Self-Hosted Cloud: Part 1 — File Storage on Nextcloud

Nextcloud — an open-source program for deploying cloud storage on your own server or a rented VPS. It performs the same tasks as Yandex Disk, Google Drive, or Dropbox, but files are stored on a server that you control.

Why companies choose Nextcloud

• Control over data. Files are on your server, and only you decide who has access to what and how the data is protected.
• Choice of storage location. The server can be located in any country and with any provider, including Russia.
• More than storage. Nextcloud can be extended with apps into a full workspace: calendar, contacts, tasks, chat, and video calls.
• No per-user fees. The software itself is free; costs are server rental and maintenance time. For a team of several dozen people, this can be cheaper than subscribing to a cloud service.

Features

• File sync and sharing. Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS sync files between devices. A file or folder can be shared via a link with a password and expiration date.
• Collaborative document editing. Collaborative editing is provided by Nextcloud Office based on Collabora Online or integration with ONLYOFFICE. Comments on files and version history are available.
• Calendar and contacts. Sync with phones and mail clients using standard CalDAV and CardDAV protocols.
• Tasks. The Tasks app manages to-do lists, which also sync via CalDAV.
• Nextcloud Talk. Chat, audio, and video calls within the company.
• App directory. Hundreds of additional apps: from a password manager to task boards.

Security

The administrator configures protection: two-factor authentication, server-side file encryption, access rights for groups and users. Open source allows any specialist to inspect how the software works, and security updates are released regularly. However, the security of a particular server depends on how promptly it is updated and how correctly it is configured.

Drawbacks

• You need a server. You will have to rent a VPS or run your own server, which means monthly costs and setup work.
• Technical skills required. Installation and maintenance require knowledge of Linux, the command line, a web server (Apache or nginx), and a database (MariaDB, MySQL, or PostgreSQL). The easiest way to install Nextcloud is via the official All-in-One package: it deploys in Docker and includes the database, caching, HTTPS, Nextcloud Office, Talk, and backups based on BorgBackup.
• Backups and protection are your responsibility. If the server fails or is hacked, you’ll need to restore data yourself, so backups should be set up from day one.
• Performance depends on the server. Speed is determined by VPS resources: CPU, RAM, and disk speed. According to the official documentation, each PHP process needs at least 128 MB of memory, and 512 MB is recommended.

Who Nextcloud is for

• small companies that need to control where and how their data is stored;
• teams that need shared files, calendars, and chat without paying per-user subscriptions;
• those who already have VPS administration experience or have a specialist willing to maintain it.

Initial setup of Nextcloud takes time, but as a result the company gets a working storage and a set of collaboration tools fully under its control.