Invest in Secure Private Cloud Storage

What is the cloud storage

Cloud storage is a model of data storage in which the digital data is stored in logical pools, the physical storage spans multiple servers (and often locations), and the physical environment is typically owned and managed by a hosting company (such as Google, Microsoft, or Dropbox). These hosting companies sell or lease storage space to users, who can then store their data on the servers. The data is then accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection and can be shared with others if desired. Cloud storage is generally considered to be more secure and scalable than traditional forms of data storage, as the data is stored across multiple servers and locations, and the hosting company is responsible for maintaining and protecting the data.

However, this doesn’t always mean it’s completely secure. Nor does it mean you couldn’t implement something even more secure. This is because each functionality added to the storage services inherently introduces more risk to your data.

What does it mean to host your own cloud storage?

When something is self-hosted, it means that it is hosted on your own servers or equipment, rather than being hosted by a third-party service. This can be more cost-effective and provide more control and customization, but it also can sometimes require more technical expertise and may involve ongoing maintenance and updates. This just depends on what you use.

For example, if you want a good file syncing service with 2TB of storage, you can pay Google $100/year until the price changes. Or you can use Resilio Sync (free edition) or Syncthing (is free) and pay nothing if you already have two or more devices with the storage you want to use. When I first started, I had a phone and a desktop with a 2TB secondary drive with my data. My desktop computer stayed online, but it was a very low-energy device. Now, I have my phone, laptop, desktop, and two Raspberry Pi’s (one at home and another at my parents). The Pi’s have 4TB of storage and act as my “main” storage, and I only pull down the files I need from them, then remove them when I’m done all from the app. I pay Google nothing and only had to pay $80 for 2 4TB drives and $120 for 2 Raspberry Pi’s. The software is simple to set up and works behind any ISP firewall/router. Not only that, but when my parents had a bandwidth cap, I just set up theirs to only sync over LAN; therefore, it would sync from my phone when I stopped by.

I still have Office software (or LibreOffice on some devices), so I use that to edit my document files. I can also stay sure that someone won’t have access to my tax documents, as those are also not stored in a public cloud provider, and not readily accessible from the Internet, only through sync software that uses certificates to authenticate and encrypt the data. If I need to store some important documents on a friend’s NAS, I just give them the encrypted (only) keys and all they can see are encrypted files. So now we have a system set up where we can act as each other’s backup.

The Games These Companies Play

Have you ever tried enabling autosave in Microsoft Word when saving to a local location? If you have, you will notice that Word will not allow you to do this. That is because companies like Microsoft develop these dark patterns in software, which are used to intentionally push you into paying for their services. Want to use Google Slides with a local file on your Chromebook? Sure, you can use it, and it will even automatically save your work; however, they intentionally disable features (like theming) to encourage you to use more Drive space.

A dark pattern is a design or user interface that is intentionally confusing or deceptive in order to influence the user to take a certain action. Dark patterns are often used in the context of online marketing and advertising and can take a variety of forms, such as misleading buttons, hidden opt-out options, or confusing language.

Dark patterns are generally considered to be unethical, as they are designed to trick users into taking actions that they might not otherwise have taken (like paying for a service). They can be harmful to users, as they can lead to unintended consequences, such as signing up for a service that the user did not want or revealing personal information that the user did not want to share.

Control and Security

Self-hosting your own cloud storage can provide greater security in a few ways:

1. You have full control over the security measures in place. When you use a third-party cloud storage provider, you are reliant on their security measures to protect your data. When you host your own cloud storage, you can implement the specific security measures that you feel are necessary to protect your data.
2. Your data is not being stored on servers owned by a third party. This means that you are not relying on someone else’s security measures to protect your data.
3. You have greater visibility into who has access to your data. With a third-party provider, you may not know who has access to your data or how it is being used. When you host your own cloud storage, you have full visibility into who has access to your data and how it is being used.
4. You can use encryption to protect your data. Encrypting your data can help to protect it from unauthorized access, and when you host your own cloud storage, you can choose to use encryption to add an extra layer of security.

