Whether I’m at a barbeque or a bat mitzvah, there’s one question I’m asked again and again: “What’s the best way to back up my personal files and photos?”
I understand why they’re asking: Home computers are the nexus of family past and family present. They contain irreplaceable family videos, pictures, homework assignments, and more. Protecting and preserving memories is essential.
So, what’s the answer? Well, that depends on your situation. There are three options when it comes to backing up your life: The cloud, an external hard drive, or a blended approach.
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The cloud
If you have a moderate amount of data (15-50 gigabytes) and want access to your files anywhere and everywhere, consider the cloud-based approach.
A bunch of companies offer automatic and continuous cloud backup services. Some of my favorites include Mozy, CrashPlan and Carbonite. As long as you’re comfortable with each service’s data limitations, storage fees, and customer service, you simply need to pick the provider that meets your goals and budget.
However, if you have a lot of data (tons of pictures, large video files, etc.), a cloud-only solution will not work for you because the upload times for hundreds of gigabytes will totally consume your bandwidth.
External hard drive
Another popular option for personal backup is an external hard drive: Just connect a hard drive to your computer and run software that stores a mirror image of your data. I recommend this backup option to folks who work with or store extremely large files.
The problem with this option: The external device is usually located beside or near the computer. So, if the disaster is physical in nature — like a basement flood — you’ve lost both your computer and your backup.
Blended approach
The best personal backup configuration for people who have lots of data involves a combination of cloud and external drive backups. I use this method because I take tons of videos of my family and record all of my son’s band’s gigs. I use a cloud-based backup to automatically save my important documents, then back up my raw video footage to an external hard drive nightly. To avoid the flash-flood catastrophe, I regularly switch the external hard drive at home with the one I keep at work.
Picture preferences
Most people want a backup option that will allow them to store and share their pictures. If you’re shooting with an iPhone or iPad, I strongly recommend Apple’s iCloud service. iCloud backs up your entire phone (pictures and all) so if it gets destroyed, all you need to do is buy a new phone and sync with your iCloud account to retrieve your latest backup. Plus, iCloud’s Photo Stream lets you see your pictures on every device and share them around.
Dropbox is another great photo sharing and storage option — especially if the device you use to take pictures runs on an Android. However, as you store more data, the price tag of your Dropbox subscription rises.
Bottom line?
You have options beyond hard-copy files and photo albums. Consider data type, file sizes, device, plus your ideal photo sharing and backup restoration scenarios before committing to a storage solution. And, if you see me at a barbeque this summer, feel free to ask.
