Households backing up one computer
If photos and documents mainly live on one PC or Mac, a removable drive can hold a local copy. Decide whether you can keep to a backup routine and whether that copy also needs an off-site counterpart.
Who is each approach for?
The National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy of important data kept in a separate, safe location. How you create and maintain that separation depends on the files and devices in your household.
Families protecting hard-to-replace files
For family photos and personal records that would be difficult to recreate, consider a copy away from the computer and the home. The National Cyber Security Centre warns that connected USB and network-storage backups have been affected alongside original files in ransomware incidents.
Households sharing files across devices
Network-attached storage, or NAS, can serve people using several devices. It calls for someone to manage the storage and a separate backup destination; a shared NAS at home is not itself an off-site copy.
What should you check before choosing?
Work out which files need copying and how you will restore them, then choose the storage and backup routine you can maintain.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Backup coverage | Identify photo libraries, document folders and files kept outside the computer’s usual folders. Confirm that the chosen backup method copies those locations and that you can restore the files you need. | I want my photos and documents covered, not just a drive with enough space to hold them. |
| Separation | Plan when a local drive will be disconnected and where another copy will be kept. The National Cyber Security Centre warns that connected USB and network storage can be affected in the same ransomware incident as the computer. | If something happens to my computer or home, I need a copy that is not exposed in the same way. |
| Capacity | Measure the files to be backed up, decide whether videos and archives belong in the set, and allow for future additions. Compare that requirement with the exact drive capacity rather than the computer’s total internal capacity. | My photo library is growing, so the space I buy needs to cover the files I will actually copy. |
| Drive use | For an external HDD or SSD, check capacity, the computer’s USB connection and the intended backup routine. If you will carry the drive or transfer large files often, compare specifications for the exact models rather than assuming all SSDs or HDDs behave alike. | I may move the backup between locations, or I may leave it stored safely between updates. |
| Shared storage | If considering NAS, check device access, backup scheduling and where a second copy will go. Synology documents versioned backups and different restore destinations for its Hyper Backup system, but the setup still needs maintaining. | Several people need access to files, and someone in the household can look after the storage and its backups. |
| Cloud recovery | Check which computer files a service backs up, account security, version history and deleted-file recovery. Backblaze documents a default 30-day version history for its personal backup service; the chosen service and plan determine the applicable options. | I would value an automatic off-site copy, but I also need to know how to recover an older or deleted file. |
Backup mistakes to avoid
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Leaving the only backup drive connected
The National Cyber Security Centre has described ransomware incidents affecting connected USB and network-storage backups along with original files.
Disconnect a removable backup after updating it, and consider an off-site copy for files you cannot readily replace.
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Choosing capacity from the computer’s drive size
The computer’s total storage size does not tell you how much space the photos, documents and other files selected for backup require.
Measure those files, include any video or archive folders you intend to keep, and leave room for the collection to grow.
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Assuming cloud files remain recoverable indefinitely
Recovery depends on the service and the type of change. Backblaze documents a default 30-day version history; Microsoft documents 30 days of OneDrive file version history, while Apple documents 30 days to recover recently deleted iCloud Drive files.
Check the selected service’s version and deletion settings before relying on the account as your only off-site copy.
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Treating a NAS at home as an off-site backup
A NAS can help organise shared files and backups, but one kept at home remains at that location. The National Cyber Security Centre also warns about exposure affecting connected network storage.
If you choose NAS, plan a separate external, remote or cloud backup destination and check that you can restore from it.
Relevant brand references
These examples illustrate different backup routes; a brand’s features apply to the particular range, model or service described, not every product it offers.
Western Digital
Western Digital presents its external HDD range for home storage, including family photos and regular backups.
- Its external drives are relevant when the aim is a removable local copy.
- Check capacity, connection and backup software for the exact drive; an HDD range is not a single specification.
Samsung
Samsung’s UK T7 Shield page presents a portable SSD for transferring and carrying files.
- Samsung advertises drop resistance and water and dust resistance for the T7 Shield model.
- Those manufacturer claims should not be applied to every Samsung SSD or treated as a reason to leave a backup connected.
Synology
Synology documents Hyper Backup features for managing copies from compatible NAS setups.
- Its documentation describes restoring data from different points in time and to different destinations.
- A household still needs suitable NAS hardware, storage disks and a separate backup destination.
Backblaze
Backblaze presents its personal cloud-backup service as an automatic copy for files on a Mac or PC.
- An off-site service can complement a local drive without relying on someone to connect that drive for every update.
- Backblaze documents a default 30-day version history; check the selected plan’s retention and restore options.
External drives on Joybuy
These portable SSDs and one portable HDD are options for making a local copy of household photos and documents. Choose capacity against your own file collection, and plan separately for a disconnected or off-site copy.
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Samsung Portable SSD T7 4 TB Grey
A portable local-copy option if 4 TB accommodates the files you intend to back up and room for growth. The product name specifies USB Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2; check the connection against your computer before buying.
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Samsung Portable SSD T7 2 TB Grey
This portable SSD offers a stated 2 TB for a local file copy. Measure your backup set before choosing it; its product name specifies USB Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2, so check your computer’s connection too.
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Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD 1 TB Blue
Consider this portable SSD for a local copy only if its stated 1 TB leaves enough room for the files you plan to protect. The product name specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2; check the connection and do not treat a carried drive as a substitute for an off-site copy.
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Western Digital My Passport Ultra portable HDD 5 TB Blue
This 5 TB portable hard drive is a local-copy option for a photo and document collection that fits its capacity with room to grow. Check the computer connection and any formatting or backup-software setup you need before relying on it.
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SanDisk Portable SSD 2 TB
This portable SSD provides a stated 2 TB for a local file copy. Check that your photo and document collection fits with room for growth, and confirm the connector and computer compatibility before buying.
Common questions
Can one external hard drive be my only photo backup?
An external hard drive can hold a separate local copy, but one that remains connected shares some risks with the computer. The National Cyber Security Centre has described ransomware affecting connected USB backups; disconnect the drive between updates and consider an off-site copy for hard-to-replace files.
Should I choose an HDD or an SSD for household photos?
Start with the size of the collection and how you will use the drive. An external HDD can serve a local backup kept mostly at home; consider a portable SSD if you will move the drive or transfer large files frequently. Compare the exact models’ capacities and connections rather than assuming either category fits every routine.
Does a cloud copy remove the need for a local backup?
Not necessarily. A cloud copy can provide an off-site layer, while a disconnected local drive gives you a copy that does not depend on the same account. Check the cloud service’s backup coverage, account protection and recovery options before deciding how much to rely on it.
How long can I recover a deleted cloud file?
The period depends on the service, the action taken and the plan. Apple documents 30 days to recover recently deleted iCloud Drive files; Microsoft documents 30 days of OneDrive file version history, and Backblaze documents a default 30-day version history. Check the relevant deletion and version rules for the service you choose.