Saving documents in the cloud has its risks
As is often the case, cloud storage has advantages and disadvantages. We are going to focus on the negative points or risks, especially of having documents that you need to have available anywhere.
The service can go down
One of the clear risks is that you depend on a server. That server could go down. Even Google Drive or Dropbox could have occasional problems at the worst possible moment and you can’t access those documents. It does not mean that it is common, far from it, but it is a risk that is always there.
If you had the files on a physical device, such as an SD card or flash drive, that risk would not exist. You could have problems with it stopping working, losing it or anything, but not the server stopping working.
You can run out of Internet at the worst time
You should also keep in mind that you need Internet connection. You will have to connect to the network to enter the cloud. If you are in an area without coverage, traveling in another country or any similar case, you could have problems accessing the cloud and having the documents accessible.
A specific case can be on a trip. You arrive in a country where you do not have Internet, they ask you at the border for the receipt of the accommodation where you are staying and since you have it in the cloud you cannot show it immediately.
that cloud can close
Of course, the cloud service you use could stop working forever. If you only use the cloud sometimes and haven’t been informed that the platform is going to be shut down, you could be in for a nasty surprise when you try to log in and find that you can’t retrieve the documents they have stored.
This is not something that is common either and it will not happen overnight, but it should also be taken into account as one of the risks of saving documents in the cloud.
security risks
Lastly, the security is another factor that could be compromised. Hacks can always crop up, especially if there’s a vulnerability with that cloud service you’re using. You could have problems that prevent everything from working correctly or even leak information.
To avoid this, you should always use platforms that are reliable. Look for information on the Internet, check that everything works correctly and do not make mistakes in this regard. That will help you stay safe.
In short, as you can see, using the cloud is something very common and interesting. However, you should be aware that there are certain risks when hosting content in the cloud. You should especially be careful with documents that you need to have very accessible.
