What is the "Cloud"?
Computers we can connect to via the Internet, usually for storage or for program access, are considered to be “in the cloud.” This term is not the best one we could use for such a concept, but it is out in the general public and is often what we hear when reference is made to the location of data on anything other than our own tangible computer and maybe it’s attached external hard drives and/or flash drives. We tend to think of the Internet as “in the air,” so the idea of clouds for storage is sort-of a natural visual to think about when it comes to storage areas “out there” on the Internet, on other computers or servers beyond the doors of, say, our own home or office building.
Examples of e-mail storage and creation/computing: Web-based E-Mail such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, and more
Examples of cloud storage areas that may also have some computing aspects, but these are primarily storage areas referred to here: Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, Microsoft’s OneDrive, Dropbox
Compiled by Kathy Handy 9/2014 Reviewed & Updated by staff 11/10/21
Cloud Computing Vs Cloud Storage
Cloud Computing or Computing in the cloud – using programs while on the Internet, programs that do not reside on the computer you are using. These programs could be Microsoft 365, or Adobe Photoshop, products, for example, or Google’s Docs, Sheets, or Presentations.
Cloud Storage – using other computers through the internet to store your own photos, e-mail, backups, documents, and other items.
Compiled by Kathy Handy 9/15/2015 Reviewed and updated by staff 11/10/21
