Question - Getting started with Cloud Storage and management of data

As you all know, "cloud storage and management" of data is now one of the basic necessities for any application these days. Be it the streaming apps, critical business data or the medical records. However I have no knowledge at all about the programming aspect of the cloud storage. Hence I need advice and suggestions on how to go about learning about the basics as well as programming aspect of cloud storage.

I have close to 10 years programming experience mostly in telecom and networking in general and protocols, mobile and VoIP to be specific. I am very proficient in C, a bit of C++ and perl. I have learnt ruby and tried my hand with RoR.