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What Is Public Cloud Storage?
Public cloud storage is a multi-tenant cloud service that allows users to store data on remote hardware owned by a cloud provider or third-party managed service provider (MSP).
In a multi-tenant cloud environment, users share the same physical hardware, but each tenant’s data is logically isolated to ensure privacy and security. This approach can be contrasted with private cloud storage, which dedicates specific amounts of storage infrastructure to each user.
The advantage of public cloud storage is that it allows storage resources to automatically be allocated where they are needed most. The advantage of private cloud storage is that it makes it easier for users to ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal data governance policies. To improve security, organizations often use tools like antivirus software to protect against malware or work with VPN providers to secure data during transmission between local systems and cloud storage.
If a company stores its most sensitive data in a private cloud but uses public cloud storage for tasks like data backups and archiving, the strategy may be referred to as hybrid cloud storage. The combination of public and private cloud storage allows organizations to balance security and control with the flexibility and scalability of public cloud services.
Key Takeaways
- Public cloud storage allows users to scale their storage resources on demand.
- Data stored in the public cloud can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection.
- Public cloud storage providers are responsible for maintaining storage infrastructure, but users are responsible for complying with relevant privacy and security regulations.
- Public cloud storage providers typically use a pay-per-use pricing model.
- To attract new customers, many public storage providers offer free trials.
How Public Cloud Storage Works
Public cloud storage allows users to store and manage data on multi-tenant remote servers that belong to a cloud provider or MSP. All authorized users share the same underlying hardware, but each user’s data is logically isolated to prevent cross-tenant data leaks.
Users typically interact with their provider’s storage infrastructure through a dashboard that uses API calls to upload, retrieve, and manage data.
It should be noted that different types of public cloud storage providers use various types of storage infrastructure. For example, Amazon S3 stores data as objects, which is ideal for storing unstructured data like images and videos. In contrast, Amazon EFS stores data in files and folders, ideal for legacy applications that require traditional file system access.
Description: Stores data as objects; ideal for unstructured data like images, videos, and backups.
Examples: Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage
Use cases: Data archiving, media content storage, backup, disaster recovery.
Description: Provides a file system interface; stores data in files and folders.
Examples: Amazon EFS, Azure Files, Google Cloud Filestore
Use cases: Shared file systems, legacy applications requiring traditional file system access.
Description: Provides raw storage volumes that can be mounted on virtual machines or servers.
Examples: Amazon EBS, Google Persistent Disks, Azure Disk Storage
Use cases: Databases, virtual machines, and applications requiring high-performance storage.
Description: Offers long-term storage at a lower cost; optimized for infrequently accessed data.
Examples: Amazon Glacier, Google Cloud Coldline, Azure Blob Storage Archive
Use cases: Long-term backups, regulatory data retention, archival storage.
4 Tips for Choosing the Right Public Cloud Storage Provider
It’s important to evaluate the following four factors when you are selecting a public cloud storage provider:
Public Cloud Storage Use Cases
Public cloud storage services are widely used by individuals, small and mid-size businesses, and large enterprises in a wide variety of industries.
Common use cases for using public cloud storage instead of building and maintaining in-house storage include:
- Scaling storage capacity on-demand
- Reducing capital expenditures (CapEx) by avoiding the upfront costs associated with adding more storage capacity in-house
- Storing and sharing documents securely while enabling remote collaboration
- Storing unstructured data
- Backing up critical data
- Archiving data that is accessed infrequently
- Synchronizing files across multiple devices in real time
Public Cloud Storage Examples That Offer Free Trials
Here are some examples of popular public cloud storage services that offer free trials:
- Dropbox is a popular file storage and sharing service that operates in the public cloud.
- Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a widely used object storage service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Microsoft OneDrive is a file storage and synchronization service that is integrated with Microsoft Office 365.
- Google Cloud Storage is a highly scalable object storage service offered by Google Cloud.
- Apple iCloud is a public cloud storage service that can be used to backup and sync files on Apple devices.
- Microsoft Azure Blob Storage is a scalable object storage solution for storing large amounts of unstructured data.
Public Cloud Storage Pros & Cons
Public cloud storage offers several advantages and disadvantages that individuals and organizations should consider:
Pros
- Eliminates the need for significant upfront investments in storage hardware
- Allows storage resources to be scaled on-demand
- Enables stored data to be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection
- Can provide better data resilience because, in a distributed cloud computing environment, there typically isn’t a single point of failure (SPoF)
Cons
- Storing data on third-party servers can raise concerns about data privacy and data sovereignty
- Users have limited (if any) control over the provider’s storage infrastructure
- Accessing data stored in the cloud requires the end user to have a reliable Internet connection
- While initial costs may be low, fees for increased data storage, data transfers, and API calls can creep up quickly
The Bottom Line
In the early days of the Internet, the definition of public cloud storage referred to file hosting services that allowed users to access saved files and browser bookmarks from any computer that had an Internet connection. Over time, as technology has improved, this type of data storage has become more useful by including data management tools like document versioning and integrating cloud storage with other public cloud services.
FAQs
What is public cloud storage in simple terms?
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References
- Cross-Tenant Data Leaks (CTDL): Why API Hackers Should Be On The LookOut (Dana Epp’s Blog)
- Shared File Storage – Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) – AWS (Amazon)
- Find Your Dropbox Plan | Get 30 Days Free Trial (Dropbox)
- Free Cloud Object Storage – AWS (Amazon)
- Microsoft 365 Basic Free Trial | Microsoft OneDrive (Microsoft)
- Free Trial and Free Tier Services and Products (Google Cloud)
- iCloud+ – Apple (Apple)
- Azure Blob Storage pricing (Microsoft Azure)
