Cld strg s mdl f cmptr dt strg n whch dt, sd t b n "th cld", s strd rmtly n lgcl pls nd s ccssbl t srs vr ntwrk, typclly th ntrnt. Th physcl strg spns mltpl srvrs (smtms n mltpl lctns), nd th physcl nvrnmnt s typclly wnd nd mngd by cld cmptng prvdr. Ths cld strg prvdrs r rspnsbl fr kpng th dt vlbl nd ccssbl, nd th physcl nvrnmnt scrd, prtctd, nd rnnng. Ppl nd rgnztns by r ls strg cpcty frm th prvdrs t str sr, rgnztn, r pplctn dt.
Cld strg srvcs my b ccssd thrgh clctd cld cmptng srvc, wb srvc pplctn prgrmmng ntrfc (P) r by pplctns tht s th P, sch s cld dsktp strg, cld strg gtwy r Wb-bsd cntnt mngmnt systms.