What is the cloud, actually?

The cloud is just a friendly name for computers in a big secure building somewhere far away that store your files for you. When you put a photo 'in the cloud', it travels over the internet and lives on one of those computers. You can then see it from any of your own devices.

Does the cloud cost money?

Most services give you a small amount of cloud storage for free. iCloud gives 5 GB, Google Drive gives 15 GB. Once you fill that up, you have to pay a few dollars a month for more. For most home users, the paid level is small change and well worth it for keeping photos safe.

Are my photos safe in the cloud?

Yes, in most ways. Big providers like Apple and Google store your data in highly secure buildings with multiple backups. The main risk is not the cloud itself but someone guessing your password, which is why we always recommend turning on two-factor authentication for any cloud account.

Is iCloud the same as Google Drive?

They do the same job but from different companies. iCloud comes with iPhones and iPads. Google Drive comes with Android phones and Gmail accounts. Both store photos, files and backups. Most people end up using whichever one matches their phone, and that is fine.

How do I tell if I am already using the cloud?

You almost certainly are, without realising it. If you have an iPhone, check Settings and tap your name at the top. If you see iCloud, you are using it. If you use Gmail, you are already on Google's cloud. If you have ever seen the same photo on two of your devices without moving it, that is the cloud at work.

Help Guides

What is the cloud and am I using it?

"The cloud" gets mentioned everywhere but nobody ever really explains it. Here is what it actually means, without the hand waving.

Quick Answer

The cloud is just someone else's computer, sitting in a secure building far away, holding your photos and files for you. You reach it over the internet. If you have an iPhone, Android phone or Gmail account, you are almost certainly using the cloud already, whether or not you realised it.

Confused about what is on your phone and what is in the cloud? That is completely normal. We can sit with you and show you exactly what is where during a phone help visit. Give us a call.

The short version

When something is "in the cloud", it lives on a computer somewhere else, and your phone or laptop shows it to you over the internet. That is the whole trick. The word "cloud" makes it sound mysterious, but there is nothing floating or invisible about it. It is just a big, secure building full of computers, owned by a company like Apple, Google or Microsoft.

The useful part is that once your photo is "up there", you can see it on any of your own devices. Take a picture on your phone, open your iPad, and there it is. No cables, no transfers. That is the cloud doing its job.

The most useful content on this page is the FAQ below. It covers the questions people actually ask us about the cloud, in the order they tend to come up. Have a read through and you will feel much more comfortable with what the word actually means.

Want someone to explain it in person?

We can sit with you and walk through exactly what you are using, whether you need to pay for more space, and how to keep your photos safe. Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa.

Book a Visit

Where to look next

If your phone keeps saying iCloud is full, or you just want someone to check everything is set up properly, that is exactly what we handle during a home visit. We also recommend reading our photo backup guide, which walks through using the cloud to protect years of memories.

When to ask for help

Call us if you keep getting "storage full" messages from iCloud or Google, if you are worried about paying for something you do not need, or if you want to make sure your photos are actually safe and not just "probably somewhere". We handle this gently in homes across Durham Region and will never push you into paying for more than you need.

Get help today

We explain the cloud in plain terms during a visit, check your setup, and make sure your photos are actually backed up properly.

Get Help Today

FAQ

Everything you wanted to ask about the cloud

What is the cloud, actually?: The cloud is just a simple name for computers in a big secure building somewhere far away that store your files for you. When you put a photo "in the cloud", it travels over the internet and lives on one of those computers. You can then see it from any of your own devices. Apple's cloud is called iCloud. Google's is called Google Drive or Google Photos. Microsoft's is called OneDrive. They all do roughly the same thing.
Does the cloud cost money?: Most services give you a small amount of cloud storage for free. iCloud gives 5 GB, Google Drive gives 15 GB. Once you fill that up, you have to pay a few dollars a month for more. For most home users, the paid level is small change and well worth it for keeping photos safe. If you are only storing a few hundred photos, the free level may be enough forever.
Are my photos safe in the cloud?: Yes, in most ways. Big providers like Apple and Google store your data in highly secure buildings with multiple backups of their own. If one of their machines breaks, your photos are not lost. The main risk is not the cloud itself but someone guessing your password, which is why we always recommend turning on two-factor authentication for any cloud account. With that turned on, even if someone learns your password they still cannot get in.
Is iCloud the same as Google Drive?: They do the same job but from different companies. iCloud comes with iPhones and iPads. Google Drive comes with Android phones and Gmail accounts. Both store photos, files and backups. Most people end up using whichever one matches their phone, and that is fine. You do not need to choose between them and you do not need to switch if you change phones, although we can help you move things across if you do.
How do I tell if I am already using the cloud?: You almost certainly are, without realising it. If you have an iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top. If you see iCloud, you are using it. If you use Gmail, you are already on Google's cloud. If you have ever seen the same photo on two of your devices without moving it, that is the cloud at work. If you want to know for sure, we can check during a visit and explain exactly what is stored where.
If I lose my phone, do I lose everything in the cloud?: No, that is the whole point. If your phone drops in the ocean tomorrow, your photos, contacts and messages are still safely in the cloud. Buy a new phone, sign in with your Apple ID or Google account, and almost everything comes back on its own. This is why we are so keen on backup. It turns a disaster into a minor inconvenience.
I keep getting a message saying my iCloud is full. What do I do?: You have two choices. Either delete some old photos, videos, and attachments to free up space, or pay for more cloud storage. Upgrading to 50 GB of iCloud is very cheap and covers most people for years. If you are not sure which option is right, we can go through your iCloud with you during a visit and make sense of what is taking up the space.