Choose a backup setup around how you use your files and how you would recover them, not drive capacity alone. A portable SSD suits frequent transfers, an external hard drive suits a local archive, and network-attached storage suits shared household access; whichever you choose, keep a separate copy of irreplaceable photos and records, preferably off-site, and disconnect removable backup media between updates.
If family photos, documents and financial records are mostly kept on one computer, the priority is enough room for the intended files and a way to restore them if that computer fails. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping copies in separate locations.
People moving files between locations or compatible devices may value a compact drive and shorter large-file transfers. Check the connection before choosing an SSD for its advertised speed: Samsung says the T7 Shield’s maximum rates depend on compatible hardware, cable and USB support.
A central storage location can help a household manage files from several devices. Synology cautions that a NAS or RAID setup can still lose data, so shared storage needs a backup to another destination.
Choose the device you will use for local copies, then decide where an independent copy will live; cloud storage can complement any of these local routes. Measure the files and backup versions you intend to retain before settling on a capacity.
Consider it when: You carry files or transfer large folders frequently.
Trade-off: Advertised peak speeds depend on the computer and connection, and the drive remains only one backup location.
Consider it when: You need to move a local photo or document archive between places.
Trade-off: Transfers may take longer than with an SSD, so check whether portability matters more to you than speed.
Consider it when: A growing archive can stay at one desk; Seagate lists Expansion Desktop capacities from 4 TB to 30 TB.
Trade-off: Plan for its desk location and power requirements rather than treating it as a drive to carry around.
Consider it when: Several household devices need a central place for files and configured backup tasks.
Trade-off: A NAS adds setup and maintenance, and Synology advises backing it up to a separate destination even if it uses RAID.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverability | Plan a separate, restorable copy; keep important files off-site and disconnect removable backup media between updates. | If my computer fails or an incident affects connected devices, I need a copy I can still restore. Around 36% of consumers put recoverability first. |
| Archive capacity | Measure the folders to protect and allow room for expected growth and any versions you want to retain. | As my photo and document collection grows, I want the complete archive and its intended history to fit. Roughly 29% of consumers prioritise archive capacity. |
| Portability and transfers | Check the connector, cable and supported USB mode; assess any protection claim for the exact model. | When I carry files between places, transfer time and how the drive travels matter to me. Around 21% of consumers make portability and transfers their primary concern. |
| Shared home access | Check device access, upkeep and the NAS backup destination before choosing central storage. | With files spread across household devices, I want a central place to manage them without relying on it as my only copy. About 14% of consumers prioritise shared access. |
A connected backup can be affected alongside the original files, while a drive kept in the same home cannot protect against every local incident.
Follow the National Cyber Security Centre’s advice to keep copies in separate locations, including an off-site copy for important files, and disconnect removable media when you are not updating it.
A drive must fit the files and versions you intend to retain. An SSD’s quoted maximum speed also depends on the computer, cable and supported connection mode; Samsung specifies these conditions for the T7 Shield.
Measure your backup set, then check the exact drive capacity and your computer’s connection before paying for a speed or size you may not use.
Synology warns that RAID failure and drive failure can still cause data loss. Several drives in one NAS are not an independent copy elsewhere.
Arrange and test a backup to a separate external drive, cloud destination or remote location, and keep the information needed to restore it.
A portable drive containing financial records can be misplaced, and ordinary deletion may leave information recoverable when storage media changes hands.
Consider encryption or password protection suited to the files, safeguard recovery credentials and follow National Cyber Security Centre guidance on sanitising storage before disposal.
Samsung’s T7 Shield is a portable SSD option for frequent transfers and carrying a local copy. The range includes 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB variants.
Seagate’s Expansion range includes portable 2 TB and 4 TB drives and desktop models listed from 4 TB to 30 TB, offering different ways to keep a local archive.
Synology’s NAS route is relevant when a household wants central storage and configured backups for several devices.
These portable SSDs and hard drives suit local copies that you may carry or move between compatible devices. Check capacity and connection against your own files and computer, and arrange another location for irreplaceable records.
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Consider this portable drive if you regularly carry a local copy or transfer large folders. It has 1 TB capacity and USB Type-C with USB 3.2 Gen 2; Samsung’s quoted maximum speeds require compatible hardware, cable and UASP support. Its IP65 claim is not a reason to submerge it, and liquid, dust and drop damage are not covered by Samsung’s stated warranty terms.
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This is a portable local-archive option if 2 TB accommodates your intended files and retained versions. Its listing specifies USB 3.2 Gen 1, scheduled-backup software and optional password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Check the required formatting or driver setup for your computer, particularly for macOS.
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Consider this 4 TB portable SSD when a larger local copy also needs to travel. The listing specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2, includes USB-C-to-C and USB-C-to-A cables, and quotes read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s; check your host connection for speed compatibility. Unlike the T7 Shield, this T7 listing does not give it an IP water-resistance rating.
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This portable hard drive is positioned for a larger Mac-based local archive, subject to whether 5 TB fits your files and backup versions. The listing specifies macOS 11+, USB-C with an included USB-A adapter, and password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. It describes Windows use as requiring a downloadable HFS+ driver, so check the setup before buying for Windows.
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Consider this 4 TB portable hard drive for a computer-connected local copy when that capacity fits your archive. The listing specifies USB 3.2 Gen 1, an included USB-A cable and automatic recognition by Windows 10 or later. Other operating systems may require reformatting; confirm the setup before transferring files.
No: an external drive is one copy, not a complete plan for irreplaceable files. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping backups in separate locations, considering both cloud and removable-media copies, and disconnecting removable media when it is not in use.
Choose a portable SSD if carrying the drive and frequent large-file transfers matter most; consider a portable or desktop hard drive for a local archive when slower transfers are acceptable. Which? describes hard drives as suited to long-term computer-file backup and SSDs as generally faster, but either route still needs a separate copy of important files.
Measure the photo libraries, documents and device backups you intend to copy, then allow for growth and any older versions you plan to keep. Choose a capacity against that total rather than assuming a particular number of terabytes will suit every household.
No. Synology warns that RAID failure and hard-drive failure can still cause data loss, and recommends backing up the NAS to a different destination.
Consider encryption when a removable drive containing sensitive records could be lost or stolen, and keep its recovery credentials somewhere you can access them. The Information Commissioner’s Office discusses encryption as a security measure for removable media; its guidance does not say that UK GDPR specifically requires encryption of all personal information.