Category Archives: Cloud Storage
7 Leading Software and Cloud Stocks to Buy – Investorplace.com
While the pandemic meant a setback for a number of sectors, digitalization grew apace increasing the need for software and cloud services. In turn, the demand for cloud computing industry should grow further as more businesses adapt to work-from-home. And thus, software and cloud stocks should be hot options for investors.
Overall, shares of many software and cloud companies have seen significant returns in the past year. For instance, so far in 2021, the Dow Jones US Software Index is up 27% and hit an all-time high in recent days. And the ISE Cloud Computing Index has returned 10% year-to-date (YTD).
Additionally, according to research group Gartner, Worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 23.1% in 2021 to total $332.3 billion, up from $270 billion in 2020. The same study forecasts the sector to reach $397.5 billion in 2022. Therefore, in this article, I will introduce seven leading software and cloud stocks to buy in the coming months.
Even before the pandemic-forced digitalization, we were already benefitting from the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0 or 4IR, defined as the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing and creating the smart factory.
Now, as we move on to Industry 5.0, the focus will shift to collaboration and interaction between humans and machines. With that information, the following seven software and cloud stocks deserve your attention in the coming weeks:
Now, lets dive in and take a closer look at each one.
52-Week Range: $420.78 $642.55
Lets start with a global diversified software company, Adobe. The San Jose, California-based group offers digital marketing and advertising software and services to students, creative artists, small businesses, government agencies, as well as many of the largest global brands worldwide. Founded in 1982, Adobe has more than 23,000 employees worldwide today.
According to the second quarter financial results announced in mid-June, revenue grew 23% year-over-year (YOY) to $3.84 billion. Non-GAAP net income came in at $1.46 billion, up 22.7% YOY. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.03 on a non-GAAP basis, an increase of 23.7%. Cash flows from operations were a record $1.99 billion, up 67.9% compared to the previous-year quarter. Adobe ended the quarter with $4.25 billion in cash and equivalents.
On the results, CEO Shantanu Narayen cited, Our innovative product roadmap and unparalleled leadership in creativity, digital documents and customer experience management position us for continued success in 2021 and beyond. He added that the large market opportunity and momentum we are seeing across our creative, document and customer experience management businesses position us well to deliver another record year.
Adobe has returned over 27.5% YTD, and hit a record high in recent days. The shares trade at 44.44 times consensus forward earnings and 21.04 times current sales. Despite the recent run-up in price, the software giant still offers growth potential and hence potentially high investment returns. Investors should keep the stock on radar to buy the dips.
52-Week Range: $45.86 $139
Burlington, Massachusetts-based Cerence is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant provider for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). Its services also include software platforms for building automotive virtual assistants.
Cerence reported strong third quarter financial results on Aug. 9. Revenue of $96.8 million implied a growth of 28.7% YOY. Non-GAAP net income was $26.1 million, increased 110% compared to prior-year quarter. Non-GAAP diluted EPS stood at 62 cents, up 93.75% YOY. Free cash flow ended the quarter at $21.2 million compared to $13.4 million a year ago.
CEO Sanjay Dhawan commented, Enhancing our future growth opportunities are the strategic collaborations we announced in the quarter with Sirius XM, Visteon and Harman. In the case of Visteon, the collaboration extends into the two-wheeler market, a new adjacent market in which we are making steady progress.
According to Statista metrics, autonomous vehicles should comprise 12% of car registrations by 2030. Thus, Cerence has the potential to be a winner in the secular growth in CAVs market.
In early June, Japan-based Pioneer announced a strategic partnership with CRNC to develop scalable AI-powered products and services that enhance mobility experiences for drivers and passengers globally.
CRNC stock is up more than 8% YTD. The companys forward price-earnings (P/E) and price-sales (P/S) ratios are 39.22 and 11.39, respectively. Given the potential for secular growth, interested investors should keep the shares on their radar screen with a view to buy for long-term portfolios.
52-Week Range: $17.66 $33
San Francisco, California-based Dropbox provides online file storage and sharing services. The company was founded in 2007 and currently operates in 180 countries. It also has more than 700 million registered users.
Dropbox released Q2 financial results on Aug. 5. Total revenue came in at $530.6 million, up 13.5% from the same period previous year. Non-GAAP net income was $160.5 million, an increase of 72.2%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was 40 cents, up 81.8% YOY. Cash and short-term investments ended the quarter at $1.944 billion. Free cash flow was $216 million compared to $119.8 million a year ago.
On the results, CEO Drew Houston remarked, Were proud of our execution this quarter as we delivered even more value to our customers and shareholders and are excited about the opportunity ahead to build next-generation tools to support the new world of distributed work.
Moreover, regular InvestorPlace.com readers might remember that in March, Dropbox acquired DocSend. This is a secure document sharing and analytics company with more than 17,000 customers. The transaction was priced at $165 million.
DBX stock hit as high as $33 after the release of Q3 results. So far this year, the shares have surged around 36%. The companys consensus forward P/E and P/S ratios stand at 24.94 and 6.16, respectively. Accelerated digital transformation should continue to increase the demand for cloud storage platforms. And given the companys solid position and growth strategy, investors should consider buying into the declines.
52-Week Range: $21.87 $30.42
Expense Ratio: 0.68% per year
Lets continue with Global X Cloud Computing ETF, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that provides exposure cloud computing companies. These firms include Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) names as well as managed server storage space and data center real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The fund started trading in April 2019 and tracks the Indxx Global Cloud Computing Index. As far as sector allocations are concerned, information technology leads the ETF with 80.7%, followed by consumer discretionary (7.6%), communication services (6.4%) and real estate (5.4%).
