Choose a USB external drive when one computer is your main place for managing files and you want a simple separate local copy. Choose a NAS when several people or devices need shared access and you are prepared for drives, network setup and administration; keep another separate destination because RAID or one storage device is not a complete backup plan. The National Cyber Security Centre recommends keeping important data in a separate location, including removable media or cloud storage.
You need enough capacity for photos and videos, a clear way to collect files from phones and computers, and a separate copy if the main device is lost, damaged or inaccessible. A NAS is relevant when shared network access and automation justify the extra hardware and administration. Guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre and Synology documentation supports these checks.
If you mainly manage documents and photos on one PC or Mac, a straightforward USB destination may fit better than a shared server. Check the connection type, cable or adapter, backup schedule and file-system compatibility for every computer you use. This reflects guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre, Western Digital Support and Seagate.
Keep an accessible, organised copy of files that would cause disruption if unavailable. A separate local copy plus another destination is more resilient than treating one drive, RAID array or synchronised folder as the only safeguard, as advised by the National Cyber Security Centre and Synology.
Start by deciding what must be recoverable, then check capacity, device compatibility and whether you need shared access rather than a direct-attached drive.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Separate copies | Choose a destination separate from the computer or phone; decide whether it can be disconnected when not backing up; test restoring a small sample of files. | I want important photos and records to remain available if I lose access to the main device. The National Cyber Security Centre advises storing a backup in a separate safe location. |
| Capacity and growth | Measure the folders, videos and device backups you plan to protect; allow room for expected growth; check whether version history will use additional space. | My backup needs to cover more than today’s visible photo folder, including documents, videos or whole-device backups where needed. |
| Device compatibility | Check the physical connector, supplied cable, USB version and direct-versus-hub connection; confirm the required Windows and macOS read/write format before use. | I need to move files between the devices that create and manage them without discovering an incompatible port or read-only format. Western Digital Support notes that formatting erases existing contents. |
| Shared access and upkeep | For NAS, include compatible internal SATA drives, Ethernet, power and initial software setup; retain another backup destination even if the NAS uses RAID or snapshots. | Several people or devices may need one central library, but I should choose a NAS only if shared access is worth the setup and ongoing administration. |
A drive connected to a computer can be affected by the same incident, and Synology states that RAID crashes and drive failures can still result in data loss.
Keep the original files, maintain a separate backup copy and add an off-site or otherwise separated copy where the importance of the files warrants it. Test that selected files can be restored.
A NAS is not simply a larger external drive. Installing drives can format them, while network and software configuration are part of the initial setup.
Plan the enclosure, compatible drives and another backup destination together. Copy existing files elsewhere before installing a previously used drive, then complete setup and a test restore before moving the only copy of important files.
A bare NAS enclosure needs compatible internal SATA drive storage, and setup takes time for network and account administration.
A USB-A drive may need a suitable cable or adapter for a USB-C-only computer, USB 2.0 can slow transfers, and some formats limit normal writing between operating systems.
Check each computer and phone workflow before purchase: physical port, supplied cable, USB version, direct connection or hub use, and required read/write operating systems. Back up existing data before reformatting because formatting deletes it.
Flash storage is easy to misplace and is more practical for limited removable copies than as the only destination for a growing archive.
Reserve a flash drive for selected documents or an additional transfer copy. Use an external drive, NAS or cloud-plus-local workflow for the main photo and record archive.
Relevant for portable direct-attached storage, including the My Passport portable HDD range for carrying and backing up photos, videos and documents.
Relevant for portable USB hard-drive storage, including the Expansion Portable family, when you want a direct-attached backup destination without NAS setup.
Relevant for people considering NAS for central household files, shared access and automated photo or document workflows over a home network.
These Joybuy options cover portable external storage, a NAS for shared household access and USB flash storage for limited supplementary copies of photos and digital records.
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A direct-attached option for carrying photo and record copies between compatible personal devices.
Stated 1TB capacity, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-C-to-C and USB-C-to-A cables, and stated sequential speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s.
Check that 1TB covers the files, growth and any version history you need, and confirm the supplied file system for cross-platform read/write use. Keep another appropriately separate copy for important files.
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Suitable for scheduled local copying from a main computer where a portable direct-attached drive fits the routine.
Stated 2TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity, USB bus power and bundled backup software with configurable schedules.
The stated default format is NTFS, with macOS write access requiring additional compatibility software. Confirm the setup for every intended computer and retain a separate backup destination where appropriate.
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A larger direct-attached destination for a growing home archive of photos, videos and documents.
Stated 4TB capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 connectivity, plug-and-play operation and an included 5Gbps USB-A cable.
The supplied cable uses USB-A and the drive connector is Micro-B, so check ports and adapter needs. Reformatting may be needed for Mac or other operating systems and deletes existing contents.
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A network-storage option for households that want central file access and are ready to administer a separate system.
The listing states a two-bay diskless design, shared file access, automated backup functions, RAID, snapshots and remote access.
Internal drives are required and installed capacity depends on the drives chosen. Confirm network installation, device compatibility and account workflow; RAID and snapshots do not replace another backup destination.
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Use this type of removable drive for a selected document set or an additional transport copy rather than a growing main archive.
Stated 512GB capacity, USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 interface and up to 400 MB/s read speed.
Check USB-C adapter needs and the supplied file system before relying on it across devices. Its compact format is easy to misplace, so keep it as an additional limited copy.
Measure the folders and device backups you intend to protect, then allow room for foreseeable growth and any backup history you plan to keep. The National Cyber Security Centre notes that a backup can cover selected files or an entire device, so include videos, documents and device backups where relevant.
Yes, if its format and write-access requirements suit both systems. Western Digital Support states that exFAT can be read and written by Windows and macOS, while NTFS mounts read-only on macOS; copy existing data elsewhere before formatting because formatting is destructive.
No. A NAS can centralise files and may provide RAID, snapshots or local versioning, but Synology states that RAID crashes and hard-drive failures can still cause loss. Keep another destination, such as an external drive or appropriately configured cloud backup, and consider an off-site or disconnected copy.
A NAS enclosure generally needs compatible internal SATA drive storage, a network connection, power and operating-system setup. Synology’s DS223j documentation requires at least one SATA drive, warns that installing a drive containing data formats it, and describes LAN connection plus DSM installation.
It is convenient for automatic backups, but it can expose the backup to the same incident as the computer. The National Cyber Security Centre reports ransomware incidents affecting connected USB and network storage and advises keeping at least one backup offline or digitally disconnected when not in use.