Using cloud storage means you do not need to buy extra hardware to store your files, and you do not have to look after it. The cloud storage provider owns and manages all the physical equipment, so that job is taken care of for you.
If you keep lots of files on a local device, you might need to buy extra storage, such as an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or even your own server. These cost money and take up space. With cloud storage, the provider has already bought the servers and hard drives, and you simply use them through an internet connection. For example, a community radio station records hours of interviews every month. Instead of buying a large external drive that could fill up or break, the station uploads the recordings to a cloud service, so the provider's hardware stores them and the station buys no storage equipment.
Maintaining storage hardware means checking it works, replacing broken parts, and upgrading when it gets full. It also involves power, cooling, and physical security. The cloud provider does all of this, so you do not have to. Software updates for the cloud storage service are managed by the provider too, so you do not need to download or install new versions or patches. The radio station never has to update the cloud storage app; the provider does it automatically, so the service keeps working without any effort from the station.
Pearson BTEC Digital Information Technology · Features of cloud storage
Pearson BTEC Digital Information Technology · Features of cloud computing