I set a goal for myself at the end of 2021 to become as independent as possible from major tech companies, particularly in terms of cloud computing and storage. Prior to this, I had been a loyal unlimited storage client of Google with a business account since 2012, and I had also subscribed to 2TB of storage on iCloud for my family's use. My goal was to reduce or eliminate my dependence on both iCloud and Google Drive/Photos.
Evaluating the task at hand
I found that iCloud was the hardest service to give up due to its strong integration in the Apple ecosystem and the fact that it is used by multiple members of my family. While it was not possible for me to completely stop using iCloud and the 2TB subscription, I was able to move my personal files (Desktop, Documents) to a synced storage solution and maintain control over them. However, it was difficult to change the workflow of my entire family, and we continued to depend on iCloud for services such as Notes, Reminders, Email, and data syncing for various apps.
When it came to Google, I had a different set of challenges to consider. The most significant issue was the amount of storage I was using. I had configured Google Drive to store every piece of data I owned, regardless of the size, on either "my drive" or "team drives." As a result, I had accumulated over 50TB of data on Google Drive, which I used for long-term storage because I was paying a monthly fee regardless of how much storage I used. In order to reduce my dependence on Google, I needed to find a new place to store this large amount of data and ensure that it was properly backed up.
One of the challenges of moving away from Google was finding an alternative to their email service, which I used through a Google Workspaces subscription. Not only did I have an account, but my fiancé also had an account within my subscription. This presented additional challenges, although my fiancé did not use nearly as much storage as I did.
Another challenge was finding a replacement for Google Photos, which both of us relied on completely for photo storage and backup. We had a large number of photos that needed a new home.
Methodology
As a workflow architect, I was able to come up with a plan to tackle this significant task. However, I recognized that when working on projects for myself, I may not always document things as thoroughly as I should.
Preparing my storage server
I own three NAS servers: an 8-bay QNAP, an 8-bay Synology, and a 4-bay Synology. In order to replace the services provided by Google (Drive, Photos, Email) with my own self-hosted solutions, I chose to use Synology. Synology has the best software solutions of all NAS providers, and their Synology Drive is a strong competitor to other cloud storage solutions such as NextCloud, Owncloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. My Synology server was equipped with 16TB IronWold Pro drives and 2x 1TB M.2 NVMe drives for cache. To ensure reliable connectivity, I hosted the server in a data center in Prague, Czech Republic with a 1Gbps link and no data caps. This way, I was able to create my own cloud storage and services, hosted in the cloud with power backup and a stable connection.
Before moving any files to my server, I organized my files to ensure that I would not have any duplicates when retrieving them from Google Drive. Once this was done, I deleted everything that was already on my server from Google Drive and used Cloud Sync, a Synology application, to retrieve all remaining files from Google Drive. This process took about two months to complete, despite the fact that I had a fast connection with a transfer rate of 110MB/s. This was because Google Drive has a daily transfer limit of 750GB, which limited my ability to download more than 750GB per day.
After retrieving all of my data, I used Synology Drive to sync files on my computer. One of the useful features of Synology Drive is that it allows you to sync any folder on the Synology with any folder on your computer. This way, I was able to sync my Desktop and Documents across all of my devices, as well as sync or back up my external SSD. The change not only gave me control over my data, but also increased the speed at which I could download and upload to the cloud and removed any daily data caps.
With Google Photos, I was able to use the "Google Takeout" option to download all of my photos. While it required some organization on my part, I was able to import all of my photos to Synology Photos and use their mobile app to automatically upload everything as a backup to iCloud Photo."
Today
Today, I have multiple servers in a data center and offer cloud storage services through BaezCloud to dozens of individuals and small businesses. My clients share a desire for more control over their own data and to avoid reliance on major tech companies. Some of my clients have their own Synology servers, but still use my services to improve file sync capabilities as they do not have an IT team with the necessary skills to manage everything on their own.
All of the data that I personally use and share with others goes through BaezCloud, which is powered by Synology in a data center. I expect that my services will continue to grow in the future. To ensure that no data is ever lost, all data on my servers is backed up to identical servers. I also offer a premium option for clients to have 2 or 3 backups of everything, providing a range of options for data protection.
You may be wondering if all of the effort was worth it. From my personal perspective, the answer is yes. Now, I have fast access to my files and photos from anywhere in the world without data caps or throttling, a large amount of available storage, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing how many backups I have and that my files are secure. Additionally, I am part of a community that shares the same values and goals.
If you are interested in trying out BaezCloud, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us and we can give you access to test it for yourself. Currently, BaezCloud is only available to users in Europe as our servers are located there. If we receive enough requests from other regions, we may consider expanding.
If you require faster-than-1Gbps access to data on a constant basis, we also offer premium options to meet your needs.
I hope that this article may help someone who has been considering reducing their dependence on Google and finding alternative solutions.