U.S.-based companies comprise 86.9% of the fund, which currently has 36 holdings. Other countries represented are Canada (4.8%), New Zealand (3.4%), the U.K. (2.5%), and China (2.4%).
The top ten names make up around 44% of net assets of $1.35 billion. The Schaumburg, Illinois-headquartered cloud-based payroll and human capital management (HCM) solutions provider Paylocity Holding (NASDAQ:PCTY); San Jose, California-based online security platform Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) and Oklahoma City-based HCM applications provider Paycom Software (NYSE:PAYC) lead the names in the roster.
CLOU has returned around 28% in the last 52 weeks and 3.3% YTD. Potential investors who seek exposure to cloud names could find value below $28.
52-Week Range: $8.90 $45.00
Denver, Colorado-based data-mining and analytics group Palantir Technologies builds and deploys two software platforms. The first one is Palantir Gotham, which focuses on the government intelligence and defense agencies.
Meanwhile, Palantir Foundry is used by leading companies from energy, transportation, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Additionally, it offers Palantir Apollo, the continuous delivery software that powers the SaaS platforms, Foundry and Gotham, in the public cloud.
On Aug. 12, PLTR reported better-than-expected Q2 financial results. Revenue soared 49% YOY to $376 million. Adjusted net income of $98 million implied an increase of almost 644%. Adjusted diluted EPS was 4 cents, up 4 times over the prior-year quarter. Cash flow from operations came in at $23 million and adjusted free cash flow stood at $50 million.
On the earnings call Chief Operating Officer Shyam Sankar said, Cutting-edge product and continued efficiencies in distribution drove exceptionally strong year-over-year Q2 results, and added, The number of commercial customers grew 32% over last quarter. We closed 62 deals of $1 million or more, 30 of which were for $5 million or more and 21 were for $10 million or more.
Sankar also introduced the Meta-Constellation software that integrates with existing satellites building a more efficient AI-enabled decision chain. Looking forward, the company raised its full-year guidance for adjusted free cash flow to more than $300 million, up from more than $150 million.
Though PLTR shares surged more than 10% after the release of Q2 results, they are currently trading at around $24, shy of the record highs seen in late January. So far this year, PLTR stock is up 2.6% and trades at 163.93 times forward earnings and 36.86 times current sales. Buy-and-hold investors could consider investing around current levels.
52-Week Range: $839.40 $1650
Canada-based Shopify provides a cloud-based e-commerce platform primarily to small and midsize companies. It offers merchant solutions to over 1.7 million businesses worldwide.
SHOPs Q2 financial results issued in late-July showed a YOY growth of 57% in the total revenue, which came in at $1.12 billion. Adjusted net income was $284.6 million, or $2.24 per diluted share. Those metrics showed an increase of 120% YOY and 113% YOY, respectively. Cash and marketable securities stood at $7.76 billion compared with $6.39 billion on Dec. 31, 2020.
At a recent Shopify Unite developer conference, CEO Tobi Ltke pointed out, What used to be two completely distinct industries, the retail industry and the online commerce industry, are now just the commerce industry Shopify is building the essential infrastructure for this increasingly digital world to allow as many people as possible to participate.
Shopify has proven to be a winner in recent years, and management still invests for growth despite the deceleration in pandemic-fueled gains. SHOP stock trades at 232.56 times forward earnings and 48.47 times current sales. So far this year, the shares have returned 29.5%. Given the overstretched valuation levels, potential investors could consider investing towards $1400.
52-Week Range: $113.56 $177.74
Expense Ratio: 0.35% per year
The final choice of software and cloud stocks is the SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF which tracks the S&P Software & Services Select Industry Index. The fund provides exposure to a range of U.S.-based software businesses.
The funds market value has reached more than $560 million since its inception in late September 2011. XSW currently has 184 equal-weighted stocks. The sub-sectors are application software (55.42%), data processing & outsourced services (19.05%), systems software (16.7%), IT consulting & other services (5.35%) and interactive home entertainment (3.2%).
The top ten holdings weigh almost 6% of total net assets. Leading stocks include the work management platform provider Asana (NYSE:ASAN), Paycom Softwareand Paylocity.
XSW has returned nearly 9% YTD and 40% in the last 12 months. Given the low expense ratio and the diversified exposure of the fund, investors could consider investing below $165.
On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.
TezcanGecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.
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7 Leading Software and Cloud Stocks to Buy - Investorplace.com
Deduplication software: Which solution is best? – IDG Connect
With the digital age leading to an unprecedented increase in the amount of data that businesses create, managing it effectively has become increasingly difficult. Many businesses are now turning to deduplication software to help with their data management practices. However, selecting a solution is not easy, and there are multiple choices for businesses to consider.
Over 388,000 professionals have used IT Central Station research to inform their purchasing decisions. Their latest paper looks at the highest rated deduplication software vendors, profiling each and examining what they can offer enterprise.
Heres a breakdown of the key players currently active in the market:
Average Rating: 8.5
Top Comparison: HPE StoreOnce
Overview: Revolutionises disk backup, archiving, and disaster recovery with high-speed, inline deduplication.
Average Rating: 8.1
Top Comparison: Dell EMC NetWorker
Overview: A fast, efficient backup and recovery through a complete software and hardware solution.
Average Rating: 8.3
Top Comparison: Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
Overview: A data backup solution that provides a consistent, high-performance, scale-out architecture for the entire enterprise.
Average Rating: 8.5
Top Comparison: Dell EMC PowerScale (Isilon)
Overview: Offers powerful, affordable, flexible data storage for midsized businesses and distributed enterprises.
Average Rating: 8.1
Top Comparison: Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
Overview: A single turnkey solution for backup, storage, and deduplication.
