Anyone using a "cloud"?

[Jims5543]

I know there is a good use for cloud storage, I mean, yeah, I am already using my google drive as a jump drive, a place to toss files to use at home or office etc.. and are easy to retrieve.

I think I am ready to start exploring going completely paperless again.

I am thinking this might be the right time to try again, I am going to see about hiring a consultant to help me get my head around this and to help me implement a cloud based system where I can organize my orders, retrieve them, use them and then deliver my product all on a cloud based system.


So after all that bullshit, any of you tech types messing with cloud based storage, file organizing etc...

[jedduh01]

I now live by the google Suite  = For personal - Photos where you want them all the time - Drive automatic backup - Cant be beat.

Friend of mine - small business - hard drive crashed -lost 3 months of data..... or pay 900$ to recover the dead drive...

   Replacement plan in place -- Google drive for business.

https://apps.google.com/intx/en_us/driveforwork/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na-us-en-drive-bkws-gafw-trial-e&utm_content=text&utm_term=google%20drive%20business&KWID=43700006415002333

He works and runs sign logo graphics tee shirts etc. business to their files are Large = with a good interent connection - now Every project and job is nearly immediately backed up on the drive. Has almost eliminated the need for in house data storage.

  Would recommended 5/7.


Amazon is in the game too

https://aws.amazon.com/

[MiniDave]

My wife uses Microsoft's cloud (I'm not sure what they call it) but she loves the accessibility. She backs everything up to it.

My one issue with the cloud is the cost, to get people to use it they gave it away for a long time, now they're starting to charge for it as usage has increased. I can see it becoming expensive - like cable TV.

When I first got cable it was $19.95/mo and no commercials (the real attraction of Pay TV), look what it's become now.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

You have a few options. I'm not going to lay out costs, because I'm too lazy for that much research right now, but as far as I'm aware some of the top contenders:

DropBox - They've moved away from consumer type stuff and are concentrating more on the business side.
Microsoft OneDrive - Great integration with anything MS (Especially Win 8/10), and I believe something like 50GB of mailbox storage on outlook.com
Google Drive - This is what I use ($2/month for 100GB). Document integration, easy to use Mobile and Desktop clients.

I also run a NAS at home that has cloud integration (Synology 412+), so I drop everything onto a network drive so it's locally accessible within my own network, which then syncs to Google Drive. No desktop clients required.

[Jims5543]

I ordered a cloud server of my own, I figure the lack of monthly subscription costs will help it pay for itself, I want to migrate my business files over to it then implement a job management / tracking / organizing system that will allow me to access my files from my phone or laptop or tablet etc..

My plan is pretty complicated and has my head spinning, I am going to have a consultant come in next week and meet with me and work out a plan step by step.

I want to change how my clients order jobs and receive them. I want to make it effortless for them to order and make it even easier for them to get their product and even give them the ability to access it even after we are done.

I also want to go paperless, I want to have a cloud calendar / job tracker that I can place my orders on and look at from any device any time.

I can go on and on, I have a shit ton of plans and have to get me head around all of them.

I use my google drive a lot, I think I pay $10 a month for whatever storage that gets me I forget right now.

I know I am paying $350 for 1tb of storage on my own cloud and it is a 2 drive raid setup, I am going to have it also backup nightly to a second machine on the network for further redundancy.

I had a hard drive failure on my business server last year and I lost...... NOTHING!! I have it back up nightly to a 3rd drive so even if both raid drives fail I have a backup of the backup.

Thanks for all the input guys it is good to know I am not the only one heading this way.