By J.D. Bryant
VP of Corporate Development

Here at CX, we’ve associated the term “PC” with personal cloud for awhile—there’s no such thing as one type of personal computer when you have tablets, desktops, phones and laptops galore to stay connected with. That’s why we weren’t surprised by Gartner’s recent study that claimed “the personal cloud will replace the personal computer as the center of users’ digital lives by 2014.” With online cloud storage such as CX that keeps all your data safe and secure and accessible from anywhere, the cloud’s force is undeniable and goes beyond mere machines.

Think you’re insusceptible to the cloud’s powers? Think again. If you do online banking, upload music files to your mp3 player or use web portals to access insurance information, you’re already immersed in the cloud. And with cloud technologies becoming a part of larger businesses, it’s only a matter of time before the cloud touches everything you do online.

And if you’ve ever had to spend $4,000 to replace your hard drive, like I unfortunately had to years ago, you already realize the cloud is a cost-efficient way to make sure you never lose precious data. With the increased security provided by encryption developments, it’s easy to become more trusting of the cloud and see the benefits of having your information available at any place from any device.

Why It Matters

One of the best things about having the cloud to store your online files is all the physical space you save. The cloud negates the necessity for large and bulky computers – all your data can be accessed from a device as small as a smart phone. Forget about upgrading your hard drive to a larger model or purchasing a myriad of software applications – no need with CX, which can save money for both the average consumer and larger businesses.

Besides acting as a service for both individuals and enterprises, cloud storage is also being integrated into apps, which also touch a myriad of technology users. Here at CX, we’re working with third parties now that are incorporating our cloud service into their app suites, including a software company that provides tools to help you maintain your computer and keep it optimized and running efficiently. It makes sense to have cloud storage as a tool to keep data in a secure, off-site location.

Because of the progression of the Internet and Internet speeds, it’s finally efficient to be on the cloud and have the process not be inconvenient and time-consuming. Because of the wide availability of broadband and the high speeds most users enjoy today, the ability to have your information synchronized is much more efficient and productive than ever before.

If you’re still nervous about jumping into the cloud head-first, it’s easy to make small steps toward comfort. To get started, get a free 10GB account with CX, and put a few things up on your cloud that you refer to often. You’ll see the beauty of having access to all your documents on everything from your smart phone to your tablet, which is something the investors and founders of CX realized early on — that the whole world would soon be migrating to this path. Our strategic direction to socialize the data in features such as chat, groups and collaboration, instead of just having online files on some remote cloud, makes the CX data come to life.