption, which makes data storage much safer. It is these features that make it popular with customers from more than 140 countries around the world.

    12.nas4free

    NAS stands for Attached Network Storage or Attached Online Storage. 4free stands for its free and free nature. The program was released in May 2012. It is a network storage server with a user interface written in PHP. It supports i386/IA-32 and x86-64 architectures.

    Nas4Free supports partitioning across multiple operating systems, ZFS, data encryption, protocols such as Samba, CARP, Bridge, FTP, RSYNC, TFTP, NFS.

    Unlike other programs, nas4free can be installed and run from a USB, and can also be run from a Live USB or LiveCD. Nas4free has won several awards, Project of the Month (August 2015) and Project of the Week (May 2015).

    conclusions

    These were all the most interesting and best cloud services of 2016 for data storage and synchronization, they have either gained a lot of popularity over the years or just released and are ready to make a huge contribution to this industry. Our review of free cloud storage is over. If you know of other great cloud services that you or your organization use, write in the comments.

    The topic of today's article will be devoted to online storage, they are also cloud services for storing files. I offer a brief overview of the most popular online services, their main advantages and disadvantages.

    Modern cloud services are still hard to imagine as an alternative to your own hard drive, but they are very convenient as a link between a home computer and a mobile device. In addition, online resources are indispensable when you need to have all important files at hand with the ability to view them on any device.

    As for USB drives, this is no longer relevant for such purposes. Take, for example, the situation with tablets, whose manufacturers often simply refuse usb ports in favor of cloud services.

    How cloud services work: First you need to register, in some cases it is enough to have a mailbox of these services, then we simply upload files through the web interface (through your browser) or install the attached client. If we install the client, then a folder will be created on the computer into which you copy the necessary files, they will be synchronized using the program to your cloud.

    Perhaps this is the most famous service of this kind, although it is clearly inferior to its competitors in terms of free disk space - only 2 GB.

    For $10 or $20, you can upgrade to the more resource-intensive Pro 50 and Pro 100 plans, respectively, whose names allude to the amount of gigabytes available. The main advantage of the service is a very convenient Dropbox client that is installed on a PC or smartphone and allows you to work with your data or access files through a web interface.

    By the way, if you are the owner of an Android-based smartphone, then by uploading photos to the Dropbox server, you will receive another 3GB as a gift. Among the shortcomings, I will note the English interface (if this is a problem), the low speed of uploading files to the server, a small amount of free gigabytes.

    Video: how to install Dropbox

    The advantage of this service is a small consumption of computer RAM. You can store files in any format, but some get additional benefits. So, if these are Office documents, then with the help of Office Web Apps integrated into SkyDrive, they can be edited directly in the browser, and Office 2010 installed on a computer allows you to save and open documents directly in SkyDrive.

    Photos and videos are structured into directories with the ability to display in the browser as a slide show, access to files can be differentiated for different categories of users.

    At first glance, the Swiss service Wuala seems quite difficult to manage, but here you will find many useful features.

    In addition to the standard file synchronization and backup functions, it has rare and important features. Excellent encryption, decent data transfer speed and very good functionality. Support not only Windows, but also Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone. Low prices for additional data volume from 19 euros per year. It's only $2 per month! For comparison, Dropbox and other similar services want $10 per month.

    There is a unique function of selling space on your local hard drive. Among the shortcomings, one can note a small volume, only 1GB upon registration, which is increased by inviting friends, and, as noted above, very affordable prices for an additional seat. Unfortunately, Wuala is not distinguished by a simple web interface: the bet is made on a Java application that runs directly from the browser.

    Free Google Drive File Storage (Google Drive)

    Of the obvious advantages, I note the close integration with GoogleDocs and, of course, the best search that none of its competitors can boast of. But there are also noticeable disadvantages, you will learn about one of them by watching this video ..

    Free file storage from Yandex (Yandex Disk)

    A service thanks to which your files and documents are accessible from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection. Get started with (following this link, you will receive 1 GB more for free!).

    After authorization, you need to take 3 simple steps to increase your "cloud" from 3 to 10 GB: install the Yandex Disk client, upload a couple of files to the server and tell your friends about Disk using social networks. In addition, for each friend invited to Yandex.Disk, you will receive 0.5 GB of free space, and your friend will receive 1 GB.

    Of course, these are not all cloud services, for a more complete list, I offer a table of a comparative test of free online storage from Chip magazine.

    If you are concerned about the security of archive files (for example, password lists ..etc), then before uploading them to the cloud, use programs for additional protection - for example BoxCryptor or TrueCrypt.

    The PCWorld portal also prepared a comparison of Google Drive with other cloud services. In short..

