Public Cloud Storage

Definition - What does Public Cloud Storage mean?

Public cloud storage is a cloud storage model that enables individuals and organizations alike to store, edit and manage data. This type of storage exists on a remote cloud server and is accessible over the Internet under a subscription-based utility billing method where the users pay only for the storage capacity being used.

Public cloud storage is provided by a storage service provider that hosts, manages and sources the storage infrastructure publicly to many different users.

Public cloud storage service is also known as storage as a service, utility storage and online storage.

Techopedia explains Public Cloud Storage

Public cloud storage generally enables the sourcing of massive amounts of storage space on demand over the Internet, and is built over storage virtualization, which logically distributes large storage arrays into a multitenant architecture shared among various users and applications. Public cloud storage capacity is made possible through two different sourcing models:
  • Web services APIs
  • Thin client applications
Public cloud storage enabled through APIs is designed to be used for Web applications that require access to scalable storage at run time, whereas thin client applications provide end users with a way to back up and store their local data on remote cloud storage. Amazon S3, Mezeo and Windows Azure are popular examples of public cloud storage.

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