Average Rating: 8.5
Top Comparison: HPE StoreOnce
Overview: Advanced integration with backup and enterprise applications for increased performance and ease of use.
Average Rating: 8.7
Top Comparison: Veeam Backup & Replication
Overview: Designed from the ground up for the cloud-integrated systems. Gives businesses the flexibility to easily back up data wherever it resides and replicate the data to a private location of choice.
Average Rating: 8.0
Top Comparison: Veeam Backup for Office 365
Overview: Provides secure, fast back up data to any cloud at up to 90% lower cost compared with on-premises solutions.
Average Rating: 8.5
Top Comparison: Dell EMC Avamar
Overview: Provides data protection, replication, and re-use, whilst supporting long term retention in the public cloud.
Average Rating: 8.7
Top Comparison: Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
Overview: A software-defined platform for secure cloud storage, deduplication and replication. Expands data storage options while reducing storage footprint and costs.
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Deduplication software: Which solution is best? - IDG Connect
What Is an FTP Server and How Does It Work? – Server Watch
A file transfer protocol (FTP) server is an intermediary for transferring files between computers on a network.
While FTP servers traditionally were a physical unit in an organizations back end, the adoption of SaaS technology brings those capabilities to the cloud. In either environment, FTP servers are the storage mechanisms that provide the secure transfer of files of varying weights and file formats.
On-premises FTP servers will remain a component for large organizations managing complex and mission-critical file transfer requirements but the trend towards cloud-based FTP servers is clear. Looking at the existing market, physical FTP servers typically have the fullest set of features needed for enterprises.
This article looks at what a traditional FTP server is, how it works, examples of modern FTP services, and more.
Learn more about the range of server types, functions, and purposes in our Guide to Servers.
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a communication standard for transferring files over a network. Designed for the client-server model architecture, FTP servers allow users to sign-in and access files. Most FTP servers today implement stronger security with SSH-enabled FTP (SFTP), and TLS-enabled FTP (FTPS). The newest iteration, managed file transfer (MFT), has an even more robust approach to FTP and is aimed at enterprises.
FTP servers go beyond other servers in facilitating file transfers over the internet. The above graphic shows how FTP servers act as an intermediary between devices. With two devices known as FTP clients connected to the internet and a specific FTP server, the server enables the uploading and downloading of data between the two parties.
How different FTP servers differ often is the security of accessing the FTP. In the realm of cybersecurity concerns, some FTPs allow for anonymous connection while others require a username, password, or MFA.
The following features are typical for modern FTP server solutions:
With the advancement of cloud computing, cloud service providers offer a worthy alternative to traditional FTP servers. Both offer online file transfer and sharing features, but how do they differ?
Though FTP servers have long been the enterprise choice for file transfer, todays cloud solutions tend to offer more advanced features with increasing security awareness. With the convenience of the cloud and a lower cost, the migration of FTP tasks to the cloud is a reasonable trend.
Applications like Google Drive and Dropbox are known for being alternatives to FTP servers. As platforms that can do everything an FTP does, both are examples of cloud-based FTP servers.
The dominant free FTP solution is the open-source software, FileZilla. Supporting FTP and its two encrypted forms (SFTP and FTPS), FileZilla works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Features include supporting the transfer of files larger than 4GB, tabbed user interface, and configuration for remote file editing, transfer speed limits, and directory synchronization. FileZilla Pro goes further with a long list of integration options like AWS, Azure, Dropbox, GCP, and OpenStack.
Angled more towards businesses, Files.com describes itself as smart cloud storage for modern teams. The Files.com platform includes features like an API and SDK for in-house development; SSO via any OAuth, SAML, or LDAP provider; and group and multi-level user management. With security and encryption a priority, the firm makes compliance easy with targeted features for HIPAA and GDPR implementation. Plans start at teams of five, with custom quotes coming in for teams over 30.
Hailing from Oakland, California, ExaVault is a dedicated SFTP provider for both modern and traditional file transfer workflows. The vendor boasts a modern web-based interface with proven security and FTP. Features include unlimited users, real-time notifications, and an API for developers. ExaVault offers four plans with quite a range of features between sharing, automation, and advanced controls capabilities. At the upper end, their Enterprise plan includes 1TB+ of file storage, 2 million daily transactions, and unlimited API credentials.
Priding itself as the gold standard of macOS file transfer apps, Panics Transmit 5 is for everything Apple. Transmit 5 is compatible with 11 cloud services and able to handle FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and S3. New features include Panic Sync, the firms method for site syncing that supports local-to-local and remote-to-remote sync. Panic offers single-use up to 1000 copies of the Transmit 5 license on their website, with discounts for larger orders.
Launched in 1996 in San Antonio, Texas, Globalscape is a managed file transfer (MFT) software vendor providing FTP to organizations utilizing Windows. A range of plans are available for SMBs to large organizations. Globalscape offers its Enhanced File Transfer (EFT) Arcus product as a cloud-based MFT (MFTaaS) that provides secure access protocols, data visibility, governance, and automation. Alternatively, Globalscapes EFT for on-premises (EFT Enterprise and EFT Express) offers advanced features and the highest levels of data security.
Focused on supporting enterprise needs, SmartFile includes on-premises, cloud, and hybrid services for organizations needing scalability. Product features include granular controls for file permissions, tracking and file activity, file versioning, and user management. For the enterprise looking for on-premises FTP capabilities, SmartFiles FileHub is a virtual file management server that connects storage globally and load balances with HAProxy.
In April 1971, a young computer scientist at MIT, Abhay Bhushan, published RFC 114 detailing FTP and e-mail protocols for what would become the internet. As the decade progressed, the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) became the basis for networking and formalized the means of direct and indirect access with a remote host.