    • Google Drive leads the way in price per month, but SkyDrive is cheaper when bought on an annual basis.
    • SugarSync is the only service that allows you to synchronize files from any directory, but SkyDrive has the ability to remotely access your computer using the two-factor authentication mode.
    • As for the file size limit, Box has a 100MB limit, SugarSync has no limit at all, and Google Drive has a 10GB limit.
    • Web applications, link exchange and private storage - every service has it all.
    • The proposals from Google and Microsoft have their drawbacks: Google Drive doesn't have a Windows Phone mobile client, and SkyDrive doesn't have an Android client.

    More and more users and companies are refusing to purchase a hard drive with a large amount of memory in favor of online products. During the initial review of proposals on the market, it is not entirely clear which cloud to choose for data storage. To do this, it is important to know their purpose, features, pros and cons of use.

    Cloud refers to a certain allocated amount of space on the servers of a company providing cloud storage services. The system is decentralized and the files are scattered across a network of data centers, but they are easy to access through an app or website.

    Top five reasons to use cloud services:

    The top cloud storage is made up of the ratio of price, quality and generosity of the developers (the presence of a free mode and the amount of space offered).

    Based on the listed characteristics, the rating includes:

    The choice of which cloud service is better to use is up to the user. All of these services deserve to be in the rating and have good reviews. In order not to pay for storage, they install all services at the same time and use them in a free mode.

    Advantages and disadvantages


    Cloud benefits include:

    • low cost of equipment, saving on the purchase of a large disk;
    • save disk space and improve PC performance;
    • increases the efficiency of resource use. In the corporate sector, a personal data center is either idle or unable to cope with the load, and in cloud storage, payment is made only for the amount of information used;
    • no need for system administrators and technical workers;
    • automatic application updates;
    • unlimited volume;
    • compatibility with all operating systems;
    • support for most formats;
    • ease of collaboration on the project;
    • round-the-clock remote access to documents;
    • safety.

    There are also disadvantages:

    • do not work without access to the network;
    • stable and high-speed Internet is required;
    • the risk of slow service operation during DDoS or heavy load;
    • not all programs support remote access;
    • individual companies (not from the list presented) have security problems;
    • if data is lost on the cloud, it is rarely possible to recover it.

    File storage security in the cloud

    The best cloud storage is secure, but it's relative. There are several reasons to trust and distrust them.

    It's safe because:

    • data is encrypted, as specified in the user agreement;
    • the service is constantly being worked on to improve performance and close security holes;
    • a password is required for access.

    What vulnerabilities exist:

    • packet interception - possible only when transmitted over an unsecured network, public Wi-Fi is especially dangerous;
    • password cracking - do not use the same passwords;
    • not all services encrypt data - it is better to encrypt it yourself or set a password.

    To store files, it is better to use the listed services, they are safer, more reliable and easier to use than their counterparts. Despite the lack of 100% security on the part of the service, the user is able to protect his own information using SSL access, encrypting key files and setting a strong, previously unused password.

    And a year later, we can say with confidence that cloud storage and their position in the world have changed.

    Many cloud storages continue to evolve and develop for the better, while others, on the contrary, are losing user loyalty. There are also younger cloud storages that look extremely attractive. Although it is pleasant that there is no longer such a huge number of new cloud storages that appeared a few years ago in huge quantities, they “died” in the same huge numbers.

    I’ll make a reservation right away, in this top there will be only cloud storages that provide users with at least some free space. There are also fully paid cloud storages that please with their quality, but they will not be included in this top.

    Cloud storage from Microsoft, which replaced the closed SkyDrive. The storage is tightly integrated into the company's ecosystem and many applications. High speed, 15 GB of free space and integration with Microsoft Office Online. Everything was fine, but Microsoft managed to ruin the entire reputation of its repository.

    Office 365 subscribers received unlimited OneDrive space. The description indicated 1 TB, but when the limit was reached, the available space was added automatically. Some users began to abuse the trust of Microsoft, as a result, hundreds of terabytes of data accumulated in their accounts, all photos, the entire movie library, heaps of games pumped from torrents and much more. OneDrive was originally created as a tool for storing, collaborating and transferring documents, and not as a permanent repository of everything you need. Microsoft was angered by this and the company took a step that undermined . There will be no unlimited accounts from the first quarter of 2016. Free 15 GB and the bonus for automatic photo uploads have also been seriously reduced. On a free basis, it is planned to give only 5 GB, and the remaining 10 GB and the bonus will simply be taken away from users who did not have time to use this space in time, with the help of certain manipulations.

    The cancellation of unlimited accounts can still be justified, even a reduction in free volume can be justified, but the fact that the company wants to take away the already existing free space is extremely bad for the further credibility of OneDrive. As a result, we are left with more or less high-quality cloud storage, but due to the lack of trust in it, only the tenth place.

    9. MEGA

    Last year, MEGA cloud storage was much higher in the rankings. During the year, the repository changed its web interface, there were problems with the operation of the repository itself, and at the end, Kim Dotcom, who once founded MEGA, reported that . Is it possible to trust a distressed husband who has his creation taken away from him? Not sure.

