The cloud is a server (computer) that is permanently connected to the internet and provides you with services.
04 Nextcloud on Github
Most people use the term “cloud” synonymously with one type of cloud: cloud storage makes the file available on any end device. In addition to providing storage, the cloud also runs other applications. A user can perform much more demanding tasks on a more powerful remote server (grid computing, cluster) and have the results sent to them via the network.
This guide focusses on cloud storage.
Steffen Lippke
TOP 6 advantages – Install Nextcloud
Why do I need a cloud? I list the 6 main advantages of a cloud solution here.
#1 Synchronisation and access on 2 end devices
05 Clients from Nextcloud
Many of us have several internet-enabled devices. The data should be available on the mobile phone, desktop PC and laptop at the same time.
#2 Modern replacement for USB sticks and CDs
A cloud instance transfers small and large files quickly from one computer to the next. Instead of using a USB stick or burning a CD, you synchronise with the cloud, which is highly available and provides the latest data status.
#3 Better malware protection
With many cloud providers, antivirus software checks the uploaded documents for viruses, trojans, root kits, etc. If you transfer the data with an old-fashioned USB stick, the antivirus of the target computer checks the file (if the target computer has an up-to-date antivirus)
#4 Sending large files to people
You “send” large files to any recipient by uploading the file and attaching the corresponding public link to the e-mail. Stuffed email inboxes are a thing of the past.
#5 Real security against ransomware
The malware “ransomware” encrypts your files. The hacker demands money to decrypt your data. To avoid having to pay the demand (e.g. 10 Bitcoins), the cloud versions the changes. Each time a change is made, the cloud saves a new version.
Instead of opening the encrypted version, you jump back one version, and you have the old unencrypted processing status again.
Steffen’s tip
#6 Protection against data loss
If you drop your laptop or your hard drive dies, download your backup from the cloud again.
This will minimise the damage to your data.
What are the disadvantages of the cloud?
Like any technology, the cloud also has a few disadvantages:
Synchronisation problems: The cloud gets confused in complex change scenarios on several computers at the same time. The cloud reports file conflicts. The cloud saves multiple versions of the original document in order to save data.
Dependent on the internet: If you live in the country or are on the train, you know what I’m talking about. If the data is not synchronised offline, the cloud is no fun.
Dependence on a provider: How secure is the cloud? What access availability does the provider guarantee? The choice of provider determines how reliable the cloud solution is.
Latency and speed: You can access local files faster than the cloud. The USB 4.0, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt or network cable interfaces transfer data faster. The transfer from the cloud takes time to get from the server to your computer.
Reduction in bandwidth: If a cloud is constantly synchronising in the background, your video conferences, videos and other downloads will suffer from background activity.
What does a cloud cost?
A free offer from the major well-known providers is often sufficient for testing.
Before you get the idea of uploading your entire hard drive to a cloud, do a proper spring-clean of your files.
Only upload important, frequently used files. Use 7zip to split large files into many 100 Mbit data blocks. Compression reduces upload and download time.
In my opinion, a better solution is to have your own cloud. You know where your data is stored and how it is protected. The section “IT security and the cloud” explains why knowing the cloud provider can be harmful.
IT security and the cloud: is the cloud secure?
Many corporate and private customers have migrated their files to the cloud in recent years. The cloud solution has become more popular with faster internet connections.
Single point of failure – danger
In the meantime, some companies have withdrawn again because there are repeated hacks at large cloud providers. If a security leak occurs at the providers Azure, AWS or Google Platforms, hackers have an easy game.
Attackers can access millions of customer data from a wide range of industries and access secret documents.
Danger from virtual machines
Many hackers focus their attacks on the 10 best-known providers because hacking them is very lucrative. If a hacker succeeds in hacking despite first-class security, the amount of damage is multiplied. If the hacker can access the head of the VMs (hypervisor) from his virtual machine (VM), then the hacker can intervene in the VMs of other customers and the chaos is perfect.
The individual company must blindly trust the cloud provider.
Cloud is not a universal solution
High-security systems such as SIEM software (Security Information and Event Management) or SOAR software (Security Orchestration Automation and Response) should be installed on a local server (on-premise).
Similarly, development and research should not store their documents in the cloud. The knowledge that employees have worked hard to acquire should not fall into the wrong hands.
Tutorial – Install Nextcloud
As the saying goes: it’s up to you!
With just a few clicks, we configure our own cloud instance that is secure, reliable and fast.
Rent web hosting with sufficient storage (triple the amount of data you want to upload). You should back up the cloud instance twice.
Download the Nextcloud ZIP file and upload it to your server (alternatively via curl directly).
Create a MySQL database and have the username, password, IP / domain and port (3306 for MySQL) ready
Unpack the ZIP on the server
Call up the instance and enter the access data for the database on the installation page
Carry out the installation (5–10 minutes)
Log in to Nextcloud
Download the Windows client, Android client and authorise the devices to access the new cloud
Upload the first data via the clients
To keep the instance up to date, we need a cron job. To create a cron job, go to cron-job.org
Register and set up a cron job that pings the PHP file http[s]:///nextcloud/cron.php every 5 minutes. And that’s it!
Tip 1: Speed up Nextcloud
Having your own server at home gives you a fast response time and very high transmission performance via the local LAN cable.
Modern networks can transmit 1 gigabit to 10 gigabits per second, which gives you a 40 to 400-fold speed advantage over the Internet (based on a 25 Mbit line).
Tip 2: Encryption in Nextcloud
Note: Full encryption reduces transmission performance and client performance due to the computing power required to decrypt and encrypt the files.
Nextcloud already uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) for the transmission of data. If you want to be on the safe side, use full encryption and accept the performance losses.
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