Cloud storage is a service model where digital data is stored on remote servers managed by a third-party provider and accessed over the internet. This approach eliminates the need for businesses to purchase and manage their own physical storage infrastructure. Instead, they can leverage on-demand, scalable capacity from a provider, often paying only for the resources they consume.
Adopting cloud storage offers significant advantages over traditional on-premises solutions. It allows businesses to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and enhance their data management capabilities, moving from a capital-intensive model to a flexible, operational one.
Cloud storage isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It's typically offered in several deployment models, each catering to different needs for control, security, and scalability. Organizations can choose the model that best aligns with their operational requirements and data governance policies.
While often used interchangeably, cloud storage and cloud computing serve distinct but related functions in a modern IT strategy.
While cloud providers offer robust security, organizations must address key considerations to protect their data.
The cloud storage market is dominated by three hyperscalers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These providers lead the industry with vast global infrastructure and a wide range of services. They offer scalable solutions for nearly any use case, from enterprise data lakes to simple backups.
Beyond the big three, other vendors serve specific niches. Services like Dropbox and Box are popular for file synchronization and sharing. Meanwhile, traditional enterprise vendors like IBM and Dell EMC also offer robust cloud solutions.
How secure is my data in the cloud?
Leading providers use robust security like end-to-end encryption and compliance with major regulations. However, security is a shared responsibility; you must still properly configure access controls and manage user permissions to prevent breaches.
What happens if my cloud provider has an outage?
Most providers guarantee high uptime through service-level agreements (SLAs) and have built-in redundancy across multiple data centers. This ensures your data remains accessible and minimizes disruption to your operations during an outage.
Can I switch cloud providers easily?
Migrating between providers can be challenging due to data egress fees, technical complexities, and potential downtime. Planning a multi-cloud or hybrid strategy from the outset can help mitigate vendor lock-in and simplify future transitions.
White labeling is when a company puts its own branding on a product or service that was actually produced by a different company.
Fault tolerance is a system's ability to continue operating without interruption when one or more of its components fail.
Voice search optimization is the process of optimizing your content, SEO, and online listings to appear in and rank for voice-based searches.
A messaging strategy defines what your brand says, how it says it, and where it says it to connect effectively with your target audience.
GDPR compliance means following the EU's strict data protection laws to ensure the secure and lawful handling of personal data.
Ramp-up time is the period a new hire takes to get fully up to speed and become a productive member of your go-to-market team.
A small to medium-sized business (SMB) is a company whose employee count and annual revenue fall below certain industry-specific thresholds.
Forward revenue is the total value of all active, committed contracts that are expected to be recognized as revenue in the future.
Virtual selling is the process of selling to customers remotely using technology like video calls, rather than meeting them in person.
Data cleansing, or data scrubbing, is the process of detecting and correcting inaccurate records from a dataset to improve data quality.
Data enrichment is the process of enhancing raw data by adding missing information from other sources, making it more complete and actionable.
DevOps is a culture and set of practices that merges software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten development cycles.
Sales performance metrics are key data points that measure a sales team's effectiveness in achieving its goals and driving revenue.
A weighted sales pipeline forecasts revenue by assigning a closing probability to each deal, giving a more accurate picture of potential income.
A sales forecast is a projection of future sales revenue. It's a crucial tool for businesses to make informed decisions and allocate resources.
Learn about bad leads, including identifying bad leads, warning signs of bad leads, impact of bad leads on sales, & strategies to minimize bad leads.
A drip campaign is a series of automated messages sent to prospects or customers over time to nurture leads and drive engagement.
Deal closing is the final step in a sales cycle. It's when a prospect signs a contract and officially converts into a paying customer.
AppExchange is Salesforce's cloud marketplace, offering a vast ecosystem of apps and expert services to extend Salesforce functionality.
AI data enrichment uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance and update raw data, making it more complete, accurate, and valuable.
A landing page is a standalone web page created for a marketing campaign. It’s where a visitor “lands” after clicking an ad or email link.
