Features of Cloud Storage Explained: A Full Guide 

• What does this feature do? You can access your cloud storage app on multiple operating systems and sync files on your desktop and mobile devices.
• What problem does it solve? Stored files are accessible from many different devices.

If your cloud storage provider has cross-platform compatibility, you can install the app on most of your devices. You can then make changes to files on one device, sync them to cloud storage and pick up where you left off on another device.

• What does this feature do? File synchronization automatically updates a file across connected devices when a new version is uploaded. 
• What problem does it solve? Files stay up to date, no matter which device you’re working on, without you needing to manually update them yourself.

File sync makes working on documents on multiple devices easier, especially when that file is shared with multiple people. It can help reduce version conflicts and prevent you from having to redo work.

• What does this feature do? You can upload, edit and download files to your device when you have an internet connection.
• What problem does it solve? Your data is available to you even when you’re away from your workplace.

Remote access means your files are accessible when you’re away from home or the office, as long as you have a stable internet connection. It’s more flexible and efficient than carrying around physical external storage, such as USB drives.

• What does this feature do? It allows you to add or remove storage depending on how much space you need.
• What problem does it solve? You avoid running out of space or paying for storage that you don’t need.

Expandable storage means you can start with a small amount of space and scale up as needed. Cloud storage providers often offer small plans of a few gigabytes for free. Being able to expand or even decrease your storage makes it more adaptable to your needs.

• What does this feature do? It determines how your data is stored — whether on shared public servers or on private infrastructure. 
• What problem does it solve? Deployment models offer flexibility with security or cost requirements, which is important for businesses. 

Choosing the right cloud deployment model can impact the price and security of your storage. A public cloud model is more cost-effective for personal use. However, a private cloud model offers more security, as your files are the only ones saved to the cloud server. Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud storage use a combination of both private and public models.

• What does this feature do? Access controls let you assign custom levels of access, such as read-only or download permissions, to specific people or groups.
• What problem does it solve? These controls protect against accidental edits or deletions by unauthorized users.

Access permissions give you more control over who can access your content and how they can interact with shared files. Most cloud services allow you to set specific controls when sharing files via email or establish blanket permissions for a shared link.

• What does this feature do? Encryption scrambles your files with a key so that only authorized users with the key can decipher and access the file. 
• What problem does it solve? Strong encryption prevents unauthorized users from accessing your data. Even if the server is seized, your data is unreadable without the decryption key.

Encryption ensures your data isn’t at risk at any point during the data storage process — during upload, while it’s sitting in storage or when it’s downloaded. Of the many encryption types available, AES 256-bit is one of the most common for data at rest. Many services use the TLS/SSL standard for data in transit. 

• What does this feature do? Client-side encryption encrypts files on your device before they are uploaded to the cloud.
• What problem does it solve? It prevents anyone, even the provider, from accessing your files because only you have access to the decryption key.

Client-side encryption — also known as zero-knowledge encryption — gives you more privacy over your files. Although server-side encryption is also safe, client-side encryption gives you complete control over your decryption key, so only you can decrypt your documents. Even if the server is hacked, nobody can see your files without the key. 

Some providers that offer client-side encryption include Sync.com, pCloud, Tresorit, Internxt and Icedrive

• What does this feature do? Multi-factor authentication requires an additional step of verification to access a cloud account. 
• What problem does it solve? It prevents unauthorized access, even if your password is stolen.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can increase your account’s security by adding another layer of verification. Instead of requiring only a password, you’ll also need to enter a secure code to gain access to your account. MFA functions through email, text or by app, with app-based MFA being the most secure.

• What does this feature do? Privacy compliance involves adherence to the GDPR, HIPAA or other regional or industry-specific privacy laws.
• What problem does it solve? It ensures your data is kept secure according to regional or industry-level standards.

Privacy compliance ensures that a cloud storage provider meets a certain standard of privacy that follows legal or industry rules regarding the use of user data. These can be regional laws, such as the European GDPR or California’s CCPA, or industry standards in healthcare (HIPAA) or finance. 

• What does this feature do? Data redundancy stores your data across different servers, data centers and locations. 
• What problem does it solve? It protects your data from server failures, natural disasters or outages. 

Data redundancy ensures multiple copies of your data are available so you never lose access. If there’s an accident at one cloud server location, your data is still secure, as it’s backed up to several other cloud servers.

• What does this feature do? Version control allows you to view older versions of a file and revert it back to a previous state.
  • What problem does it solve? It protects against accidental changes or deletions that occur during editing. 

