Difference between Google Drive vs Google Cloud Storage
Google’s most popular storage space with synchronization is Google Drive. Another option offered for online data storage is Cloud Storage. There are significant differences in their underlying operating principles and opportunities they offer.
Google’s most popular storage space with synchronization is Google Drive. Another option offered for online data storage is Cloud Storage. There are significant differences in their underlying operating principles and opportunities they offer.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a popular cloud storage and synchronization service. Offering a limited amount of storage for free and capacities up to 16 terabytes for a monthly fee, Google Drive enables files to be stored in the cloud and retrieved from any desktop or mobile device. It is also used to store documents in Google's online productivity suite comprising Google Photos, Docs, Sheets, Slides and others. To extend the storage space capacity in Google drive users can purchase a G Suite License from Infiflex.
Logo of Google Drive
Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage is an online storage option available as a part of Google Cloud Platform. It is an Enterprise Level Service. It is useful for large amounts of data for server and system backups. It provides a customized pricing model based on Data Storage, Network Usage, Operations Usage & Data Retrieval. It provides Identity and Access Management. It helps to recover deleted and overwritten files.
Logo of Cloud Storage
Comparative study on Google Drive and Google Cloud storage based on these few aspects:
Data Tiering
Google Drive does not support advanced data tiering in storages, whereas Cloud Storage has advanced data tiering storage solutions like Regional, Nearline, Coldline, Archival. It provides different storage classes/data tiering. It is based on the data retrieval time and the implementation of this concept in each model makes it cost-efficient.
Accessibility
Both of them provide data storages but Google Drive has ease of access using a web browser or mobile app whereas Cloud Storage requires a Virtual Machine or DNS to be accessed.
Price
Google Drive has fixed slabs of the price which makes it costlier. Google Cloud Storage offers to pay as you go model and four distinct storage classes make it pocket friendly.
Data Retrieval
Google Cloud Storage supports versioning which means users can retrieve deleted versions of data and overwritten data but Google Drive does not support such a feature.
Storage Formats
Google Drive is readily used for photo, sheet, video, document, presentation types of data storage. Google Cloud Storage is used for big data, text, small data, binary, regardless of the format.
Security
Google Drive is an unmanaged storage. The data is stored and managed by the user. Data access permissions can be defined by the user. Google Cloud Storage is a managed storage service that has security at every level. It provides advanced security mechanisms using OAuth. It can provide IAM permission for better access to modular data management.
Difference between Google Drive and Google Cloud Storage:
Infiflex as an organization provides Google Drive as an integral part of Google Suite Basic, Business, and Enterprise Versions to the customers. It provides an integrated platform for various Google Apps. Video conferencing capabilities are also readily available using Google meet and chatting using Hangout Chat.
Google Cloud Storage is provided to the customers with complete support and maintenance for better customer experience. To add to the customer cost-benefit Google provides a pay-as-you-go flexible approach.
Google Drive can be regarded as the best consumer-based solution for personal use. It can be used for storing, editing, collaborating data but for enterprise-level, whether a small or a medium scaled organization Google cloud storage is the perfect solution.