    Of the minuses, it is worth noting that over the year the storage had problems with access, problems with synchronization, especially a large number of documents and through the web interface. In addition, some have noted that sometimes they could not access their files and the servers simply did not respond.

    After the redesign, MEGA has lost all these problems. Moreover, he received the function of encrypted calls between users of this service. And don't forget, MEGA still gives 50 GB of free space to all its users. That's just adding up all of the above, this storage cannot be called exemplary, although it did not slide down to the antics of OneDrive, hence the higher position.

    Initially, at this place, when the draft version of the top was written, there was a cloud storage "in the Safe", which was advised by readers in the comments to the top of 2015. By the end of 2015, vSafe announced its closure, and, as the developers assure, everyone was warned by mail. But for some reason this letter did not reach and it was not in the spam folder, so all the files were gone. It's sad, but you need to look for a more reliable alternative.

    There was nothing better than SpiderOak. Cloud storage has existed for more than one year and differs from all of the above by a high level of confidentiality. Strong encryption that has never been hacked by intruders. Many secure smartphones and other gadgets that specialize in the safety and security of user data recommend SpiderOak.

    SpiderOak has applications for a large number of operating systems. There are also disadvantages, in particular, only 2 GB of available space is given for free. So, it remains to either store only the most valuable data in a more securely encrypted storage, or switch to a paid account. Many call SpiderOak the benchmark for encrypted cloud storage.

    7. Box

    More and more, this storage goes into the business segment. Data encryption, built-in notepad and 10 GB of free space. All these are good indicators, along with stability, because Box can be called one of the oldest cloud storages.

    But the file size and many other indicators are significantly limited in the free version, and it doesn’t get better, the rules are tightening more and more. If this goes on, the position of Box and the loyalty of ordinary users will come to naught. However, on a paid account, there are much more places and much less restrictions.

    6. Copy

    The Copy storage pleases with its stability. It just gives 15 GB of free space and works stably. No interruptions and no other problems. It simply synchronizes all your data, and this is the main criterion for any cloud storage.

    However, this storage lacks an ecosystem, communication with other services and applications, and the ability to open at least some types of files directly in the cloud, without having to download them (now we are talking about the web version).

    There are a lot of users of Apple devices and all of them are essentially iCloud users. iCloud stores settings, user data, synchronizes a huge number of files through it, and much more.

    Even on Apple operating systems, there may be a problem when working with iCloud. How to upload a file, why does the iCloud Drive app appear only after manipulating the settings? The Windows version is even worse, and other systems do not have this storage at all. The closeness of iCloud does not allow to put it higher.

    4. Yandex.Disk

    One of the most popular repositories for Russian-speaking users. Over the past year, Yandex.Disk began to support more file formats, learned smart photo sorting, and received deep integration with Yandex.Mail. 10 GB of free space also has not gone away.

    Do not forget about the numerous promotions, during which you also get free space, for example, you were pleasantly surprised when you inserted a new flash drive and suddenly received 30 GB of space for a year as a gift. In addition, after the recent update Yandex.Disk Microsoft Office Online, which means you can easily create and work with office documents right in your browser.

    3. Cloud Mail.Ru

    The main competitor of Yandex.Disk, despite the fact that it launched much later, managed not only to catch up, but also overtook the competitor. If the first users who wanted to test the "raw" version of this storage received 1 TB of free space, beta testers received 100 GB, now they give only 25 GB, but the volume is no longer going to be reduced.

    The storage not only provides a sufficiently large volume, which is more than enough to store documents, projects and photos, but also knows how to work with office documents, thanks to integration with Microsoft Office Online. Don't forget about mail integration.

    Last year's leader is still inferior in functionality to this year's leader. The case when the cloud storage itself has not changed, moreover, it has become much better in a year, only the competitor has become much better.

    This is the oldest of the cloud storages. In many ways, it was Dropbox that gave birth to this type of service. Over the year, Dropbox has gained even more support for formats, improved speed, added the ability to leave comments on files, and, thanks to cooperation with Microsoft, has been integrated into Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office Online. With the help of the latter, it is now also possible to edit office documents directly in the browser. There was also a built-in collective work with documents

    1. Google Drive

    The undisputed leader among cloud storage. 15 GB is not the most important thing that it gives. There is also a built-in office suite, Googel Docs, which supports much more formats than the main competitor of Microsoft Office Online. In terms of the number of supported formats, Google Drive is ahead of all its competitors. In addition, there are extensions that, if desired, can allow you to perform all the necessary actions with files: office work, listening to music, watching videos, working with archives, directly in cloud storage, from a browser, without the need to download files to your device.

    Videos and photos are not of very high quality and are not taken into account at all when calculating the volume occupied. Also, the application for Android, starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, begins to synchronize the settings of your phone, tablet or other gadget, so that it is easy to restore your data on a new device. Backups are also not taken into account when calculating the available space in Google Drive.

    As a result, we have cloud storage, to the level of which no competitor has yet reached. The possibilities of Google Drive are impressive and its development does not stop.

    Read more: