Choose storage for the job: an external hard disk drive (HDD) suits a growing archive kept mainly at home, a portable solid-state drive (SSD) suits frequent large-file transfers, cloud storage provides an off-site route, and a USB flash drive is mainly for carrying selected files. For photos and records you cannot replace, combine separate copies rather than relying on one drive or one account; check that you can restore files and regain access to the account.
If losing family photos, videos or important records would be hard to recover from, prioritise separate copies and an off-site location. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping at least three copies on two devices, with one copy off-site.
A photo and video archive kept mainly at home calls for enough capacity for the current library and room to grow. A larger local drive can hold a copy, but it does not protect that copy from an incident affecting the same location.
If you regularly move photo or video projects between devices, check transfer requirements alongside capacity. A portable SSD may suit that work, provided the intended devices and cables support its connection.
Decide how you would recover important files before choosing a device for capacity or transfers. Then check the files you need to store, the devices you use and whether account access or offline availability matters.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable copies | Where each copy is kept, whether one is off-site and whether you can restore a file. | If my photos cannot be recreated, I need a way back after a drive failure or local incident. Around 33% of consumers put recovery across separate copies first. |
| Capacity growth | The size of your current library, room for growth and the storage allowance of any cloud plan. | As my video and photo library grows, I need space for the files I intend to keep. Capacity is the primary concern for roughly 25% of consumers. |
| Portable transfers | Device ports, cable capability and the conditions attached to rated transfer speeds. | When I move large projects between devices, waiting for transfers affects my work. Around 17% of consumers make portable transfer speed their main priority. |
| Moving selected files | Whether the intended devices need USB-A, USB-C or both, and whether they can read the files. | I may only need to carry a few files between devices with different ports, not move my whole archive. For about 8% of consumers, that file-carrying need comes first. |
| Privacy and account access | Protection on a portable drive and recovery options for any cloud account you rely on. | If a drive goes missing or I lose access to my account, I want to protect personal files without losing my route back to them. This is the leading concern for around 17% of consumers. |
A larger drive still holds just one physical copy, which could be lost with the computer or affected by the same local incident.
Follow the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance to keep copies on separate devices, including one off-site. Disconnect a local backup when it is not needed, and try restoring a file.
A rated maximum may require a particular host connection and cable, so it may not describe transfers on your own device.
Check the SSD’s stated speed conditions against every computer or phone and cable you plan to use.
Microsoft says OneDrive Files On-Demand can keep files online-only. Those files need an internet connection when you open them.
Make essential files available offline where the service supports it, then check access before travelling or removing another copy.
Downloaded offline copies also use local device storage.
A misplaced portable drive could expose personal material. The Information Commissioner’s Office identifies encryption as particularly useful against unauthorised access when a storage device is lost or stolen.
Check the exact model’s protection options, keep any required credentials safely and maintain a separate backup.
The One Touch HDD range is relevant to local photo and file archives kept mainly at home.
The portable T7 SSD range is relevant when large-file transfers matter; T7 Shield variants add carrying protection claims.
The Extreme Portable SSD range is relevant to people carrying photo and video files between locations.
DataTraveler and IronKey flash drives are relevant to carrying selected files between devices.
iCloud is relevant to households that want an Apple-account route for device backup and access.
Google Photos is relevant when automatic photo and video backup to a Google Account fits the household’s devices.
OneDrive is relevant to Windows households using cloud access for PC files and folders.
These options cover external HDDs for local copies, portable SSDs for moving larger files and a USB flash drive for carrying selected files. Keep a separate off-site copy of files you cannot replace.
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A portable SSD to consider when you regularly move large photo or video files. The named variant has 1 TB capacity and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection; check that your device and cable support the connection you need. Keep another copy of important files.
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A portable HDD to consider for a sizeable local archive. This is the 5 TB Mac variant; if you also use Windows, confirm file-system compatibility and whether additional software is needed. A second, separate copy remains important for recovery.
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A portable SSD to consider for moving a larger working library between devices. This variant has 2 TB capacity and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection; check the intended ports and cable against Samsung’s conditions for its rated transfer speeds. It is not a separate-copy backup on its own.
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A 4 TB local-drive option for a growing home file library. The product name specifies USB 3.0; check connection and file-system compatibility with the computer you intend to back up, and keep an off-site copy of important files.
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A 512 GB option for carrying selected files between devices with USB-A and USB-C ports. Check that the intended devices can read the files, and keep a separate backup rather than using a small transfer drive as the only copy.
Not by itself if it leaves you dependent on one account or one recoverable copy. The National Cyber Security Centre advises at least three copies on two devices, with one off-site; check what your cloud service retains after deletion and try restoring a file.
Start with the size of the files you intend to keep, then allow room for future photos, video and edited copies. Check that each backup destination can hold the files you will need to restore, rather than choosing on capacity alone.
Not on every setup. Samsung says its T7 maximum rated speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2-compatible host and cable with UASP enabled, so check the connection on each device you plan to use.
Check which files are included, set up account recovery and make sure you can restore an essential file. Apple says users of its Advanced Data Protection need a Recovery Contact or Recovery Key because Apple does not hold the decryption keys.
Consider encryption when a drive carrying personal files could be lost or stolen. The Information Commissioner’s Office says encryption is especially effective against unauthorised access in that situation; keep any recovery credentials safe and maintain another copy of the files.