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What Is an FTP Server and How Does It Work? - Server Watch
This high-performance computer just smashed a world record for solving a millennia-old math problem – ZDNet
The high-performance computer completed the Pi calculation with a precision of exactly 62,831,853,071,796 digits.
A team of Swiss researchersare claiming that their high-performance computer has added 12.8 trillion new digits to the number Pi, in a calculation that reached a record-breaking 62.8 trillion figures in total.
Based at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons's center for data analytics, visualisation and simulation (DAViS), the high-performance computer completed the Pi calculation with a precision of exactly 62,831,853,071,796 digits, smashing the previous record of 50 trillion digits achieved by Timothy Mullican last year.
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Before Mullican, the trophy was held by none other than Google, whose team found over 31.4 trillion digits for Pi in 2018.
SEE: Supercomputers are becoming another cloud service. Here's what it means
The Swiss team obtained the result in just over 108 days that is, three and a half times faster than Mullican, who reached the previous record in 303 days and is now awaiting verification before it can be entered into the Guinness World Records. Only then will the entire number be made publicly available, but the researchers teased that the last ten known digits of Pi now are: 7817924264.
For most people, the number Pi will only bring back distant memories of math classes, where it was described as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and often shortened to its first few digits: 3.1415.
For centuries in fact, as early as the ancient Babylonians mathematicians have been trying to calculate the digits of Pi with as much accuracy as possible. But with the number Pi being known as an irrational number, meaning that it can never be represented with ultimate precision, the point isn't exactly to find practical uses; rather, the calculation has become an unofficial benchmark for high-performance computing, and an opportunity for scientists to compete against one another.
"We wanted to achieve several goals with the record attempt," said Heiko Rlke, the head of DAViS. "In the course of preparing and performing the calculations, we were able to build up a lot of know-how and optimize our processes. This is now of particular benefit to our research partners, with whom we jointly carry out computationally intensive projects in data analysis and simulation."
DAViS's researchers used a well-established algorithm called the Chudnovsky formula, which was developed in 1988 and is considered the most effective method to calculate the number Pi. Google's team and Mullican also used the Chudnovsky algorithm.
The algorithm was run thanks to another popular computer software program, y-cruncher, that was designed in 2009 by American developer Alexander Lee specifically to compute Pi.
One of the main challenges, according to the Swiss team, was the amount of memory that was needed to achieve such a large calculation. DAViS's high-performance computer was set up with two AMD Epyc 7542 processors coupled with 1TB of RAM, which isn't sufficient to hold all of the digits they were aiming to come up with. The y-cruncher program, therefore, was used to swap out the digits to an additional 38 hard disk drives (HDD) with a total 16TB of storage space, saving a large part of the RAM on the HDDs.
During operation, the computer and the disks could reach up to 80C, which is why the system was housed in a server rack with constant air cooling to avoid overheating. This contributed over half of the total 1,700 watts of power that the scientists estimate was required for the full calculation, whichwould still place the system in 153rd position on the Green500 list.
It is unlikely that Pi's extra 12.8 trillion digits will be used for any practical applications any time soon; the achievement is rather a reflection of scientific ingenuity and high-computing performance.
SEE: What is quantum computing? Everything you need to know about the strange world of quantum computers
The Chudnovsky formula, for example, is known for its complexity: when implementing the algorithm, scientists find that the time and resources necessary to calculate the digits increase more rapidly than the digits themselves, while it becomes more difficult to survive hardware outages as the computation increases.
For the Swiss researchers, the new achievement is a reflection of the capabilities of high-performance computing systems, and their potential for other research areas. "The calculation showed that we are prepared for data and computing power-intensive use in research and development," said Thomas Keller, project manager at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons. "The calculation also made us aware of weak points in the infrastructure, such as insufficient back-up capacities."
DAViS supports the use of high-performance computing in machine learning, for example, in a project called Translaturia that is building a computer-aided tool to translate from the Romansh language, spoken predominantly in the Swiss canton of the Grisons and currently at threat of disappearing.
The computing center is also looking at applications of DNA sequence analysis in allergy and asthma research, which also calls for high-performance computing systems. The new record helps prepare the groundwork for future practical applications.
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This high-performance computer just smashed a world record for solving a millennia-old math problem - ZDNet
Synology DS1821+ review: The Russian doll of the digital world – The Australian Financial Review
Youd share disks like that for any number of reasons.
One reason is for extra storage and backups of laptops and tablets.
Another reason is that all data storage fails, eventually. Every hard disk you have, every SD card or built-in gigabyte of storage on your phone or tablet will eventually cark it, losing whatever you have stored on it. Lots of data can and should be backed up to a cloud storage service, but for the very bulky stuff at the least, you should do local backups.
(You should probably be backing important files locally, too, just in case your cloud system goes out of business, or you forget its there, or forget the username, or something.)
Of course, the fact that all storage fails means the drives you put into your Synology NAS will fail eventually, too. But like all NAS devices, the Synology can be set up so that all its data is backed up internally. When one hard disk fails, you just pull it out, replace it with a new one, and the system will automatically restore whatever was on the broken drive, good as new.
The new version of Synologys operating system has hundreds of new features and a lovely overhaul of its interface.
This month, Synology has released a new version of the operating system that runs its NAS devices, DiskStation Manager (DSM).
As well as an appealing new user interface accessed via a web browser on some other device on your network DSM 7 also supports a hybrid storage system that will store files on Synologys servers in the cloud and bring them down to your device when you need them. Known as Synology C2, it was in beta testing during this review, and we were unable to try it. It looks promising but, like all cloud storage, it could get pricey if you use it for all your storage needs.
Part of what we love about Synology NAS devices, though, is that theyre not just capable of running their own DSM software and the dozens of DSM apps. Some of the more powerful models (including the DS1821+) can run virtual computers, too. If you have, say, Windows or Ubuntu Linux running in a box under your bed to control your home automation system 24 hours a day, you can run that as a virtual PC inside DSM.
Better yet, DSM supports a system, known as Docker, that lets you run all manner of containerised apps if you cant find DSM versions or want to run newer versions than those available. (Plex, the excellent home entertainment sharing system, often has a newer version available as a Docker download than as a DSM download, for instance.)
It so happens that many of the Internet of Things devices here in the Digital Life Labs, such as lights, power switches, doorbells, video cameras, heating controllers and motion detectors, are running as a series of device-specific plugin programs inside a brilliant program known as Homebridge, which is in turn running inside Docker, which is running inside DSM 7, which is running inside the DS1821+, which is under my desk.
Its like the Russian doll of the digital world, except it doesnt get smaller, the deeper you delve into it. It gets bigger.
SYNOLOGY DS1821+Likes: Easy to use. Very powerful. Incredibly useful.Dislikes: Nothing.Price: $1599 plus cost of disks, plus more for optional C2 cloud system, plus even more for solid-state disks that can speed up its performance.
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Synology DS1821+ review: The Russian doll of the digital world - The Australian Financial Review
How to pick the cloud storage service thats right for you …
Storing your most sensitive files locally on a hard drive is still (and probably always will be) the logical thing to do. But its not always the most convenient, which is why most of us look to cloud storage as a secondary option. It has its own set of benefits: its reasonably affordable, it makes sharing files easier, its ubiquitous across most operating systems and devices, and its just really nice to have a backup when your hard drive dies.
There are several services to pick from, and some of them are pretty similar. While common at their core offerings (to give you copious amounts of space to store files online), only a few go beyond that by giving users more free storage upfront, useful online productivity tools, and the option to expand storage well above the 1TB mark. Here are the most popular services and how to determine which one is right for you.
If you have a Google account, you also have 15GB of free cloud storage on Drive that never expires. What you choose to back up is obviously up to you, but Drive works particularly well with documents, allowing real-time collaboration and editing in plain text, spreadsheets, and presentations. Emails and other files received through Gmail will count against your storage, but keeping your inbox under control can keep more of the complimentary 15GB of storage open for use.
For some, Drives tools, like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, completely erase the need to pay for a Microsoft Office license. Your mileage may vary depending on if youre a power user, but beyond just storing photos, videos, and music, Drive gets the nod for the load of extra features stacked on top of the free storage.
Android users can back up their phone state, including SMS messages, apps, settings, and call settings, to Drive, which is useful should you ever need to factory reset your device.
Apps: Google Drive is available as an app on iOS and Android, and its easy to access, edit, and share files with others. On desktop, you can edit files in your browser, and Googles Backup and Sync app automatically shifts files (and whole directories, like your computers documents folder) over to your cloud storage.
Price to upgrade: Googles new One service costs $1.99 per month to add 100GB of cloud storage to your account. If you need more to store and transfer large files, 2TB is $9.99 per month, and One works its way up to 30TB per month for $299.99. (If you have a need for 30TB of cloud storage, wheel down to Amazons Drive below.)
Not to be confused with Google One and Google Drive (tech folks are getting really creative with product names), if you have a Microsoft or Outlook account, youll start off with 5GB of cloud storage for free. Like Google Drive, OneDrives starter tier allows for storage and document editing and collaboration via Office Online.
Paying $6.99 per month or $69.99 on an annual basis will grant you access to 1TB of cloud storage as well as the full suite of Office 365 apps for download on your computer.
For Windows 10 users, OneDrive is embedded in the operating system by default. Its a good feature for subscribers that minimizes the chances of losing precious documents due to forgetting to back them up. Microsoft aggressively tries to funnel you into using OneDrive, which is good for subscribers but bad for everyone else.
Apps: OneDrive is available on iOS, Android, and Microsofts own Windows Phone mobile OS. If you pay at least $6.99 per month, youll have access to apps like Microsoft Word on your phone and tablet, as well as on your PC or macOS computer, where OneDrive automatically saves your files.
Price to upgrade: If you simply want more storage, $1.99 per month gets you 50GB of storage. (Thats half the cloud storage granted by Google One for this price.) The highest tier that the service offers is appealing for families with up to six members starting on October 2nd, thanks to a recent change: it costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually for 6TB of cloud storage that can be split into 1TB chunks for each user. This tier also grants each user an Office 365 license for use on a computer, as well as a tablet and phone.
If you have an Amazon account, 5GB of cloud storage is available for use. For Prime subscribers, Amazon offers unlimited photo storage even at the $8.99-per-month tier of the service that grants access to Prime Video, but it doesnt include expedited shipping and the other myriad benefits.
Unlike Google or Microsofts services, Amazon Drive doesnt allow you to edit documents beyond renaming them, so real-time collaboration is out of the question here. For now, this is just a bare-bones cloud storage solution, which might be all you need.
Apps: Amazon Drive is available as an app for iOS and Android, giving you quick access to the items stored in cloud storage. If youre working on macOS or Windows, a version of the app behaves similarly, but it also lets you sync folders to automatically upload them to the cloud without any action on the part of the user.
Price to upgrade: Amazon offers several upgrades that are priced competitively to Google One. For $11.99 per year, you can upgrade your account to 100GB. If you want more, 1TB costs $59.99 per year, and 2TB doubles that price. If your work requires a lot of cloud storage, Amazon Drive is the way to go, since it offers 30TB of storage for $1,799.70 per year compared to Googles price of approximately $3,588 for the same amount.
Everyone with an Apple ID gets 5GB of iCloud storage, which can be easily accessed on your iPhone, iPad, or via the iCloud site.
Apples cloud storage solution is good at the basics if youre just keen on storing your documents, photos, and videos. Like Googles service, Apple offers its own suite of productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) to all iCloud users, complete with real-time collaboration across devices.
For some, iClouds advantage over the services will be that its dead simple to use and looks like iOS on the web. Your files and other vital info gets ported over to iCloud, like your iMessages, calendar, reminders, and notes.
In addition to being an online workspace, iCloud can also store backups of your iPhone and iPad, should you ever need to restore your information to a new device. Keep in mind that doing so will probably make all, or much of, your 5GB of free storage quickly disappear.
Apps: Youll find iCloud on iOS devices, like iPhone and iPad, as well as macOS and Windows, though no Android app currently exists.
Price to upgrade: Paying $1 per month will add 50GB to your iCloud account. Apple matches Google Ones pricing with the next upgrades being 200GB and 2TB, which cost $2.99 per month and $9.99 per month, respectively. An extra 50GB in the cloud might be all that you need, but opting for 200GB or more will let you split the data among your family with iClouds Family Sharing feature.
You wont find huge amounts of storage options here, so you may want to dip into another service if you have big files to store.
By creating an account on Dropbox, youll earn 2GB of cloud storage, the lowest amount given by a major service. While the free tier, called basic, is just that in most regards, it allows you to collaborate in real time with others in Dropbox Paper, its word processor tool. Its currently limited to text documents, though users in any tier can open and edit stored documents through Microsoft Office online tools like Word and Excel for free.
Paying Dropbox for more storage will also unlock a host of features that arent available to basic users. Dropbox Plus users get 1TB of cloud storage, offline file access, and the ability to instantly back up photos and videos taken with your smartphone.
Dropbox Professional ups the capacity to 2TB, and adds several features on top of what you get with Plus. Most notably, you can recover deleted files and changes to said files for up to 120 days, Dropbox can keep your local files updated automatically via Smart Sync, and you can make a Showcase, a sort of themed portfolio for a batch of content thats neatly designed and organized.
Apps: Dropbox is available for iOS and Android, as well as on macOS and Windows. Only the Professional tier will allow Smart Sync, which automatically backs up selected folders on your computer.
Price to upgrade: Opting for 1TB of storage and more features with Dropboxs Plus tier will cost $9.99 per month. Professional adds 2TB of storage to your account for double the price.
Signing up for an individual account at Box gives you 10GB of cloud storage, which is a good start. Similar to Dropbox, Box natively allows its users to create text documents that can be edited in real time with collaborators. This cloud storage service also offers the ability to edit text as well as other types of documents with Microsofts Office tools integration, which are like Googles suite of productivity apps, but more akin to the legacy desktop apps that some are accustomed to using.
Box lacks a robust set of upgrade tiers, limiting individuals to 100GB of cloud storage at most. Theres no option in between if you only want 50GB, or beyond if you want as much as 1TB. But it tries to make up for it by being compatible with almost every device out there, even BlackBerry and Windows Phone.
Apps: Box Drive for desktop gives you access to your cloud storage and automatically updates whats stored in the cloud if you edit an item. The apps for iOS and Android allow you to make files available for offline access, and it carries over the useful in-browser ability to edit files via Microsofts free productivity apps as well as Googles.
Price to upgrade: For individual users, it costs $10 per month to upgrade to 100GB of cloud storage. Thats the only available paid tier, which is sorely lacking in both features and storage compared to the array of options presented by other services.
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How to pick the cloud storage service thats right for you ...
11 Best Unlimited Cloud Storage Solutions: 2021 Infinite …
Unlimited cloud storage has become a crucial tool in today's hyper-connected world.
However, unlike the old days, when vendors used to regularly roll out new features and routinely bumped up storage limits, the cloud market has matured in its offerings.
The amount of electronic information:
That businesses produce is staggering.
(Today, you probably dont think twice about exchanging work professionally using Google Docs.)
Storing all your important digital media/data in a data center can be quite expensive.
Therefore, cost-effective cloud storage has become increasingly popular. But, before migrating, its important to specify your needs.
Without further ado, lets jump right into what you should consider!
You dont necessarily have to find the cheapest unlimited cloud storage solution.
As long as its the right fit and enhances your team productivity, you should consider tracking the ROI.
Factor in the:
When it comes to cloud storage pricing, there are two models in play:
So, when priced monthly per user, each user can access certain volumes of storage available.
A few questions to ask:
While some backup solutions dont have any data limits, others do. Most unlimited cloud storage solutions have plans with no data limits. However, there are always exceptions.
The best unlimited cloud storage UK service providers usually price via volume, set by different storage classes like hot or cold storage, download requests, etc.
Consider the costs of data migration to your cloud provider.
Lastly, migrating your data while adjusting to the new process could take a minute and require investment.
Factor in, ahead of time:
Just think of cloud storage as buying a hosting and domain for your business website. Its a fairly easy process but demands a lot of considerations.
Cloud storage services like OneDrive and Dropbox have desktop applications, makes cloud sync a breeze.
This unique application keeps files in several different locations up-to-date via the cloud.
As the name implies, it automatically loads files in your cloud storage solution online. This obvious feature has a number of benefits.
For starters, it lets you collaborate with your team seamlessly.
With this, your team members get instant access to the most updated versions of the backup files.
For most cloud solutions, this is an automatic feature.
With a cloud file sharing service, you can upload your data to a central repository.
Allow other users, or just yourself, to download the files on their devicesall data is hosted by a third-party provider.
