Feature Articles

Personal Cloud Storage Solutions and Options

By Kenny Yeo - 11 Apr 2014

An Overview of Personal Cloud Storage Devices

It's a Cloud World We Live in

The cloud has become ubiquitous in our daily lives. (Source: Trigon.com)

To say that the cloud has revolutionized computing and the way we store and access our data would not be an understatement. Today, cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive are immensely popular amongst users, whether as a means of storing or sharing data. In fact, if you using an online email to access files, you are using the cloud; likewise, collaborating on documents with Google Docs and sharing photos on Flickr are all just some of the ways that we are using cloud computing in our daily lives.

However, with the recent spate of data breaches and security issues - most notably Adobe, who got hacked last October with around 38 million accounts affected - users have been increasing concerned about the security of their data that is stored in the cloud.

Coincidentally, hard disk manufacturers Seagate and Western Digital have both released personal cloud storage devices in the past year. To be sure, these new personal cloud storage devices are really not that much different from your traditional network-attached storage (NAS) devices. However, unlike traditional NAS devices, which can be finicky and even difficult to setup, these new personal cloud storage devices have been designed to be easy to use and setup.

Ease of use aside, what is arguably more important for these devices is that users can rest assure about where their data is physically stored. Additionally, users also have 100% control over its access and security, and make their data and content as easy to access as they wish or make as many backups as they want. This is something you do not get from cloud storage services as the data could be stored in servers anywhere in the world. While the data is managed by these providers, you don't have direct control, nor can you be certain if it's safe from prying eyes.

However, it is not only hard disk manufacturers that are providing users with personal cloud storage solutions. Many high-end routers today also offer some form of basic cloud storage options by using the router’s built-in USB port to connect to any external storage device. We round up some of these options for your consideration.

 

Seagate Central

The Seagate Central was one of the first of the new breed of personal cloud storage devices that are easy to setup and use.

The Seagate Central was launched early last year around March and was one of the first of the new wave of personal cloud storage devices to hit the market. Setup is dead simple as users only need to power up the device and plug it into their main router, thereafter the drive will be visible to anyone who is connected to the network. For privacy, users can opt to create user profiles, which will create additional password-protected folders that can only be accessed by users with the right credentials. The contents of the drive can be accessed wirelessly either via a web browser or the Seagate Media app, which is available as free download for iOS and Android devices.

The Seagate Central also comes with Seagate’s excellent Dashboard application that allows users to backup wirelessly to the device as well as organize scheduled backups. The application can also backup your social media accounts such as Facebook and Flickr. Finally, the Seagate Central can also act as a media streamer as it supports DLNA, which means it can be readily used with compatible gaming consoles, media players and Smart TVs.

 

Western Digital My Cloud

Available in 2TB, 3TB and 4TB capacities, the WD My Cloud is Western Digital's personal cloud storage solution for mainstream users.

Not to be outdone, fierce rival Western Digital recently released their suite of personal cloud storage devices under their new My Cloud series. Under this new series are the My Cloud, My Cloud EX2 and EX4 personal cloud storage devices. The My Cloud drive is targeted at mainstream users, whereas the My Cloud EX2 and EX4, which features 2-bay and 4-bay storage respectively, are more full-featured devices with additional functions that are targeted at prosumers, enthusiasts and small office users. For instance, the My Cloud EX4 features dual power input jacks and Ethernet jacks for redundancy.

In spite of their differences, all the new drives are designed to be easy to setup and use. And like the Seagate Central, content on the drives can be accessed wirelessly using either a web browser or Western Digital’s My Cloud app, which is available as a free download for iOS and Android devices.

For users who demand more storage, redundancy or features, Western Digital also offers the two-bay My Cloud EX2 and the four-bay My Cloud EX4.

When compared to the Seagate Media app, Western Digital’s My Cloud app is more intuitive to use and gives users more control and options over their content. For example, users can organize their folders using cut, copy and paste commands, and the app even gives users of uploading photos from their smartphone’s or tablet’s camera roll directly to the device.

That aside, Western Digital also offers another accompanying app for its personal cloud storage devices called WD Photos that is designed specially for easy uploading, managing and sharing of photos.

 

Cloud-Enabled Routers

Personal cloud storage devices like the ones from Seagate and Western Digital are not the only ways one can have their own personal cloud. Many routers today, from ASUS, D-Link and Netgear, also offer some sort of cloud functionality, even if it is only found in their high-end offerings. ASUS’ personal cloud solution is called AiCloud, whereas Netgear has ReadySHARE and D-Link has mydlink Cloud.

ASUS’ AiCloud, which we tested during our review of their flagship RT-AC68U dual-band Wireless-AC router, allows users to access their content from anywhere in the world using either a web browser or the AiCloud app. Though it worked well, setting up was a little trickier as compared to the aforementioned personal cloud storage devices as users would need to setup a dynamic DNS or connect through your WAN IP address directly.

The ASUS RT-AC68U router features built-in personal cloud functionality by way of ASUS' AiCloud technology.

 

Closing Thoughts

Of course, as is the case with so many things in life, personal cloud storage devices have their share of pros and cons. Let’s begin with the advantages first, because there are quite a few.

  1. Full Control over your Data

    Like we mentioned earlier, having your personal cloud means you have full control over your data. This means you can choose to back it up as much as you want, encrypt it to your exact standards, or you can even make it as accessible as you like.
     
  2. Economical for Large Data Storage

    Secondly, in the long run, investing in a personal cloud storage device makes more economical sense, since online cloud storage services often charge a premium if you require sizable amounts of storage.
     
  3. Easily Expandable Storage

    Most of these cloud storage drive have a USB port for expanded storage. Additionally, most personal cloud storage devices also have other features such as support for DLNA, which makes them capable media streamers; and can be be used simply as a shared external hard drive in the home for easy sharing of files or as a common backup point for computers connected to the home network.
     

However, personal cloud storage devices are still somewhat in their infancy and do have some teething issues that need to be sorted. For instance, while Seagate’s and Western Digital’s new personal cloud devices are easy to setup and use, they are still not as straightforward when compared to online cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive, which have sleek user interfaces. In addition, one good thing about handling your data over to online cloud storage services to take care of is that you do not have to worry about backing up that data - the service provider takes care of that. Furthermore, you also do not have to worry about downtime issues. What if your home loses power and your personal cloud storage device or router goes down? That would mean your data would be inaccessible.

All in all, while it is undeniable that cloud storage has become a big part of our lives, how we choose to use and embrace it - whether it be through online cloud storage services or personal cloud storage devices - depends very much on personal requirements and the type of data we want to store. As it stands, online cloud storage services are best suited for small amounts of non-sensitive data that you do not mind going public. For large amounts of data that are sensitive and confidential, it is best to take things into your own hands and invest in a personal cloud storage device.

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