What is the cloud?

[ashot]

I often hear people say their data is stored “in the cloud.” What is the cloud exactly, and how does it work? Is it safe to store personal files there?

 

[robertwilliam]

The cloud is a collection of remote servers on the internet to store, administer, and process information rather than a local computer or device. It enables users to access files, execute applications, and store data at any location with an internet connection; thus, it is flexible, scalable, and cost-effective.

 

[alexmetro]

It’s basically just your data stored on remote servers run by companies like Google or Microsoft instead of your own device, so you can access it from anywhere; it’s generally safe, but I’d still use strong passwords and backups just to be sure.