But users can choose what permission levels to set on the stored files.
Looking for the best cheap unlimited cloud storage and file sharing solution? Consider the following tips:
Opt for a service that provides end-to-end encryption, similar to what the best VPNs have. It will protect you from hackers and prevent the VPS host itself from viewing your files.
Dont forget to double-check the main permission settings. Anyone with the link can access your files.
Regularly run audits on your data to see whos accessing them. If you no longer need a certain file, remove it from the cloud storage entirely.
This is quite different from synchronized cloud storage.
Cloud backups act like your computers traditional backup to the local hard disk drive (HDD).
Except it stores your data online.
However, the capacity could be limited compared to an HDD. It wouldnt seem practical backing up several terabytes of data in the cloud.
That said, cloud backups makes protecting files easier than HDDsjust:
..and voila!
Unfortunately, cloud backups are not a replacement for local hard drives; you still need that, at least for now.
The cloud provides an easy way to perform off-site backups. It's like having insurance for your crucial datayour files are secure from:
If you are looking for more tips and tricks on how to secure your cloud you can always refresh your knowledge with our guide on how secure is the cloud.
We recommend having multiple backups of your most important data to protect against total loss.
To ensure a solid backup regime:
this is where cloud file backup shines.
Cloud backup doesnt only copy files on your PC but also supports other devices, like portable hard disks and network attached storage (NAS).
Depending on the amount of data, you could expect days or even weeks for your files to reach the cloud.
If youre planning on storing a lot of data in the cloud, consider seeding the files.
Seeding is basically where a service allows you to initially send in your hard drive containing the files so you dont have to upload them across the internet.
After that, you just upload data that are either new or modified.
As you know, if your website hosting isnt robust, it could crash anytime.
Similarly, cloud servers arent infallible. They could fail just like your own server. However, some service providers have networks that fail significantly more, as opposed to others.
This can raise a serious issue for your daily operations, especially when your files are inaccessible in urgent times.
Therefore, you must opt for the best unlimited cloud storage UK service that demonstrates its contingency plans regarding server failures.
And, most importantly, stats showing the stability reliability of the servers concerning uptime.
Weve targeted the most established providers, on our list for this reason. Your files could go compromised, in which case cloud storage offers an excellent backup. That being said, there isnt any guarantee that the cloud storage service youre using is safe, especially from security threats.
If the service is compromised, its backup safety net could also be removed, putting you in a position where your sensitive data are no longer secure.
This is why you need to understand your providers security precautions better.
Even Amazon Cloud Drive, the cheapest unlimited cloud storage, offers topnotch security.
Make sure to:
Yes, download speeds are a crucial element of your cloud storage considerations.
The level of speed you have for downloading data has great impact on how your business is being conducted.
Say, for instance, youve recently faced a massive data disaster, so you need those files restored quickly.
Now, theres a good chance that your cloud storage service provider has a limit set on your download speed.
In that case it could take hours for you to get things back up and running. Thus, you must determine what download speeds are available from the providers end.
Self-service management is a bit tricky. Different customers have different needs. And DIY management is not necessarily the cheapest option, but could just be suitable for compliance and/or corporate governance requirements.
The majority of providers have management software or support popular third-party software.
You need to learn your available management tool, as well as technical support, options. Just think about how much effort, training, and extra support youd need to use a self-management tool efficiently.
Most cloud storage solutions provide multi-tenancy where a single instance of software helps multiple customers.
These users can make a few changes in certain parts of the application like the UI colorthough, they cant customize/change the codes.
Generally, multi-tenancy applies to all three layers of the cloud:
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Theres no such thing as perfect technology. Problems will continue to arise every now and then.
When something unexpected happens, its always better to know that you can contact your provider any time you want for quick assistance.
Before picking a vendor, make sure you know how they manage tech support.
Consider asking them when they will be available and how best to connect with them. You need to figure out how fast they respond to a problem or concern, too.
Remember, having your cloud storage offline for several days could mean missed opportunities for your business.
So, if a vendor doesnt meet all these needs, it will be in your best interest to look elsewhere.
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11 Best Unlimited Cloud Storage Solutions: 2021 Infinite ...
Store all your files with this $30 cloud storage – WSLS 10
The sheer volume of files on your computer, phone and tablet can be overwhelming. And, your hard drive can only hold so much. Organize, store and protect your files and data with pCloud Premium Plus Cloud Storage. This cloud storage solution is a reliable and easy-to-use option for all your files. Take advantage of 2TB of cloud storage and 2TB of download link traffic with pClouds Premium Plus package.
Easily sync, access and share all your digital materials while knowing that theyre safe. pCloud lets you view content of any size with a built-in video player. A 256-bit TLS/SSL connection will ensure that your private files and data stay safe and secure. Get download links with full stats and set both passwords and expiration dates for maximum security.
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pCloud is versatile and uncomplicated. Its compatible with Dropbox, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive and OneDrive so you can easily backup your files from any of these platforms. Quickly download and upload links and invite users to shared folders for easy collaboration. Sync to and from multiple devices to access your photos, videos, music, documents and any other files wherever you are.
With over 10,000,000 everyday users, pCloud is trusted by millions to keep files accessible to you and safe from outsiders. Cloudwards gave pCloud a 4.5 out of 5-star review and TechRepublic called it the best cloud sync youve never heard of.
If your computer is running out of space, or youre just looking for a better storage system, pCloud is here for you. Get a 1-year subscription to pCloud Premium Plus for just $29.99. This best-on-web price has been reduced by 68%, bringing the price down from $68.
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Store all your files with this $30 cloud storage - WSLS 10
This VPN deal comes with free 2TB cloud storage and it’s exclusive to TechRadar – TechRadar
We're just like you...we love a bargain. And not just any bargain - the discounts that impress us most are when they're on a particularly standout product or service.
