We heard a lot of people talking and running after centralized cloud storage frameworks. Centralized cloud storage frameworks are usually not well-received due to their various drawbacks, such as centralized operational, hacking incidents, server failures, and frequent data leaks. Developers are getting cautious about these failures and looking for ways to store data safely, stable, and cost-efficiently.
And guess what? We found a way to save it by switching to a decentralized storage protocol.
What is decentralized storage protocol?
Decentralized storage protocols are designed using blockchain technology. It provides an incentive system to enable people to store data on multiple network nodes. These protocols introduce a tokenomics model to realize distributed and piecewise data storage on multiple network nodes. The two major categories of decentralized storage protocols are:
1. One category storage as arithmetic power and users mine by providing hard disk space. The consensus mechanism is benchmarked against Bitcoin-type projects, and the representative project is called Siacoin.
2. The other is storage as a service, enabling users to store data as arithmetic power.
In simple words,
One of the key components of a decentralized web is its storage system. The data is distributed in different chunks among various peer-to-peer network nodes. Several distributed file-sharing systems such as Napster and Bit torrent have been tried and tested before. However, these were not designed to be built-in infrastructure. The advantages of storing data in a decentralized environment are similar to those of a decentralized web.
Why get decentralized storage protocols within the organization?
It is recommended to take decentralized storage protocols for some of the valid reasons mentioned below:
1. Security –
Each copy of data is encrypted and stored in its own unique and secure way. Only the private key can decrypt it and view it in digital currency. Data is stored in a decentralized manner, which means that only the parts of the data are affected by hackers.
2. Reliability –
Blockchain is a digital ledger that enables transactions to be distributed without intermediaries. Its decentralized nature allows storage protocols to be used for storing data. A cloud storage protocol is a way to store data that uses decentralized storage and decentralization characteristics.
In the decentralized storage protocol, all the blocks are verified. Workers should verify any deposited data, that is to prevent data tampering.
A distributed storage system achieves load balancing, preventing traffic from overwhelming a single location. Since users store multiple copies of their data in different areas, they do not suffer data loss if their machines fail or stop working.
3. Honestly
Since there will be so many decentralized nodes, the market will be more open and competitive. The price of data storage can vary widely depending on the storage platform used and the complexity of the storage requirements.
For the next thing to do, you must look up some popular decentralized storage systems within your organization.
Known some popular decentralized storage systems
1. InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)
IPFS is a distributed file system that can replace HTTP. It is similar to HTTP in that it sends and receives files over HTTP. IPFS is a vital component of Skeps’ decentralized architecture. It helps secure the transfer of files between nodes.
2. Storj
The Storj network is a distributed object store that enables users to store and distribute data globally. In short, it is a private, decentralized, affordable, and secure cloud object storage for developers. It enables any computer running its software to rent unused hard drive space to individuals looking to store data. Storj is an subsitute to cloud storage platforms like those offered by Google and Amazon. However, Storj depends on software and the network of computers to manage its data storage. Significant components of Storj are Satellites, Storage Nodes, and Uplinks.
3. OrbitDB
OrbitDB is a distributed, serverless, and peer-to-to-peer database. It uses IPFS to store and distribute its data and IFPS Pubsub to sync the database with peers automatically. The data in OrbitDB should be stored in various ways, such as sharded or kept in its original state. It supports multiple data models, such as keyvalue, log, feed, counter, and documents. OrbitDB databases are consistent, achieved with Conflict-Free Replicated Data Type (CRDTs) for conflict-free database, making it an excellent choice for decentralized Apps (dApps), offline-first web applications, and blockchain applications.
4. Skeps
At Skeps, they build a distributed database called ChainWolfDB, which OrbitDB inspires. Its goal is to provide a distributed database with consistent and securely stored data. It uses encryption to transfer data and supports transactions that help keep all the nodes involved in the data safe.
5. GUN
GUN is a real-time, decentralized, offline-first graph database engine that is lightweight and powerful. The GUN is a distributed database system that can sync data between connected nodes. Its goal is to provide consistent and real-time updates.
Wrap-up
The flexible data storage model is used for storing data in various configurations. It can store relational data (MSSQL or MySQL), tree-structured document orientation (MongoDB), or a graph.
In the Web 3.0 era, where data ownership and security are more critical, reliability, safety, and scalability will profoundly impact companies.
The curtain has just turned on the Web 3.0 revolution, and decentralized storage still has a long way to go in infrastructure, talent, infrastructure, and funding.
Although decentralized storage is still in its early stages, the national policies will also influence the development of the industry. Despite the various national policies and market trends, centralized storage platforms are still the mainstream method for storage.
We are on the verge of rapid technological advancements and are still waiting for decentralized storage protocols to exist.
For more such content download our latest whitepapers on storage here.