A persona map visually outlines a target customer, detailing their goals, behaviors, and pain points to help your team build genuine empathy.
Adobe Analytics is a leading web analytics solution for gaining real-time insights into user activity across websites and mobile applications.
Google Analytics is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic, offering insights into user behavior and marketing effectiveness.
Data-driven marketing uses customer data to inform marketing decisions, optimize campaigns, and deliver personalized experiences to consumers.
Cohort analysis is a behavioral analytics tool that groups users with common traits to track their actions and engagement over time.
Data appending is the process of adding new data fields to your existing database records to enrich and complete your information.
Order management is the end-to-end process of tracking customer orders from placement to fulfillment, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
A marketing budget breakdown is a detailed plan that allocates your total marketing funds across various channels, campaigns, and activities.
An Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) is a detailed description of the perfect, hypothetical company that would get the most value from your product.
Agile methodology is an iterative approach to project management and software development, focusing on delivering value in small, incremental steps.
Signaling is using credible actions to convey information about quality or intent to a less-informed party, effectively building trust.
Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) is a query language used to search your organization's Salesforce data for specific information.
A Representational State Transfer (REST) API is a web service that uses a simple, stateless architecture for systems to communicate online.
The self-service SaaS model allows customers to independently sign up, use, and manage a product without any direct help from the company.
Cross-selling is a sales tactic of encouraging customers to purchase products or services that are related to what they're already buying.
A custom API integration is a bespoke connection between software, enabling them to communicate and share data to meet unique business requirements.
Predictive lead scoring uses AI to analyze data and rank leads by their likelihood to convert, helping sales teams prioritize their efforts.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software application that manages your entire hiring and recruitment process from a single dashboard.
The purchase stage is when a buyer has decided on a solution and is ready to buy. They're comparing vendors to make a final choice.
Shipping solutions are services or software that streamline the logistics of getting products to customers, from label printing to final delivery.
Return on Investment (ROI) is a key performance metric that measures the profitability of an investment relative to its initial cost.
CCPA compliance is adhering to the California Consumer Privacy Act, a law that grants consumers more control over their personal data.
Learn about B2B demand generation, including strategies for effective B2B demand generation, & key components of a demand generation program.
Sales velocity is a key metric measuring the speed at which your company makes money. It shows how fast deals move through your sales pipeline.
Net Revenue Retention (NRR) is the percentage of recurring revenue kept from existing customers, including upsells, downgrades, and churn.
User-generated content (UGC) refers to any form of content, like images, videos, or text, created and shared by users on online platforms.
Nurture is the process of building relationships with potential customers, guiding them through the sales funnel with personalized communication.
Stress testing is a type of software testing that determines a system's robustness by pushing it beyond its normal operational capacity.
Page views count the total number of times a page on your website is loaded. This metric is a key indicator of your site's overall traffic.
Account Click-Through Rate (CTR) is the percentage of individuals from a target account who click on a link in an ad, email, or on a webpage.
Sales prospecting is the process of identifying potential customers, or prospects, and initiating contact to convert them into paying customers.
Sales and marketing alignment means both teams work in sync, sharing goals and data to boost lead quality, conversions, and company revenue.
End of Day (EOD) refers to the close of business hours. It's a common deadline for tasks and reports to be completed before the workday ends.
Cold emailing is sending unsolicited emails to potential customers you haven't contacted before, aiming to start a business conversation.
Demand capture is the strategy of engaging potential customers who are already actively looking for a solution that your company provides.
Average Selling Price (ASP) is the average price at which a particular product or service is sold across different markets and channels.
Learn about business to customer, including maximizing B2C sales strategies, B2C vs. B2B: unveiling differences, & core principles of B2C success.
LPI, or Lead Per Inquiry, is a key metric that measures how many leads are generated from each inquiry in a marketing campaign.
Mobile app analytics involves collecting and analyzing data from mobile apps to understand user behavior and optimize the app's performance.
An inside sales rep sells products or services remotely from an office, using digital tools like phone and email to connect with customers.
