Choose an external HDD if you mainly need a separate, offline copy of a large photo and document library; choose an external SSD if you regularly move large files or carry the drive. Cloud storage suits access across devices when your internet connection and account recovery are dependable. For irreplaceable files, keeping both a local and a cloud copy provides two recovery routes, but you still need to protect each copy and test that you can restore files.
An external drive suits someone who wants a local copy of a growing photo or document library without needing internet access to retrieve it. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping important backup data in a separate safe location.
Someone who frequently carries a drive and transfers sizeable files may favour an external SSD. Which? describes SSDs as generally faster than HDDs; check the connection and capacity of the particular drive before choosing.
Cloud storage suits someone who wants to reach photos or documents from a computer, phone or tablet when connected to the internet. Account recovery matters too: Google Account Help describes recovery details that can help restore access to a Google account.
Decide whether offline retrieval, frequent transfers, access across devices or more than one recovery route matters most to you; then check that the option works with your devices and connection.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Local capacity and offline access | Compare drive capacity with your current library and its expected growth. Check the laptop connection and keep the copy in a separate safe location. | If my laptop is full, I want room for my photo library and a copy I can retrieve without an internet connection; around 25% of consumers put local capacity and offline access first. |
| Transfers and portability | Check the exact drive’s connection, included cable and device compatibility. Which? describes SSDs as generally faster and less vulnerable to knocks than HDDs. | A drive I carry needs to handle repeated large-file transfers without the moving parts of an HDD; roughly 19% of consumers prioritise transfer speed and portability. |
| Access and automatic backup | Check whether your connection can support uploads and restores, and whether the service’s capacity, backup settings and account-recovery options meet your needs. | When I need a document on my phone as well as my laptop, I want an accessible copy that can be backed up automatically; around 31% of consumers place cross-device access and automation first. |
| More than one recovery route | Keep a copy separate from the laptop and test a restore. Check security and account recovery for the exact service and protection for the local drive. | For irreplaceable photos, I do not want one lost drive or inaccessible account to be my only recovery path; approximately 25% of consumers make multiple recovery routes their primary concern. |
A copy that is lost or affected alongside the laptop may not help you recover your files. The National Cyber Security Centre advises storing important backup data in a separate safe location.
Keep at least one copy separate from the laptop and try restoring representative photos and documents.
Which? describes HDDs as generally slower than SSDs and more susceptible to bumps because they have moving parts.
If you regularly carry the drive or copy large batches of files, compare an external SSD as well as checking capacity and device compatibility.
Accessing cloud files depends on an internet connection, which also affects how long an upload or restore takes.
Check your connection, the service’s capacity and what retrieving your files would involve before relying on a cloud copy alone.
The National Cyber Security Centre warns that local and cloud backups are not ransomware resistant by default.
Protect the device and account, check the service’s recovery and deletion controls, and maintain a separate copy that you have tested.
Seagate has external HDD and SSD lines relevant to local photo and document backups.
Western Digital is an external-drive brand to consider when comparing local backup options.
SanDisk is relevant when comparing portable SSDs for files carried between devices.
Google is relevant to account-based cloud storage for photos and documents.
It can hold a copy, but leaving the drive with the laptop increases the chance that both are affected by the same incident. Keep a backup in a separate safe location, as the National Cyber Security Centre advises, and check that you can restore files from it.
An HDD suits longer-term local backup when frequent large transfers and carrying the drive are less important; an SSD suits regular transfers and travel. Which? describes SSDs as generally faster and less susceptible to knocks, but check the exact drive’s capacity and compatibility.
Cloud storage can be your main route if you have dependable internet access and need files across devices, but recovery then depends on access to the account and service. For irreplaceable files, a separate local copy gives you another route if the cloud copy cannot be reached.
Check the specific provider’s privacy, security, retention and account-recovery terms before uploading them. Set up the recovery and sign-in protections available for your account; Google Account Help, for example, explains how recovery details can help you regain access.
Use your operating system’s eject function before unplugging the drive. Which? advises safe ejection to help prevent data corruption.