You’ve probably heard people talk about “the cloud” in the context of devices and data storage, but if you’re just nodding along while wondering if they’re referring to the weather, you’re not alone. According to a study, one in five Americans (22%) had pretended to know what a “cloud” was, but didn’t know it secretly. But it’s possible that you’ve unknowingly made good use of this mysterious cloud. For example, if you’ve ever watched a photo on social media or watched a movie on a streaming service, you’ve already experienced the cloud. (Yes, really!)
Between storing data in the cloud and running a software program like System Mechanic, you might start to notice faster processing. Below is an overview of how it works.
What exactly is a cloud?
The cloud is a form of external storage that backs up digital information — anything from videos you stashed away while backing up your phone to presentations you stashed away on a company shared drive. In the simplest terms, the cloud ensures that your phone or computer isn’t the only place where this important data resides. This means, your photos and files are safe and secure (as the cloud is password protected), and if you lose your phone or laptop, you can go directly to the cloud to get your files for added peace of mind . In the past, floppy disks and USB drives served this purpose; now, our data is hosted on these digital platforms and backed by large servers (the physical machines that allow all this information to be stored). You’ve probably been using cloud computing unknowingly for a while now, and quite frequently.
What are the benefits of the cloud?
In addition to keeping a handy backup copy of all your important photos and files, keeping large files (or thousands of small files — all of those photos add up quickly!) off your computer means The operating system you are using has less data storage. Speaking of experience? Having more files in the cloud frees up a lot of space, and for various technical reasons (file fragmentation, anyone?
If you want to boost swift performance even further, you can do some spring cleaning on your PC with a program like System Mechanic. Think of it as a small household cleaning crew, scrubbing inside your computer’s operating system, removing unnecessary software and files, and sweeping away pesky bandwidth-stealing digital clutter — the kind that could kick you out of the internet or cause Your computer freezes or restarts without warning. As an ongoing software package, System Mechanic also monitors your computer to delete browser cookies that slow down your browser, which you can customize so you don’t lose cookies that you use frequently. (These are things that help websites remember you without requiring you to log in every time). Combine this program with savvy use of cloud computing and the result could be a new neat machine running at optimal speed.
What should I save in the cloud?
Research shows that the first digital material people keep in the cloud are photos, which makes sense because none of us want to lose something so personal. Next up are system backups, like the one your phone makes, so you don’t lose your downloaded apps, photos, or recent bookmarks and tabs. We also use the cloud to store our music; office files; passwords and logins (did your computer or phone autofill it when you went to log in? That’s the cloud for you!); and our Financial information, such as digital tax returns.
Not sure if you remember to regularly transfer these types of files to the cloud? Here’s some good news: You can set up your computer to automatically back up to the cloud, just like your phone.