Sales rep training is the process of equipping your sales team with the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively sell and hit their targets.
The awareness stage is the first step in the buyer's journey, where a potential customer realizes they have a problem or an opportunity to explore.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud model where a provider delivers a platform for users to develop, run, and manage applications online.
Reverse logistics is the process for goods moving from the customer back to the seller, covering returns, repairs, recycling, and disposal.
Data encryption translates data into another form, or code, so that only people with access to a secret key or password can read it.
User Experience (UX) refers to a person's overall feelings and perceptions while interacting with a product, system, or service.
Outside sales reps sell products/services in person, traveling to meet clients and close deals face-to-face, outside of a traditional office.
Sales enablement technology refers to software and tools that equip sales teams with the resources they need to close more deals efficiently.
Customer journey mapping is the process of creating a visual story of your customers' interactions with your brand across all touchpoints.
A Unique Selling Point (USP) is the distinct feature or benefit that sets your product, service, or brand apart from the competition.
Quality Assurance (QA) is the systematic process of ensuring a product or service meets specified quality standards from development to delivery.
A sales territory is a specific group of customers or a geographic area that a salesperson or sales team is responsible for managing.
Triggers are predefined conditions that, when met, automatically launch a workflow or action, ensuring timely and relevant outreach.
Customer engagement is the ongoing, value-driven relationship a business builds with its customers to foster brand loyalty and awareness.
A version control system (VCS) tracks changes to files over time, allowing you to recall specific versions and collaborate without conflicts.
Sales productivity is the measure of a sales team's efficiency, focusing on maximizing revenue generation while minimizing the resources spent.
User interaction is any action a user takes within a digital interface, like clicking a button, scrolling a page, or filling out a form.
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) for building websites and applications. It's known for its robust flexibility.
After-sales service is the support provided to customers after they've purchased a product. It includes things like warranties, training, or repairs.
Consumer buying behavior is the study of how individuals select, buy, and use products and services to satisfy their needs and desires.
Target Account Selling is a focused sales strategy where teams identify and pursue a specific list of high-value accounts.
Inbound sales attracts interested prospects who've engaged with your brand, letting sales reps connect with warm leads instead of cold outreach.
Learn about brand loyalty, including how to build brand loyalty, benefits of brand loyalty, measuring brand loyalty, & strategies for increasing loyalty.
Sales and marketing analytics involves measuring and analyzing performance data to maximize effectiveness and optimize return on investment (ROI).
A nurture campaign is a series of automated messages designed to build relationships with potential customers and guide them toward a purchase.
Digital contracts are legally binding agreements created, signed, and stored electronically, offering a faster, more secure alternative to paper.
Lead enrichment software adds crucial data to your leads, like contact info and firmographics, to help you better understand and engage them.
A soft sell is a low-pressure sales tactic that uses subtle persuasion and relationship-building to gently guide customers toward a purchase.
Predictive analytics uses historical data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning to identify the likelihood of future outcomes.
Amortization is the process of spreading out a loan or the cost of an intangible asset over a specific period for accounting and tax purposes.
Learn about B2B data enrichment, including benefits of B2B data enrichment, implementing B2B data enrichment strategies, B2B data enrichment vs. data cleaning.
Learn about business continuity, including understanding key components, steps to ensure continuity, common challenges, & best practices.
A qualified lead is a prospect vetted as a good fit for your product. They match your ideal customer profile and show genuine interest.
Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired goal, like a purchase or sign-up, out of the total number of visitors.
A use case is a detailed description of how a user interacts with a system to achieve a specific goal, outlining the steps from start to finish.
Price optimization is the process of finding the ideal price for a product or service to maximize profitability or other business objectives.
Sales metrics are quantifiable data points that track and measure a sales team's performance against specific goals and objectives.
Funnel analysis is a method for understanding the steps users take to complete a goal, revealing where they drop off in the conversion process.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the total cost a business spends to gain a new customer. It includes all sales and marketing expenses.