Comments on: Where is your cloud data? Can you find it all?

By: Mike from ParaScale

Mike from ParaScale — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:42:00 +0000

James,
Good post. Yet another cloud term “personal cloud”. I like it. Good call dodging the definition, that is never ending rat hole. So is my personal cloud scattered everywhere I post a comment or photo? I suppose so.

But how does this apply to an enterprise??

Mike Maxey
ParaScale

By: KoKo

KoKo — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:36:04 +0000

That home server is not a cloud. A “cloud” is called a “cloud” because the location is unspecified.

And it doesn’t offer the same kind of data protection that the cloud does. Does your home server have the same level of redundancy, data backup depth, maintenance, or backup power that google or Amazon does (to name a few cloud providers)? Google has entire server and storage farms that run off hydroelectric power. What fire, flood, theft, or hard drive crash could shut down google?

Sure they can rummage through my files, but why would they want to? If they want to read my stupid reports and memos, they are welcome to it. And anyway, I can encrypt the files if I want.

I bet someday not only will Internet be a utility, but data storage and CPU cycles will be utilities too, with a range of speeds and capacities all available to purchase. Same thing with data security and privacy.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:15:54 +0000

The “personal cloud” is good but again goes back to the issue of backups. Having everything on a server in your home is great for home and access on the road when it’s set up properly, but you then need to ensure the security of your data. Keeping it on a RAID in that windows home server is a start, but then you also want to think about backing up to another machine or external hard drive every once in a while so you have a snapshot in the event of some other catastrophic event happening to your WHS. Backing up from home to the internet may be an option depending on the amount of data, but now as ISP’s like Comcast give us 250 gig caps on traffic, you won’t be able to back up large amounts before getting blacklisted by your own ISP.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:39:40 +0000

Well said Jake and it supports a “personal cloud” theory I’ve been kicking around with Om. More to follow on that…

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:34:52 +0000

Windows Home Server gives me the best of both worlds. I can access ALL my data including music, photos, video, documents, applications from any PC with an internet connection and I don’t have to rely on some third party. That means that my data is secure, I don’t have to worry about Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. going through my stuff, I don’t have to worry about changes to Terms & Conditions or bankruptcy and there are no monthly charges.

It also means that I have super fast access to everything on my home network (which isn’t an option with a 3rd party that stores your data on their servers) and no file limits in terms of the size or type of file.

IMO this is the cloud done properly. I protect my privacy and my data without losing access to it.

By: Filip

Filip — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:09:40 +0000

Hi James. Full disclosure here: I work for http://www.nomadesk.com, which offers easy and secure file sharing, wherever you are. I read your post on cloud storage with great interest and just wanted to add NomaDesk to the mix.
In fact, NomaDesk is geared towards the need of the “digital nomad”. We are convinced that the more data gets synchronized, the more likely it gets compromised. Therefore, NomaDesk includes an encrypted virtual drive that keeps your files securely available off-line and remote file shredding and IP-tracking with TheftGuard. Yes, your data remains with you also! Of course, we impose no limits on storage and bandwidth.
The current NomaDesk release 2.6 displays file states and indicate whether files are already in use by someone else. You are also able to add and review notes (i.e. meta-data). The Mac version is on its way.

I would appreciate your review.
Filip.