So when we approached a new cloud storage provider (Internxt) and a VPN provider (Hide.me) to ask them to give us the opportunity to promote a massively reduced bundled offer that's available exclusively to TechRadar readers, they said yes.
This faintly ridiculous 73% discount brings the price of a 24-month subscription from $373 ($120 + $253) to a mere $99.99. That's under $5 per month for a 10-device VPN PLUS 2TB cloud storage - an astonishing saving on two great products, and you can read more about the benefits below.
And don't be put off by the dollar pricing if you're reading this outside the US - you can still get hold of it from anywhere in the world.
Hide.me VPN + 2TB cloud storage $373 $99.99/2 years | 73% offIf you're looking for a cloud storage or VPN deal, you can't really find anything cheaper than this at the moment. 2TB for 2 years with an independently audited "no log" VPN for under $50 per year across 10 devices. Found something better? Let us know.View Deal
Fast, easy to use and secure. The main pros of Internxt are very quick and straightforward to explain. Even if you're not that tech savvy, you'll find Internxt really simple to download, set up and operate.
Of course, you'd already expect all those things from the best cloud storage - so what makes Internxt stand out from the competition? It's the extra features, like facial recognition of your photos to help you organize them better, like the physical hard disk of files it will send you if you somehow lose all your stuff, like server backup offering a failsafe if you accidentally delete items you shouldn't have.
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This VPN deal comes with free 2TB cloud storage and it's exclusive to TechRadar - TechRadar
From terabytes to exabytes: Supporting AI and ML with object storage – GCN.com
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
From agriculture to defense, federal agencies are increasingly using artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance mission-critical capabilities, accelerate research breakthroughs and free up staff resources.
The byproduct of this adoption is a rapidly increasing store of unstructured data in the form of images and video footage. The amount of unstructured data produced globally is growing by up to 60% per year and is projected to comprise 80% of all data on the planet by 2025, according to IDC.
All this data must be processed, analyzed, moved and stored. Currently, many organizations do this work using public cloud services. However, as the federal government continues to implement AI and ML technologies, many IT leaders are looking for a solution that better suits their needs in terms of cost, convenience and security.
Object storage -- which allows organizations to build their own private cloud storage environment on-premise, as well as unlocking edge computing capabilities -- is quickly emerging as a viable alternative.
So how does object storage work? How do different object stores compare to each other and the public cloud? And more importantly, how easy is it to implement and use? Read on to find out.
First things first
Object storage is a completely different approach to storage, where data is managed and manipulated into individual units called objects.
To create an object, data is combined with relevant metadata, and a custom identifier is attached. Since each object has comprehensive metadata, object storage removes the need for a tiered structure like the one used in file storage. Its therefore possible to consolidate vast amounts of unstructured data into a single, flat, easily managed data lake.
Object storage is a common solution for cold storage archiving. However, with recent technological advances, data can now be accessed much faster, making it ideal for applications like AI and ML, which require higher performance storage.
Object storage vs. public cloud
The emergence of edge computing goes hand in hand with the rise of AI and ML. Using public cloud services to analyze and store data captured by internet-of-things devices and sensors works brilliantly in urban centers. However, from agricultural drones to bomb disposal robots, connectivity to a central cloud repository is likely to be significantly slower in areas with less-dense network infrastructure.
Object stores solve this problem with low-cost, remote storage that enables computing to happen at the edge. Processing data at the point of collection is significantly faster than sending everything into the cloud, where it must be processed and returned.
Additionally, much of the data used to train AI algorithms has to be stored long term for auditing purposes, another area in which object storage excels. Capabilities including versioning, end-to-end encryption, object locking, and ongoing monitoring and repair enable data to be preserved for decades at a much lower cost than in the public cloud.
Comparing different object stores
When weighing object storage options, its important to scrutinize the technical features of various products. For instance, some object stores make multiple copies of each object to protect against data loss, which can eat up storage very quickly.
On the other hand, more advanced object stores take advantage of erasure coding, which breaks up a unit of data and stores the fragments across various physical drives. If data is wiped or becomes corrupted -- whether by accident or because of malicious activity -- it can be reconstructed from the fragments stored on the other drives. This lowers storage costs, as it doesnt require organizations to keep multiple copies of each object.
Plus, erasure-coded platforms can achieve incredible data durability, keep disk overheads low and enhance the overall performance of the system. Of course, not all vendors implement erasure coding the same way. Different products will likely have differing scalability, as well as varying rebuild and rebalance times.
Another important feature to examine is the data consistency model used by different object stores. Strong consistency is preferable for AI and ML applications. In short, this means that after a successful write, overwrite or deletion, any subsequent read request immediately receives the latest version of the object. Some object stores still use eventual consistency, where theres a lag until read operations return the updated data. This means that the application will occasionally operate off older versions of the objects.
How easy is it to implement and use?
Ease of use is subjective, of course. However, object storage does have several advantages. For instance, it requires less day-to-day attention than a traditional storage-area network, since the resilience of the system allows multiple disks to fail without incurring data loss. This means over 200 petabytes can be managed by a single administrator.
Theres no doubt that managing data captured by AI and ML applications will continue to challenge government IT teams. Object storage is not a panacea, but does address cost, speed and security issues. Looking forward, agencies that adopt object storage should focus on implementing modular end-to-end data management solutions. These enable elements to be swapped out for more advanced technologies when they become available.
About the Author
Robert Renzoni is director, technical sales Americas, at Quantum.
Original post:
From terabytes to exabytes: Supporting AI and ML with object storage - GCN.com