Personal Cloud Storage: A Comprehensive Guide in 2021

Introduction

With better internet speed, higher uplink rates and unrestricted fiber-optic broadband services are on offers, and it’s simple to see the benefits of setting up your own personal cloud rather than relying on a subscription-based and restricted personal cloud storage service from Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

Setting up Personal Cloud Storage was challenging in the past. It needs to configure a NAS (network-attached storage) node, use a dynamic IP provider or reserve an IP to configure their router and route back to the system from home to make everything function.  However, now tech wizards have the shelf items that will make you do exactly the same.  

In this article let us look at:

1. Why Personal Cloud Storage?
2. How to setup Personal Cloud Storage?
3. Dynamic DNS (Domain Name System)
4. Network Attached Storage (NAS)
5. Top Personal Cloud Storage Solutions

1. Why Personal Cloud Storage?

Below are some of the benefits of using Personal Cloud Storage with the compelling reasons for selecting the best cloud storage for personal use are :

• No access or subscription charges required.

• Bigger data options available (up to 16TB).

• Faster connectivity at home or workplace.

• Remote login using a web browser once out of the home.

• The external backup will help to have a copy at home or office.

• The choice to use applications to access your personal storage data such as files, photos, audio and videos.

• Get options to pick your cloud storage device sizes, the size of hard disks and the number of bays. 

• Unlimited disk capacity, and it can be extended easily with external USB drives.

• Play your music and play your videos whenever and wherever you want.

• Fast configuration of Cloud services provided by the manufacturer.

2. How to setup Personal Cloud Storage?

The below steps will guide you to show how personal cloud storage works. With the help of these steps, one can also set up free cloud storage for personal use:

•  To power up and connect the router with your computer, the manual needs to be followed.

• To log in with your computer through the cloud, set up a secure remote access account.

• Sign up for Dynamic DNS service, some manufacturer provides DDNS service, and others encourage you to sign up for free DDNS accounts with the third party.

• Update your router to point the external traffic to your storage unit, which is known as port forwarding. This would not be important while using the manufacturer’s own NAS portal.

• Test the remote connection with the help of your network storage access with your registered unique name and a NAS portal or DDNS service over the internet.

The above procedure may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer based on the software used for personal cloud storage devices.

3. Dynamic DNS (Domain Name System)

The broadband router will be given an IP (Internet Protocol) address by your service provider. This IP address varies in order to connect to the services behind the router, and it is called a dynamic name resolution program.

Usually, whenever you browse through a web resource, the domain name used is the company name that is connected to a fixed IP. Since your broadband IP is interactive, a program on your computer communicates with your current IP address to a third-party provider, which is also known as the Dynamic DNS service.

After registering a domain name provided by DDNS, one can connect to their own Personal Cloud Storage without thinking about the changed IP address. There are several free DDNS programs that you can sign up for, and most of the computers will easily support any DDNS programs.

Others will provide the service as part of their product to allow you to use an authentication page where you need to sign in without the inconvenience of configuring a separate service and connect to your storage.

4. Network Attached Storage (NAS)

5. Top Personal Cloud Storage Solutions

Here’s a look at the top best Personal Cloud Storage solutions:

• Connected Data Transporter
• WD My Mirror and WD My Cloud 
• Lacie Cloud Box
• Seagate Central
• Synology Disk Station series 
• D-Link ShareCenter
• QNAP TS series
• Netgear ReadyNAS
• Buffalo Link Station
• Lenovo Iomega

Conclusion

So, as long as there is the internet, the future of personal cloud server storage platforms tend to be optimistic and bright. We hope this article has made a clear understanding of what is personal cloud storage means, its benefits and how to set it up.

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