Online Storage Services Review

Disasters both natural and human-caused can fry your computer at any time; a fire, flood or power surge all threaten to destroy your most precious files – think digital photos, music libraries and text documents. Beyond natural calamities, there are numerous other threats to locally-stored data, including accidental erasures, hard drive failure and theft. Since there’s no way to predict if and when disaster might strike, storing copies of your files in the cloud through online storage services is the best way to protect them.

The benefit of using online storage services doesn’t end at file protection. In fact, a large appeal of such services steams from convenient accessibility. Cloud storage services give you access to your most frequently used and important files no matter where you are. Whether on your smartphone or work computer, you can access, view and edit your stored data.

As the online storage space continues to evolve, the industry becomes more saturated with competitors. Some of the most robust and flexible online storage services available include JustCloud, SugarSync and Egnyte HybridCloud. Our comprehensive product reviews and articles on online storage services can help you choose the best service to disaster-proof your data. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

Online Storage Services: What to Look For

While all the services in our lineup provide the same rudimentary functionality of data storage, they can vary greatly when it comes to features, accessibility and support options. Understanding the offerings of an online storage service is crucial to ensure you opt for a service that provides the functionality and usability you’re seeking. Whether you are a consumer or small business user, these are the features you should look for in an online storage service.

Storage Space
One of the most important things to consider when researching online storage services is the allotted storage space. The best cloud services are those that provide unlimited storage for a flat monthly fee. This means you can store as many files as you want without the service ever capping your limit. If storage space isn’t your top priority, opt for an online data storage service that delivers a low cost per gigabyte.

Features
Online storage services should provide practical features that make uploading and sharing your files easy and convenient. For instance, the service should provide folder sharing, offline syncing and file versioning in case you lose the most recent version of a stored file. Additionally, there should be backup options so files are automatically updated whenever you make changes, and you should have the ability to restore any file you delete from your account.

File Access & Support
Online storage services should allow you to store any digital file, regardless of type. They should also provide widespread accessibility to those files. This means you should be able to upload and access your data from several devices, including multiple computers and various mobile devices. Any service you are considering should also provide access to your account from any web browser, as well as a desktop app that allows you to easily drag and drop files or folders to sync to your online account.

Ease of Use
Look for online storage services that are powerful yet simple enough for the average consumer to understand and use. A clean, intuitive account interface fosters easy navigation. Uploading files and software installation, if required, should be straightforward. A good online storage service will allow you to begin uploading files to your account within a few minutes.

Help & Support
Even the most user-friendly online storage services should be supplemented with useful help and support options. Troubleshooting and technical resources should be available, including video tutorials and a comprehensive knowledgebase. Direct customer support should also be offered via telephone, email or live chat.

Online storage services provide secure and easily accessible cloud storage that allows you to view and share your files from anywhere, anytime. You can free up space on your hard drive while ensuring you'll never lose your personal files.