Taming the IT Cloud

Anjan J Baishya

We all know that when we have to predict the future or analyse some output we have to depend on data. And if we have a large volume of data we are always in a better position. So there is always a necessity to preserve data, which, of course, piles up along with time. The main problem, of course, is the storage and security of these data. And the effective and easiest solution to this is Cloud Computing, which has now become a revolution in the field of IT. Down the years external physical storage like pendrive, external HDD and likewise will be things of the past. But the main problem, however, is how effectively we can use it, as for me a Technology NOT used to its full potential is NO technology at all.

Before using the technology lets understand how cloud computing can help us. We all know what a normal cloud is. It is a collection of large number of water particles (we call it storage system in IT) and when these clouds become too heavy they fall down in the form of rain (we call it retrieving of data in IT). The IT cloud also works in the same technology, the only difference is that unlike the normal cloud, we can store/retrieve any type of data at point of the day, be it ones personal photos, memories, note, appointment, contacts, songs, movies and likewise, irrespective of the file type or size and that too in a secured and effective way.

Let us take a scenario where we need to transfer a file of 500 MB from one place to another. The usual process is to store the file in a pendrive and transfer it personally to the destination, but what if the destination is thousands of miles away. Mail it, no. Courier your external drive, maybe yes, but you have the risk of data/device loss apart from the security threat of data leakage, virus, theft and others. In such type of situations the Cloud is the perfect solution. All you need to do is to simply store the data in the cloud and mail the authorization to the destination concerned who can access it immediately thus saving time and money. But it will be incorrect if I don’t explain the method as how to do it at least for those who want to use this technology. Just go to Google and download the most commonly used cloud software – Dropbox. Now open the site www.dropbox.com and register it through your personal email ID. Also don’t forget to install the software in your PC.

After installation in your PC you will see the icon on the right down corner of your status bar (beside the clock). Now open the software and login with the same email id by which you have registered in the dropbox site. Also the software will create some folders preferable in your c drive program file folder. Among the folders you will see a folder name 'public' where you can simple paste all your desired files which you want to keep it in the cloud, provided your PC is connected to internet and you have given dropbox enough time to upload the files in their servers. But mind you all cloud computing software have their own encrypting software which keeps your data safe and secured until and unless you don’t disclose it.

Now if you want to access these files you simply need to login to the dropbox site through your registered email id from any place in the world and Bingo!!! All your desired files are right in front of you. And regarding the transfer to a large data you just need to copy the link after dropbox finishes uploading the file. Now all you need to do is just to send the link via any means to your destination. The person concerned in the destination simply needs to click the link to download the file. The same process can also be done in smart phone and many smartphones now have the dropbox app preinstalled. All you need is internet connection and with the government thinking to launch 5G, it will be icing on the cake for adept cloud computing users.

Let us take another scenario which is very common among mobile phone user – The contact list. What do you do with your contact list every time when you change your mobile handset. The most obvious process I have come across is that people use to copy all the contacts in the sim card and transfer it to the new phone. But there are obvious problems while doing so like the memory of the SIM Card is less than the number of contacts to be copied and lik wise. But the problem is even more dire when you lose your phone along with your SIM. You are left with nothing but to start collecting all your contact details all over again which, of course, is a tedious & almost impossible process.

The solution to this is Cloud Computing. All you need to do is to configure your email id by going to an app named ‘EMAIL’ on your android phone. Also in the name of configuration all you need to do is just enter your email id and your password, rest the app will do all by itself. Next most important thing which your need to do is to sync your contact list. So next time when you are trying to save any contact do not chose the SIM or Phone, instead click on the email id. This will save your contact on the email id. You can also see the contact list if you login to your email id, provided the contact list is sync and internet connectivity is on in your mobile hand set. Thus if you accidentally delete one/all of your contacts you will get your contacts again in your phone provided you have your email id configured. Also you need not to worry if you do a factory reset or if your phone is lost. All you need to do is simply configure dropbox (for your important files) and your email id (for the contact list) and your are ready to go.

Thus we have seen that Cloud Computing has solved two of the most important problems by keeping a backup of all our data in the cloud. Some of the commonly use clouds are DropBox, Google Cloud(or Gdrive in short),icloud, and like wise which are available both as freeware and in paid service as per necessity of the user.

(Anjan J Baishya is IT Consultant, ILRMS, Kamrup (M). He can be contacted at email anjanbaishya@yahoo.com)