Remember when we used to keep photos in albums and documents in filing cabinets? Now our lives are digital, and we’re all facing the same question: where should we keep our growing collection of photos, videos, and important files?
Let’s talk about your two main options.
Cloud storage
First, there’s cloud storage – services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud. Think of these as digital safety deposit boxes you can access from anywhere. Upload a photo on your phone, and you can view it on your laptop seconds later. Share holiday photos with family? Just send them a link. And if your phone takes an unexpected swim, your precious photos are safe and sound.
But cloud storage isn’t perfect. You’ll need an internet connection to access your files, and those monthly subscription fees can add up. Want to store your entire photo collection? That could cost you $10 or more every month. And if you’re dealing with large video files, uploading them can feel like watching paint dry.
External hard drives
That’s where external hard drives come in. These physical devices are like digital filing cabinets that sit on your desk. Plug one in, and you’ve got massive storage space for a one-time payment. A decent 1TB drive costs about the same as six months of cloud storage, and it’ll happily store thousands of photos and videos. Plus, transferring files is much faster than uploading to the cloud.
The downside? External drives can be lost, stolen, or damaged. They can also fail without warning – usually right before you were planning to back up those irreplaceable baby photos. And unlike cloud storage, you can’t access your files unless you’re physically connected to the drive.
The smart and not too expensive solution
We’ve written about the 3-2-1 backup strategy in the past. But that can get a bit much, especially if you’re on a budget. So what’s the smart solution? It comes down to using a mix of cloud and local storage, and prioritising the hell out of your data.
Keep your important and current files in the cloud, where you can reach them from anywhere. We’re talking about crucial documents, recent photos, and files you need to access regularly. Then use an external drive to store your digital archives – old photos, videos, music collections, and files you rarely need.
This approach doesn’t have to be expensive if you’re clever about it. Start with free cloud storage (Google gives you 15GB) and only pay for more when you need it. Delete unnecessary files regularly, and compress photos before uploading them. If your family members also need storage, look for family plans – they’re usually better value than individual subscriptions.
For external drives, stick with reliable brands like Western Digital or Seagate. You don’t need the latest and greatest – a basic 1TB or 2TB drive will serve most people well. Keep it somewhere safe and dry, and consider buying two smaller drives instead of one large one. That way, if one fails, you haven’t lost everything.
Getting started is straightforward. Pick a cloud service (they all work similarly), and grab an external drive. Then spend an afternoon sorting your files. Important stuff goes to the cloud, everything else to the drive. Set up automatic cloud backup for new files on your phone and computer, and make a monthly reminder to copy important files to your external drive.
Looking ahead, both storage options keep getting better and cheaper. Cloud storage prices are dropping, and external drives are getting bigger and faster. Whatever you choose today, you’re making a smart move to protect your digital life.
Remember, you don’t need to store everything everywhere – just keep your important files safe and accessible while managing costs. Start small, and adjust as your needs grow. After all, the best backup system is one you’ll actually use, even if it doesn’t follow the gold-standard 3-2-1 strategy.