Version control provides an overview of the changes that have been made to a file and lets you revert those changes. The file history duration depends on your cloud provider — some offer it based on a length of time (such as 30 days of history) and others by the number of versions.

• What does this feature do? Real-time editing allows multiple people to edit the same document simultaneously.
  • What problem does it solve? It reduces miscommunication and the need to send files back and forth multiple times.

Real-time editing allows multiple people to work on a file, with changes appearing instantly for everyone to prevent version conflicts. This can make collaborating more efficient — since the file is accessible online, no one needs to download it or resend it to others.

• What does this feature do? Users can leave comments and highlight specific areas of a file that need editing.
  • What problem does it solve? Communication can take place in the file, rather than via email or another messaging app. 

Live comments allow for better communication with other users working on the same file. Instead of seeking clarification or suggesting changes in a separate app, you can tag other people directly in the file. You can leave comments on text documents or even media files if the cloud provider has a media player.

• What does this feature do? These apps allow users to create, view and edit documents like word files, spreadsheets and presentations. 
  • What problem does it solve? You can manage your entire workflow process within your cloud storage without switching apps. 

Productivity tools let you create new documents that automatically save and sync to your cloud storage, reducing the need to manually upload files later.

• What does this feature do? Fast uploads and downloads speed up the storage and syncing process.
  • What problem does it solve? Faster speeds reduce the amount of time spent waiting for files to upload.

Quick and stable cloud data transfer speeds are important for cloud storage, especially if you have many large files. Most cloud storage providers can handle small files, but only a few can handle larger transfers. Check for limits on how much data you can transfer at once. 

Remote cloud servers and strong encryption may increase your security, but they also slow down speeds. The fastest cloud storage services may offer weaker security options, so you’ll need to carefully balance overall security with speeds.

• What does this feature do? Load balancing distributes network traffic to multiple servers for better resource usage and upload times. 
  • What problem does it solve? It improves connection stability even during peak usage times or heavy server load.

Load balancing keeps your connection to the cloud stable, even if you’re transferring a lot of data. It uses multiple servers to process your request, which spreads out the resources required and prevents any single server from overloading.

• What does this feature do? Files are cached to globally distributed content delivery networks (CDNs) for faster access.
  • What problem does it solve? It improves data access and editing speeds.

Content delivery networks are servers spread out over a certain area, often globally. The files you access most frequently are cached, or saved, to the closest server to you within the CDN. This can speed up the time it takes to access your most important files without sacrificing data redundancy, as your files are also still saved to other locations.

• What does this feature do? Service-level agreements (SLAs) guarantee a minimum level of service availability, ensuring reliable access to your files.
  • What problem does it solve? SLAs cut down on service interruptions and ensure you retain access to your data. 

Uptime guarantees, or service-level agreements (SLAs), are a cloud provider’s assurance that the system will be up and running for a specified percentage of time. For example, a 99.9+% uptime guarantee means the system very rarely experiences disruptions. If the provider fails to meet this standard, it may need to compensate users.

• What does this feature do? Files sync regularly to cloud storage at set intervals.
  • What problem does it solve? It reduces the risk of improper or forgotten backups.

Automated backups can be set to run at regular intervals, such as hourly, daily or weekly. Scheduling backups removes the need to manually upload files and ensures your data remains synced. You also don’t need to keep choosing which files need to be saved, reducing the risk that you’ll forget to secure something.

• What does this feature do? Disaster recovery tools restore cloud data to your device after a disaster.
  • What problem does it solve? These tools prevent data loss after system crashes, cyberattacks or even natural disasters.

Cloud storage providers can assist with disaster recovery to help you salvage files after accidental deletion or other data loss events. Disaster recovery in cloud storage includes features such as long version history, like Sync.com’s 365-day versioning, or account rewind, which sets your entire storage back to a previous point if it is compromised.

• What does this feature do? It takes a snapshot of your device data for point-in-time recovery.
  • What problem does it solve? Snapshotting lets users recover system files from a specific point in time.

Snapshots can be used to revert your entire system to a previous working point. They can be set to run at specific intervals and save entire drives of data. Any subsequent snaps after the first one save only the changes, not the whole drive, which can maximize space when a lot of data is involved.

• What does this feature do? Old or infrequently used data is kept in long-term storage.
  • What problem does it solve? This is a cheaper storage system for important data that you don’t need to access often.

Archival storage gives you a place to store old, essential files or memories for a cheaper price than standard storage. This storage type may be slow or less user-friendly, so it’s intended for files you want to keep but don’t access very often.

• What does this feature do? API access allows developers to interact with the cloud service through code to automate uploads, downloads or other management tasks.
  • What problem does it solve? It allows for custom integrations with other systems or advanced processes that aren’t available through the storage provider’s user interface.

API access gives advanced users an opportunity to create their own integrations or processes that aren’t supported through the cloud provider’s interface. This is ideal for businesses or power users who have specific requirements for the tools they need to use.

• What does this feature do? Users can store multiple types of documents in one place.
  • What problem does it solve? It reduces the need to convert file types just to store them.

Multi-file-type support allows you to store all of your files — for example, raw audio files like AAC — without needing to convert them to a more common format, such as MP3. This is good for people who work with media files and need to store raw images. It can also be beneficial for teams working on in-progress or specialized documents.

• What does this feature do? A comprehensive dashboard facilitates user management, storage usage monitoring and customizations across the account.
  • What problem does it solve? Companies have a single place to view how their cloud storage is being used.

Admin dashboards help managers oversee cloud storage operations. This can include how many people are using the storage and how much data they are storing. A few providers offer features to divide storage between different teams for better organization. 

• What does this feature do? You can assign different permissions to different users for view-only or edit access.
  • What problem does it solve? It prevents unauthorized changes to files and ensures users have the access rights they need. 

User role management gives managers better control over who has access to specific files. Most cloud providers allow you to customize permissions by individual or by team.

• What does this feature do? You can establish connections between your cloud storage and other apps, such as document editors, project management tools or email.
  • What problem does it solve? Integrations reduce switching between workspaces for tasks and increase productivity.

Cloud services can directly integrate with other productivity solutions so you don’t have to leave the storage ecosystem to carry on with your work. One example is Google Workspace, which comes with Docs, Gmail and Calendar.

• What does this feature do? Users can track storage actions such as uploads, downloads and shares. 
  • What problem does it solve? Productivity and performance issues become trackable, and suspicious activity can be identified.

Activity monitoring allows for greater oversight into how your storage is used. By tracking uploads and downloads, you can spot any potential issues before they become problems, such as users not being able to access certain files.

• What does this feature do? Articles, guides, forums or FAQs address common issues or explain features.
  • What problem does it solve? Users can get help without waiting to speak with an agent, reducing the strain on support channels.

Knowledgebases contain common problems that users may encounter. If you have an issue, you can search the knowledgebase to find a solution. It can even help you understand the problem better so you can more easily explain it to a support agent. 

• What does this feature do? Live chat facilitates real-time communication with a support agent.
  • What problem does it solve? Users receive immediate assistance for small-scale problems.

Live chat support is faster than sending customer support an email. The direct message style of chat support makes it better for small-scale issues than for larger and more intricate problems.

• What does this feature do? It generates a support case for users.
  • What problem does it solve? Problems and solutions are well documented in support tickets, and they contain pertinent user information.

With a ticketing system, cloud storage users can submit issues to the support system. The ticket keeps track of your issue and any solutions that have been made available to you, and it provides agents with your contact information.

• What does this feature do? This distributed storage method stores data closer to the user. 
  • What problem does it solve? Edge storage speeds up data transfers and improves resource management. 

Edge storage uses distributed servers to ensure cloud data is stored closer to the user. This can speed up transfer processes and cut down on the resources used. 

• What does this feature do? Environmentally friendly practices reduce cloud storage services’ carbon footprint.
  • What problem does it solve? Sustainable practices minimize energy and water consumption and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable cloud storage optimizes the resources used to minimize the environmental impact of cloud storage. Green cloud prioritizes clean energy sources, efficient and optimized hardware, and virtualization technology, which creates virtual emulations of servers and networks. 

• What does this feature do? A tamper-proof “chain” of data blocks secures data transfers.
  • What problem does it solve? Blockchain reduces the risk of data manipulation and enhances user trust with tamper-proof records. 

Blockchain-based security bundles data transfers into multiple blocks, which are then linked in a chain. This makes altering any block nearly impossible without changing the entire chain, thus verifying the integrity of each file. Since it’s tricky to make changes, blockchain security can ensure stored files aren’t tampered with. 

• What does this feature do? AI tools optimize data organization.
  • What problem does it solve? AI increases productivity by automatically managing stored data.

AI and machine learning can analyze stored data to provide insights that may increase cloud data management. AI-boosted data-tagging features allow for more thorough data searches, which make organization easier.