For family photos and documents, use an automatic local backup alongside a separate off-site copy rather than relying on a single synchronised folder or connected drive. An external drive suits a large local archive, cloud storage provides an off-site location, and a NAS can serve several household devices; whichever route you choose, check which files and earlier versions you can restore.
If losing the PC or a drive would also mean losing family files, keep a recoverable copy somewhere else. A local drive makes routine copies convenient; an off-site copy protects against an incident affecting storage at home. The National Cyber Security Centre recommends keeping at least one backup off-site.
For extensive photo, video and PC-file collections, total the files before choosing capacity and consider how long an initial cloud upload would take. Microsoft identifies external or network storage as an option when there are large files or many files. If the drive will be carried or used for frequent transfers, compare an SSD’s model-specific features with those of an HDD.
A network-attached storage device, or NAS, can provide one local destination for files from several devices, provided someone can set it up and maintain it. Synology cautions that RAID and Synology Hybrid RAID are not backups: the NAS still needs a separate backup destination.
Start with the files and recovery situations that matter, then choose local and off-site destinations that can cover them.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier versions | Check whether individual files can be restored; which folders are included; and how long deleted or changed versions remain available. | I want to recover an overwritten document or deleted photo, not just the latest synchronised copy. Microsoft documents previous-version restore in File History; retention for a cloud service needs checking separately. |
| Separate copies | Identify which copy remains available if the PC and an attached drive are affected together. Plan when to update and disconnect an offline drive. | If something happens at home, I need a copy elsewhere. The National Cyber Security Centre describes a three-copy approach across two devices, with one copy off-site. |
| Capacity and upload | Total the folders and external archives to be protected; allow for growth; check the drive or cloud allowance and whether the initial upload is practical. | Our photos and videos need room to grow, and a large first upload may not suit our connection. Microsoft notes that external or network storage may suit large files or numerous files. |
| File access and privacy | Review cloud sharing and account controls; check the exact drive’s encryption options and how access is recovered if a password is lost. | I want family documents accessible to the right people without leaving a portable copy unprotected if it goes missing. |
| Recovery scope | Confirm which personal folders are copied, whether earlier versions can be restored, and whether a separate Windows recovery procedure is needed. | Restoring a photo is different from getting Windows running after replacing a drive. Microsoft describes File History, Windows Backup and Recovery Drive as tools with different purposes. |
A drive left attached can be affected by the same incident as the PC. The National Cyber Security Centre has reported ransomware incidents involving connected USB and network backup drives.
Keep another copy off-site or disconnected when it is not being updated, and try restoring an important file.
Photos, videos and files in other folders can make the backup set much larger than expected. A destination that fills cannot hold the intended copies.
Measure all folders and archives you intend to protect, then allow for new files and any retained versions.
Synology states that RAID and Synology Hybrid RAID are not backup solutions. Drive-failure tolerance does not create a separately stored copy.
Set up another destination for NAS data and check that you can restore from it.
A NAS also needs setup and ongoing maintenance, plus storage for its separate backup.
Microsoft’s Recovery Drive creates Windows recovery media; it is not, by itself, an archive of the household’s photos and documents.
Decide whether you need to restore a file, an earlier version or Windows after a drive replacement, then test the procedure for each outcome.
These examples illustrate different backup routes; features should be checked for the particular product or service being considered.
External HDDs for households planning a large local file copy.
Portable SSDs for a local copy that will be moved or used for frequent transfers.
NAS hardware and backup software for households managing shared local storage.
Windows file-backup tools and OneDrive folder synchronisation.
A dedicated cloud computer-backup route rather than just a synchronised folder.
These Joybuy drives offer local storage for household files. Each would need a suitable backup routine, and a drive kept at home does not by itself provide an off-site copy.
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A portable local destination to consider for a large photo or video archive that is moved between devices. The product name specifies USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2; check the household computer’s connection, the included cable and how the chosen backup method restores earlier files.
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A portable HDD option for a local copy of documents and photos. Check that 2TB covers the files and their expected growth; if you use a Mac, confirm the exact setup requirements before choosing a backup routine.
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A portable local-copy option if 2TB accommodates the files you plan to protect. Confirm its connector and compatibility with the household computer, and choose a backup method that covers the folders and earlier versions you need.
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A 4TB portable HDD to consider for a sizeable local archive. Its product name specifies USB 3.0; confirm compatibility and any formatting needed for your computer, then arrange a separate copy away from the drive.
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A desktop local-storage option for a large household archive when portability is less important. Plan for a fixed location and its power adapter, and keep another recoverable copy separate from this drive and the PC.
Do not assume it is. Microsoft says Windows Backup synchronises selected folders to OneDrive, so check which files are included, whether deleted or changed versions can be restored, and how long they remain available. Keep an independent copy for files you cannot replace.
Add up every folder and archive you intend to protect, including photos and videos outside the usual PC folders, then allow room for growth and retained versions. Microsoft notes that external or network storage may suit large files or numerous files; check that any chosen cloud allowance also covers the intended set.
For a large archive that will stay in one place, compare HDD capacity with the size of your files. If you will carry the drive or transfer large files frequently, compare portable SSD capacity, connections and model-specific features instead. Neither type becomes an off-site backup while it stays beside the PC.
No. Synology explicitly states that RAID and Synology Hybrid RAID are not backup solutions. A NAS used for household files still needs another backup destination and a restore procedure you can use.
Keep at least one recoverable copy separate from the PC, and avoid leaving every backup drive connected continuously. The National Cyber Security Centre recommends an off-site copy and warns that connected backups can be affected in ransomware incidents. For a portable drive holding sensitive documents, check its encryption and password-recovery options before use.