GCSE · Computer Science · AQA · Spec 8525

Cloud storage

Take a photo on your phone and, a minute later, it's on your laptop too. Nothing was plugged in. So where is that photo actually sitting right now?

Computer Science · Structure

Where does a file in 'the cloud' actually live?

Tap each part. Start with your laptop, then follow the file down to where it is really kept.

Tap any part of the diagram to see what it does.

What do you think?

So where is your project right now?

You finish a school project on your laptop at home and save it to cloud storage.

Which of these is closest to what you think right now?

It's stored in the internet itself, floating around the network rather than on any one device.It's on a hard disk or SSD in the storage provider's data centre, and I reach it over the internet.Cloud storage isn't really storage like a hard drive. It's a completely different kind of thing.It's in the cloud, so I can open that copy any time, even with no Wi-Fi or mobile signal.

How sure are you?

I'm sureI think soI'm guessing

It's stored in the internet itself, floating around the network rather than on any one device.

This is a common misconception

The internet carried your project, but it doesn't keep it. Think of the internet as the road, not the warehouse. Your project travelled along it and was saved onto a drive in the provider's data centre.

It's on a hard disk or SSD in the storage provider's data centre, and I reach it over the internet.

This matches the evidence

Exactly right. It's on a physical, non-volatile drive in someone else's building. The internet is just how you get to it, which is why losing your connection means losing access.

Cloud storage isn't really storage like a hard drive. It's a completely different kind of thing.

This is a common misconception

It's the same kind of thing. The provider's servers keep your data on magnetic hard disks and solid-state drives, which are secondary storage just like the drive in your own computer. The differences are where the drive is and who owns it.

It's in the cloud, so I can open that copy any time, even with no Wi-Fi or mobile signal.

This is a common misconception

The cloud copy sits on the provider's drives, and the only way to reach those drives is over the internet. With no connection you can't get to it. With a slow connection, getting to it is slow.

Cloud storage is secondary storage on a provider's drives, reached over the internet. Your files have a real, physical home. You just don't own the building.

Make a judgement

Is the cloud always the better choice?

The claim

Cloud storage is always a better choice than keeping files on your own local secondary storage.

Place each piece of evidence to load the balance. Mark the strong ones — they count double.

You can reach your files from any device with an internet connection, wherever you are.
Evidence 1: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
You can easily share files with other people, which makes working together simpler.
Evidence 2: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
The provider looks after the hardware, the maintenance and the backups for you.
Evidence 3: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
You can increase your storage capacity when you need to, without buying new hardware.
Evidence 4: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
With no internet connection you can't reach your files, and a slow connection makes access slow.
Evidence 5: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
A third party holds your data, which raises security and privacy concerns and gives you less control.
Evidence 6: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
Storing larger amounts usually means paying an ongoing subscription.
Evidence 7: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence
You depend on the provider's service staying available.
Evidence 8: does it support or challenge the claim?SupportsChallenges
Strong evidence

Your turn to choose

Cloud or local? You decide

For each situation, choose the option that suits it better, then read the factor that decides it.

Still to sort

Cloud storage suits this better (0)

Where the line is: If the situation can't count on an internet connection, cloud storage loses its advantages.

Local secondary storage suits this better (0)

Where the line is: If people in different places need the same files, a drive in one computer gets in the way.

6 of 6 still to sort.

These are made-up examples. Each one has a single factor that settles it.

WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

A quick recap of today's lesson.

Your files are still on a drive. It's just someone else's, at the other end of an internet connection.

What you need to know

Where cloud-stored data physically lives, and why that makes it secondary storage
What the internet connection does in cloud storage, and what happens without one
The advantages and disadvantages of cloud storage compared with local secondary storage
How to choose the better option for a particular situation, and justify it

The big picture

Cloud storage keeps your files on remote servers owned and run by a storage provider, and you reach them over the internet. It is still secondary, non-volatile storage: hard disks and solid-state drives in the provider's data centres. That set-up explains the advantages (access from any connected device, easy sharing, no hardware to look after, space that grows when you need it) and the disadvantages (no connection means no access, a third party holds your data, an ongoing cost, and reliance on the provider). Which option is better depends on the situation.

Key points

1Cloud storage means keeping data on remote servers owned and run by a storage provider, and reaching it over the internet.

2It is still secondary (non-volatile) storage: the data sits on hard disks or solid-state drives in data centres away from you.

3Advantages: access from any internet-connected device and place; easy sharing for collaboration; the provider looks after hardware, maintenance and backups; capacity can grow without you buying hardware.

4Disadvantages: no internet connection means no access, and speed depends on the connection; a third party holds your data (security, privacy, less control); usually an ongoing cost for larger amounts; you rely on the provider's service staying available.

5Neither option always wins. Weigh access, sharing, cost, capacity, speed, security and the need for a connection against what the situation needs.

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Worked example

Problem

A wedding photographer travels a lot. At meetings in different towns, they show clients photos on a tablet. They also worry about losing years of work if their laptop's drive fails. Should they keep their photos in cloud storage? Explain your answer.

⚠ Watch out

Saying cloud files are 'stored on the internet'. The internet only carries the data. It's stored on the provider's hard disks and SSDs. A close second: writing 'you can access it anywhere'. You can only access it where there's an internet connection.

🧠

Memory hook

Cloud = someone else's drive, on the end of your internet connection. Cut the connection and you lose the access. Trust the owner, or keep the drive yourself.

✓

Check yourself

Cover the page. Where is a cloud file physically kept, and why can't you reach it offline? Then name one situation where local storage suits better, and the factor that decides it.

Flashcards

(12)

What is cloud storage?

Keeping data on remote servers owned and run by a storage provider, and reaching it over the internet.

Why is cloud storage still secondary storage?

The data is kept on non-volatile physical drives (magnetic hard disks or SSDs) in the provider's data centres.

Does the internet store your cloud files?

No. The internet only carries files between you and the provider's servers. The files are stored on the servers' drives.

Cloud advantage: where can you reach your files from?

Any internet-connected device, in any location.

Cloud advantage: working with other people

Files can be shared easily, which helps collaboration.

Cloud advantage: who looks after the drives?

The provider handles the hardware, the maintenance and the backups.

Cloud advantage: running out of space

Capacity can be increased when needed, without the user buying new hardware.

Cloud disadvantage: what if the connection is poor?

No connection means no access to the files, and a slow connection means slow access.

Cloud disadvantage: who holds your data?

A third party, which raises security and privacy concerns and gives you less control.

Cloud disadvantage: cost

There is usually an ongoing subscription for larger amounts of storage.

Cloud disadvantage: relying on the provider

If the provider's service is unavailable, you can't reach your files.

How do you decide between cloud and local storage?

Weigh the factors (access, sharing, cost, capacity, speed, security, need for a connection) against what the situation needs.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

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Where does a file in 'the cloud' actually live?

So where is your project right now?

Is the cloud always the better choice?

Cloud or local? You decide

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