Cloud computing is one of the latest internet phenomenons. In essence, the cloud is the internet, and storing your documents there simply means uploading them to the web through a variety of ways. You can use your own server space but it’s generally more popular to use a dedicated service. Many companies offer this facility; some of the most well known include Amazon and Google. Microsoft also offers possibilities for storing documents on the web as well as on your computer. But should you be doing it?
That depends on a variety of factors. First of all, it’s important to note that documents in the cloud are by definition more easily accessible to outsiders. In most cases, your data will be reasonably secure. Unfortunately, particularly in the case of Google, you’re not actually protected. This is because Google’s terms of service state quite blatantly that although you keep the copyright to your work, Google also has the right to use it whenever they like – or terminate your access so your important documents are simply lost in the ether. They can do this whenever they like, without the need to notify you. That’s a bit scary.
Amazon’s terms are slightly less forbidding, in that they will provide you notification of cancelled services and, if you aren’t breaking the law, will allow you to retrieve your data so long as you pay the bills.
Regardless, it’s probably a bad idea to store important data in the cloud. Even personal emails could vanish at any time, reminding us all why switching your business over to Google Apps feels disconcertingly dangerous. I recommend it as a back-up. Your physical business could always run into problems, after all; floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes are just a few of the natural disasters that can completely destroy in-house servers. No amount of insurance money is going to get that data back. Don’t forget viruses and Trojans, especially those that spread themselves across a network. If a copy of important information is stored on the internet, it’s not likely to go anywhere at all.
In the end it comes down to your own individual research and needs. Personal email services, like Hotmail and Gmail, have these same restrictions, but no one appears to mind that they serve ads tailored to the content of your email messages. But for businesses with important, secret products and services that plan their strategies around big surprise announcements, a single Google or Amazon employee could spill the beans. I don’t know how much access they’re granted but the fact that they probably have some is no doubt uncomfortable. Most companies, however, have plenty of others that could leak the data, including personal employees and their outsourced IT support. Companies should weigh the risks between safe, cost-effective data storage and privacy leaks or occasional service disruptions.
For personal users, though, the decision is a little bit simpler. Plenty of people already store their CVs – with all of their personally identifiable information – on their personal websites for easy access by future employers and business contacts. As such, making the leap to storing such information in the cloud is not a very big one. Personal computers are more susceptible to damage than workplace servers as well, and it’s less likely that you’ll back them up with any frequency. For people in London IT support may be able to rescue your files, but for most of us they would be lost forever.
In short, I recommend using the cloud as a backup server if your data is not highly secretive. It’s always worth having multiple copies of important documents and storing one on the internet is a great way to safeguard yourself against natural disasters and computer viruses.
So far, Windows 7 has not attracted much criticism from anyone at all. For once, it seems like Windows did a good job providing an operating system that is a genuine improvement over Windows Vista, the much maligned and flawed 2007 operating system. If you’re using Vista or even Windows XP, you might be considering switching over. Should you? To help you decide, here are a few of Windows 7’s features that are new or have been improved over Vista’s initial implementation of them.
- Pin. This feature is quite simple; you can pin programs or files in the task bar, the start menu, or a “jump list”. Pinning originated with Windows Vista but there is limited to the start menu and doesn’t include documents. The pinning feature allows quick and easy access to your most important files and programs.
- Snap. Easily “snap” two windows side by side for easy comparison. You can also use the feature to quickly maximise and minimise your window if you want speedy access to what’s behind. You can also use the “peek” feature to look behind all open windows at your desktop without closing or minimising anything.
- Speedy start-up and shut down. Though Windows will never be quite as speedy as Linux, Windows 7 has made substantial improvements to its boot speed. The system will also recover faster from stand-by, reducing the lengthy wait times that Vista in particular is famous for. It’s been out since 2009 and so far there are no complaints about reduced speed; another change that Microsoft seems to have done right.
- Easy sharing. Windows 7 PCs can share files, music, photos, and even sufficiently up-to-date printers over a network. This feature unfortunately isn’t helpful if you already have a Windows Vista or XP PC hanging around on the network but if you choose to upgrade all of them, this is a fantastic cure to the prominent headache caused by Windows sharing.
- Fewer security alerts. Windows 7 has improved security but reduced the number of irritating security alerts which again featured heavily in Vista. Those security alerts weren’t necessary because almost all users are administrators – so Windows 7 keeps all the good parts of the security system while eliminating the annoying ones.
- Better search. Windows 7 now searches the entire system from just the start menu. Easily find documents, files and programs by typing just a few letters.
If you do choose to make the transition, remember to back up your PC beforehand. Even upgrades will sometimes destroy all of the files on your PC.
If your business chooses to upgrade all of its PCs, you may need some help. If you’re in London IT support is plentiful and can get to you in a hurry; more rural businesses should ensure that their IT team is on hand in case of any issues.