Seagate is a major manufacturer of hard drives and other storage devices. In recent years, Seagate has expanded beyond just selling hard drives and now offers a range of storage solutions including network attached storage (NAS) devices and cloud storage services.
What is cloud storage?
Cloud storage refers to storing data on remote servers that can be accessed over the internet. The data is stored and managed by a cloud storage provider, allowing users to access the data from anywhere with an internet connection. Some key advantages of cloud storage include:
- Accessibility – Data can be accessed from any device with an internet connection
- Scalability – Storage capacity can be increased or decreased on demand
- Collaboration – Data can be shared and collaborated on with others easily
- Backup – Data is stored securely offsite so there are redundancies
- Cost savings – No need to purchase and maintain expensive servers
Does Seagate offer cloud storage services?
Yes, Seagate does offer personal and business cloud storage services through its Seagate Cloud Systems and LaCie subsidiary brands.
Seagate Cloud Systems
Seagate Cloud Systems offers three main cloud storage solutions:
- Seagate Personal Cloud – Network attached storage devices to store and stream files at home.
- Seagate Business Cloud – Secure enterprise-level cloud storage for businesses.
- Seagate Central – Shared home cloud storage to stream media to connected devices.
These services allow users to store files locally on a Seagate device and remotely via the cloud. This provides fast local speeds plus offsite backups and remote access.
LaCie CloudBox
LaCie, owned by Seagate, offers the LaCie CloudBox. This is a hybrid cloud storage solution that enables remote access and cloud backups for LaCie’s network attached storage devices.
Key features of LaCie CloudBox include:
- 1TB of cloud storage per LaCie device
- Remote file access from iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows
- Automatic backups to the cloud
- File versioning and restore options
- Advanced security with AES 256-bit encryption
What are the storage capacity options?
Seagate provides a range of storage capacities across its cloud storage platforms and devices:
| Product | Storage Options |
|---|---|
| Seagate Personal Cloud | 2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 5TB, 8TB |
| Seagate Business Cloud | Customizable; scales to meet needs |
| Seagate Central | 2TB, 3TB, 4TB |
| LaCie CloudBox | 1TB of cloud storage |
In addition to onboard storage capacities, the cloud storage component offers flexible scaling. For Seagate Business Cloud, storage can be increased or decreased as needed with options for unlimited cloud storage.
How much does Seagate cloud storage cost?
Seagate offers both free and paid cloud storage options. Here is an overview of pricing:
Seagate Personal Cloud
- One-time purchase cost for hardware; no monthly fees.
- Hardware pricing ranges from $130 for 2TB to $400 for 8TB.
Seagate Business Cloud
- Minimum $50 per month for 250GB storage.
- Scales up based on usage and storage needs.
- Unlimited storage option available.
Seagate Central
- One-time cost for hardware starts at $160.
- No monthly fees.
LaCie CloudBox
- Includes 1TB remote storage with purchase.
- Additional storage is $9.99 for 100GB/month.
The Seagate Personal Cloud and Seagate Central provide private cloud storage with no recurring fees. Seagate Business Cloud and LaCie CloudBox offer more traditional cloud storage subscriptions with monthly charges.
How reliable and secure is Seagate cloud storage?
Seagate utilizes industry-leading security and reliability measures to keep data protected across its cloud platforms including:
- AES-256 encryption – Files are secured with 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard.
- SSL/TLS data transfer – Secure Socket Layer and Transport Layer Security protocols protect data in transit.
- Two-factor authentication – Enhanced account log-in security.
- File versioning – Previous versions are retained for rollback and restore.
- Redundant backups – Copies stored across multiple data centers.
In addition, Seagate uses enterprise-class hard drives designed for 24/7 operation and high reliability. Facilities meet rigorous standards for physical and environmental security.
Independent benchmarks and assessments confirm the effectiveness of Seagate’s security practices. Seagate Business Cloud maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliance for security and availability.
What are the main Seagate cloud storage use cases?
Seagate cloud storage solutions cater to a variety of use cases including:
Personal Cloud Storage
- Storing and streaming media files like photos, videos, and music
- Backing up important personal documents
- Syncing data across devices
Business Cloud Storage
- Hosting company files, databases, backups
- Collaborating across teams and locations
- Ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery
Network Backup
- Backing up NAS devices offsite to the cloud
- Enabling hybrid local/cloud access and syncing
- Centralizing storage from multiple sources
Seagate cloud solutions provide secure and dependable storage for a wide range of personal and business use cases.
Conclusion
Seagate offers robust and easy-to-use cloud storage solutions for home and business users. Key options include Seagate Personal Cloud, Seagate Business Cloud, Seagate Central, and LaCie CloudBox.
These services provide centralized local storage along with flexible cloud storage for remote access, syncing, backup, and collaboration. Seagate leverages security best practices like encryption and redundancy to keep data protected.
With Seagate cloud storage, users can enjoy the convenience of the cloud along with the speed and reliability of Seagate hard drives. Seagate provides secure and cost-effective cloud solutions for a variety of personal and business cloud storage needs.