The Cloud Storage Battle

It’s a fact: more data is added via the Internet every second than the Internet had in its entirety twenty years ago. This accumulation of “Big Data” comes from many sources, including consumer and business files — including photos and images, spreadsheets, mobile application data, and more.

In the past, much of this data was stored in the memory of computers and mobile devices. Now, data is increasingly being stored “in the Cloud,” which allows it to be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection, and numerous companies are battling it out for this market. Let’s look at the numbers behind cloud storage, and particular for two hot companies in this market, Box and Dropbox — both of whom received additional funding in Jan 2014.

Cloud Storage by the Numbers

The “Cloud” is a generic term which collectively refers to a number of online services that make it possible to do computing remotely (aka Cloud Computing). Cloud storage is the component of Cloud Computing which allows for data to be saved and accessed remotely. Hard drives and flash drives are still used, just as for any computer or mobile device. Cloud storage is specifically designed for remote use via the Internet.
Benefits of Cloud Storage and Why We Need It

Accessibility is the key feature of Cloud storage.

You are not tied to a desk in order to access data entered on a computer.

Data can be created from one device (e.g., desktop or laptop) and accessed from another (e.g., smartphone or tablet)– with Cloud storage being the glue.

Data can be shared collaboratively, thus allowing for remote work.

Cloud storage helps reduce (but does not necessarily eliminate) duplicity of files. Data can be accessed and crunched remotely, just as if it were on your computer’s hard drive or mobile device’s flash drive.

Cloud storage is particularly important to enable the IoT (Internet of Things) to function as it should. The IoT is a broader Internet of all sorts of “things” — electronic or organic — that are networked and can which generate data that needs to be accessed remotely. For example, bees, cows and other creatures with networked electronic chips with one or more environmental or physical sensors are part of the IoT. So are home automation devices, such as smart thermostats that can be accessed from a mobile app.

In short, Cloud storage is a fundamental component of Cloud Computing. Ultimately, it changes the way we live and work. It can allow for the storage and access of data from a multitude of devices — computers, smartphones, tablets, smart cameras, smart watches, Internet-connected sensors and hubs and more. In other words, potentially any net-connected device that has the ability to host 3rd party apps with Cloud storage access.

Box vs. Dropbox

Box and Dropbox are of course not the only players in the Cloud storage market. There are several much larger companies carving out their own niches in the general Cloud Computing market: Apple, IBM, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Citrix and others who are involved in different aspects of the Cloud in general — not just in Cloud storage. Box and Dropbox are focused on two primary markets: consumer and business file storage. Both services are designed to essentially function as a virtual hard drive:

Files can be shared or accessed via computers (desktop, laptop) and mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.)

Both companies offer Web and mobile apps to manage files.

Custom Web and mobile apps can use APIs (Application Programmer Interfaces) to manage files.

The competition in Cloud storage is fierce enough that Box upped the proverbial ante in Jan 2014 by giving away 50 GB (GigaBytes) of storage space to accounts that used their then new iOS 7 app for Apple mobile devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). While this promotion was to be for a limited time, this is compared to Dropbox’s measly free 2GB of space. Dropbox accounts are upgradeable to a maximum 8GB free if you entice people via email to join, or share the offer on social media channels. Here are some facts and figures about both companies:

Source: ComputerScienceDegreeHub.com

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Brian

Managing Partner at meshIP, LLC

Brian Byrne is the founder and Managing Partner of Dallas based meshIP, a technology services firm offering cloud computing strategies and services. He is an accomplished executive with senior management experience in all facets of the technology, telecom, cloud computing, and SaaS industries. He has proven success in developing, financing and executing strategic plans as well as launching new ventures. His background includes a record of significant achievement in international business development and his credentials include a MBA in Marketing and Management Strategy from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, a MS from the School of Computer Science at DePaul University, and a BBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.

He is also the inventor of the patented meshDETECT, Secure Prison Cell Phone Solutions.

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