In the ever-changing world of the Internet, comes many ways of saving and protecting your data. Whether you need to be able to share files more securely and efficiently or just want to be able to store data for back up purposes, cloud storage is the way to go. There are many options out there for cloud storage, but OneDrive is one of the best. Before we get into the details as to why you should use OneDrive for cloud storage, let’s look into what a cloud drive is and migrating files. 

What Is a Cloud Drive?

A cloud drive is an internet-based storage service that stores information on a remote server. These drives are accessed by using client software and can be used to back up files. Generally, providers will limit how much free storage space you can get, but they do offer the option for more storage space for a monthly fee. 

Cloud drives allow businesses and individual users to store their documents or media without having to purchase external hard drives or file servers. Providers do all the work; in that, they maintain the cloud servers and allow for quick access and availability to your data. 

What Is Data Migration?

Data migration refers to the process of transferring data between computers, formats, or storage devices. This is done by selecting, preparing, extraction, transforming the data, and permanently transferring it to a different storage system than the one it is currently on. 

This is done for a variety of reasons such as replacing a server or storage equipment, upgrades, maintenance, data center relocation, recovery, and website consolidation. There are 3 types of data migration: storage migration, cloud migration, and application migration. 

What Is OneDrive?

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that is owned by Microsoft. Anyone with a Microsoft account is available for a free amount of storage space, but you can opt to pay for more storage if needed. OneDrive offers users a way to store, sync, and share files with people and other devices. Some Microsoft devices and systems can also be used to sync system settings, app settings, browsing history, passwords, and themes. 

How To Transfer From Home Drive To Onedrive

There are many ways to migrate your data from a home drive to a Onedrive account. It really depends on how much data and users you currently have. For a small business or one-man entrepreneur, this could be done in a day or two. Bigger migrations of companies with many users, teams, and lots of data can require a lot of work.

In these cases, it’s common practice to bring in specialized migration consultants or a company that can do the migration.

Why Should I Migrate My Home Drives to Onedrive?

There are many reasons why you should migrate home drive to onedrive. These reasons range from simple cloud storage to using it as a backup solution. Being able to securely store your data on a cloud server can give you peace of mind in the event something goes wrong. Let’s take a look into reasons why you should migrate home drive to OneDrive. 

1. OneDrive is free

OneDrive is completely free for anyone that doesn’t require more than 5GB of storage it offers. If you want more space, you can upgrade for a monthly price and receive up to 1TB of space. 

2. Autosave a copy of your files

Once you download the OneDrive app on the device of your choosing, any documents, media files, or anything you save into OneDrive will be automatically synced and saved onto the cloud. This is perfect if you fear of losing any important files should something happen to your computer or phone. It’s also stored securely, so you have the peace of mind that your files are safe at all times. OneDrive is compatible with Windows Phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, Android tablets and phones, and Windows PC and Macs. 

3. Access all your files from anywhere

As long as you have your Microsoft account login information, you can access your files at any time, anywhere, and on any device. This means even if you don’t have access to your phone or computer, you can still access your documents by logging into a browser from whatever device you do have in front of you. 

4. File sharing capability

OneDrive allows you the ability to share your documents and media files with other people based on your terms. You can select who gets access to them and what they are allowed to do with them. This means if you just want someone to be able to view a certain document but not edit it, you can do just that. The same goes if you want them to be able to do both editing and viewing. You’re also able to revoke permissions at any time. People who you want to share with aren’t even required to have a Microsoft account, just the shared link, but requiring people to have an account does increase security. 

5. Free Microsoft Office Online

Once you download OneDrive you get access to Office Online for free on any device. This means that you can use Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, and Outlook without paying for a license like you normally would have to if you downloaded Microsoft Office 356 by itself. Keep in mind these are web-based versions though and not the apps, the apps will require a license. While it’s not the same as using the desktop version, it can be convenient if you don’t have access to that version and you can do pretty much everything you could on the desktop version. You can also share documents with other people in real-time even if they don’t have Microsoft Office. 

While many users can just get away with migrating their data to OneDrive, there is the option to migrate your home drive to OneDrive for Business. This is more ideal for small business owners or organizations because of the additional features it includes, but if you are interested in what it has to offer, it might be a better option for you.