What is the cloud and how does cloud storage work?

The cloud is just storage on a company's servers instead of on your computer. Your files sit on internet-connected computers somewhere and you access them from any device. It's convenient and protects your files if your computer breaks.

The cloud is not actually up in the sky — it's a catchy name for storage on the internet. When you use cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive, your files live on company servers instead of just on your laptop. You can access them from any device by logging in. This means your files are backed up — if your computer crashes, your files are safe. You can also share files with others easily without sending them through email. The company secures their servers with strong encryption and backup systems.