In this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks takes listeners on a journey through the world of cloud computing with expert guest Walter Myers III, a principal engineering manager at Microsoft and adjunct professor at Biola University.

While the cloud may sound like something out of science fiction — a place where files float invisibly in the air — Myers explains that it’s anything but mystical. Instead, the cloud is a global network of physical infrastructure designed for security, redundancy, and near-unlimited scalability.

So, what is the cloud, really?

The term “cloud” refers to interconnected data centers filled with servers spread across the globe. These data centers allow users to store and access their data over the internet, rather than relying solely on a personal device.

The name “cloud” comes from early network diagrams where engineers drew a fuzzy, undefined shape to represent unknown systems outside their own networks. Over time, that blob became known as “the cloud” — but it’s actually a very real, physical, and highly organized system.

The cloud is everywhere — literally

One of the key insights from the discussion is that the cloud isn’t located in any one place. It’s distributed worldwide. Microsoft’s Azure cloud alone includes over 300 data centers. These centers are organized into regions; each region often consists of multiple physical locations called availability zones. If one data center goes down due to power loss, a natural disaster, or hardware failure, the others in the region can immediately take over.

Even more impressive is the concept of regional pairing. Data can be mirrored across separate regions — say, between the western and eastern United States. So if an entire region becomes unavailable, operations can resume in another.

Why redundancy is a good thing in computing

Redundancy is one of the cornerstones of cloud reliability. Myers explains that data in Azure, for example, is stored in triplicate within each data center. If a particular storage rack fails, the system automatically retrieves one of the backup copies and replicates the data to maintain the three-copy standard. With the option to replicate across availability zones or regions, users can design their systems for even greater resilience.

This level of redundancy is similar to RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology used by some tech-savvy users at home. But in the cloud, it’s scaled to an industrial level. In Azure’s newer data center designs, entire racks or modules can be replaced without data loss thanks to this replication.

Security: Zero trust = maximum protection

One of the most common concerns about the cloud is security. If your data isn’t stored on your personal device, how can you be sure it’s safe? According to Myers, security is built into every layer of Azure’s infrastructure. Microsoft employs a Zero Trust model, which means that no person or device is automatically trusted. Every access attempt is verified through authentication and authorization protocols.

On top of that, there are layers of encryption, both for data at rest and in transit. Physical security is also tight — biometric scanners and other safeguards prevent unauthorized personnel from entering the data centers. And thanks to how the data is stored — fragmented and distributed — no one can simply steal a hard drive and access your files.

Cyberattacks do happen, often in the form of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. But Azure has dedicated systems and entire teams monitoring and mitigating these threats around the clock. Myers emphasizes that while no system is perfect, Microsoft’s layered approach, as one example, makes breaches extremely difficult.

But what if the cloud just gets… too big?

As services like YouTube continue to grow exponentially, one might wonder: will we eventually run out of space in the cloud? Myers is confident that we won’t. Storage technologies are becoming more efficient, with SSDs (solid state drives) replacing traditional hard drives. These drives offer higher speeds, greater density, and no moving parts, making them ideal for modern data centers. While DNA-based storage is being explored as a long-term, ultra-dense option, it’s still years away and better suited for cold storage.

Azure also offers multiple storage tiers — hot, warm, and cold — based on how frequently data is accessed. This helps manage costs and optimize performance across a massive user base.

A final word on trust

Perhaps the most common myth Myers wants to bust is the idea that someone else can access your data in the cloud. Even in a multi-tenant system, your data is isolated, encrypted, and protected. Only you — and those you authorize — can access it.

For users like Marks’ cautious wife, who still prefers to print out important files “just in case,” Myers assures us that the cloud is designed with failure in mind. Encryption and redundancy are backbones of digital storage security.