What is the primary function of cloud storage?

The primary function of cloud storage is to store data remotely. This means that rather than being limited to a physical device or local storage solution, users can save and access their data over the internet on servers managed by cloud storage providers. This setup provides several advantages, including enhanced accessibility, as data can be retrieved from anywhere with internet connectivity, and improved data safety, as most cloud providers implement robust security measures and backup systems to protect against data loss. Additionally, cloud storage often allows for scalability, letting users easily increase or decrease their storage needs based on demand.

The other options, such as running applications locally, offering personal computing hardware, and configuring networks, do not align with the fundamental purpose of cloud storage. Running applications locally pertains to software configurations on personal devices, personal computing hardware involves physical machines, and network configuration relates to setting up and managing network connections. None of these directly involve the core concept of storing and managing data remotely, which is the essence of cloud storage.