However, it’s important to note that self-hosting your own cloud storage still requires proper security measures to be in place, and it is not a guarantee of security. It is still possible for data to be lost or compromised if the necessary precautions are not taken.

If you take the route of just using Resilio Sync or Syncthing, then you just need to install apps on your desktop and mobile devices. Then just sync the folder/files you want.

Cost savings

Self-hosting your own cloud storage can potentially result in cost savings compared to using a third-party cloud storage provider. When you use a third-party provider, you usually must pay ongoing subscription fees for the storage space and any additional features you use. When you’re self-hosting your own cloud storage, you only have to pay the initial cost of setting up the hardware and infrastructure, and you do not have to pay ongoing fees to a third-party provider. Yes, occasionally a drive will fail, but as I outlined in my setup, it’s still cheaper in the long run as drives aren’t expensive anymore.

However, it’s important to consider that self-hosting your own cloud storage can also involve upfront costs, such as the cost of purchasing and setting up the necessary hardware and infrastructure. It may also require ongoing maintenance and updates, which can also incur costs. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider the potential cost savings of self-hosting your own cloud storage and to weigh them against the upfront and ongoing costs involved. Again, this depends on the route you take. You can either use simple apps, or more complex ones like NextCloud and run your own fully featured cloud provider.

The cost of cloud storage can vary depending on several factors, such as the amount of storage space you need, the features you require, and the provider you use. Some cloud storage providers offer a range of pricing plans, with different features and storage limits available at different price points.

In general, cloud storage can be more expensive than traditional forms of data storage, such as storing data on a physical hard drive or local server. However, it is often more convenient and can offer additional benefits, such as increased security, scalability, and accessibility.

If you are using a third-party cloud storage provider, you will typically have to pay ongoing subscription fees for the storage space and any additional features you use. The cost of these fees can vary widely depending on the provider and the specific plan you choose.

Options

There are several options for self-hosting your own cloud storage:

1. Build your own storage server using a personal computer or a dedicated server. You can use this server to store and manage your data and access it over the Internet.
2. Use a network-attached storage (NAS) device. A NAS is a specialized device that can be used to store and manage data and can be accessed over the network.
3. Use a cloud storage platform, such as Nextcloud, Syncthing, or Seafile. These platforms can be installed on your own server and allow you to create your own private cloud storage solution.
4. Use a VPS service and run your storage solution in their data center. Then you will have the scalability of the cloud, while still staying in control of your data and privacy.

Disadvantages

There are some disadvantages you will often hear when self-hosting storage:

1. Initial setup and maintenance costs: Setting up your own cloud storage infrastructure can involve upfront costs, such as the cost of purchasing hardware and setting it up. It may also require ongoing maintenance and updates, which can incur additional costs.
2. Requires technical expertise: Self-hosting your own cloud storage requires a certain level of technical expertise and may be more challenging for those who are not familiar with servers and networking.
3. Limited storage capacity: Self-hosting your own cloud storage is generally limited in terms of storage capacity compared to third-party cloud storage providers. This can be a disadvantage if you have a large amount of data that needs to be stored. You can’t always easily pay a company for additional storage, for an increased monthly bill.
4. May not be as reliable: Third-party cloud storage providers often have multiple servers and redundant systems in place to ensure that data is always available. If you set up your solution incorrectly, you can introduce a lot more risk of data loss. You will need to ensure you have something like my setup with data also stored outside your home.
5. May not offer the same level of support: When you use a third-party cloud storage provider, you have access to their customer support team to help with any issues or questions you may have. When you self-host your own cloud storage, you may not have the same level of support available.

However, you should keep in mind that this is completely dependent on the solution you choose for self-hosting. For example, you can choose to self-host using file-syncing apps like Resilio Sync and Syncthing. Using those methods, you can use devices you already have, and not have to invest in actual servers.