Choose a backup route by deciding where a recoverable copy will live. An external drive provides local storage, a portable SSD suits frequent carrying and copying, a NAS can serve several household devices, and cloud storage can place a copy off-site. For irreplaceable photos and videos, do not rely on one permanently connected copy: keep a separate copy and check how you would restore it.
If family photos, videos and documents are steadily filling your devices, allow room for growth and make sure you can restore a folder after a device fails. The National Cyber Security Centre describes both external media and online storage as backup destinations.
If you carry large folders between locations, check the drive’s capacity, connector and compatibility with each device you use. A drive you carry is still a local copy unless another copy remains somewhere separate.
If you want an off-site copy and remote access, check what your account captures, how its storage is shared and how you would regain access. Apple’s Advanced Data Protection makes recovery methods particularly important because Apple says it cannot recover the data protected by that setting for you.
Decide first how a copy will survive the loss of your everyday device, then check capacity and the steps needed to restore your files. Portability, automatic capture and account recovery may change which combination of local and off-site storage works for you.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Separate recovery copy | Check where each copy lives and whether a local drive can be disconnected between backups. Try restoring a folder, not just opening an individual file. | If my computer is lost or compromised, I need a copy the same incident cannot easily reach. Around 28% of consumers put this recovery concern first. |
| Capacity as the library grows | Measure the files you intend to back up, leave room for growth and check whether a cloud allowance is shared with other services. | A growing collection of videos makes me wary of choosing space that only fits today’s files; for around 22% of consumers, capacity is the primary concern. |
| Portable copying and local restoration | Check capacity and the connectors on both drive and device. Treat advertised transfer speeds as specifications, not promised backup times. | When I move large folders between locations, I want a drive I can carry and use with my devices. That is the leading need for around 22% of consumers. |
| Automatic capture and remote access | Confirm which folders and devices are covered, whether files are synchronised, and what restoration options your plan provides. | I am likely to miss a manual backup, so I want selected files captured automatically and accessible away from home. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Privacy and account recovery | Check the provider’s encryption and recovery settings before relying on a cloud copy. Keep any recovery key or contact arrangement usable. | If my off-site copy depends on an account, I need to know I can regain access without undermining my privacy choices; around 11% of consumers place that need first. |
The National Cyber Security Centre has reported incidents in which ransomware affected both original files and connected USB or network storage. A drive beside the computer also does not provide an off-site copy.
Keep at least one copy separate or off-site, and disconnect removable backup media when it is not being used.
Google says the storage allowance on a Google Account is shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Other files and email can therefore use space you had intended for photos and videos.
Check total account usage and leave room for the library to grow before choosing a storage plan.
Restoration depends on the service and plan. Microsoft says OneDrive’s full point-in-time restoration is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers within its stated 30-day window; permanently deleted Recycle Bin files cannot be recovered through it.
Check which folders are captured, how deletions and earlier versions are handled, and whether you need another independent copy.
Apple says it cannot recover iCloud data protected by Advanced Data Protection because it does not hold the necessary encryption keys.
Set up and securely retain the required recovery contact and/or recovery key before relying on that setting for an off-site copy.
Its Backup Plus Portable range is a local hard-drive option for photo, video and file copies.
Its external SSD range includes desktop storage for local copies of large libraries.
Its NAS systems can provide shared household storage, with separate destinations available for backing up the NAS itself.
OneDrive offers Windows folder synchronisation and remote access for selected files.
iCloud is a storage route for Apple-device users considering an off-site copy and account-level privacy settings.
These portable SSDs and hard drives can hold a local copy of a photo and video library. Choose capacity and device compatibility for your files, then plan a separate copy if you need protection beyond the drive’s location.
No image available
Consider this portable local drive if you carry a copy between locations; check that 2 TB leaves enough room for your files to grow.
Portable SSD; 2 TB capacity. Keep another copy separately if this drive would otherwise be your only backup.
No image available
This is a portable local-copy option if 1 TB accommodates your intended backup and future additions.
USB 3.2 Gen 2; blue variant. Check the connection on your device, and keep a separate backup rather than relying on this drive alone.
No image available
Consider this portable hard drive for a larger local library, while checking its file-system and connection requirements for your computer.
5 TB capacity; for Mac variant in silver. Store a further copy separately if the drive stays near your main device.
No image available
This portable SSD may suit a compatible iPhone 15/16 or computer setup; confirm the connection and file format before making it part of your backup routine.
1 TB; USB 3.2 Gen 2. The product name states up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write, not guaranteed backup completion speeds. It lists compatibility with iPhone 15/16, PC, Mac, Type-C laptops, tablets, PS5 and PS4.
No image available
Consider this hard drive when you need a 4 TB local destination for a growing library; confirm that its connection and file format suit your device.
Portable external drive; USB 3.0; black variant. Disconnect it between backups and keep another copy separately if you need off-site recovery.
Do not make one external hard drive your only recovery copy, especially if it stays connected to the same computer. The National Cyber Security Centre advises considering both online and external-device backups and disconnecting removable backup media when it is not in use.
Recovery depends on the service, plan and how long ago the change happened. Microsoft says full OneDrive restoration is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers for actions within the last 30 days, but permanently deleted Recycle Bin files cannot be recovered through that feature.
Set up and securely retain a recovery contact and/or recovery key before relying on it. Apple says it does not hold the keys needed to recover data protected by Advanced Data Protection if you lose access.
Google says each Google Account includes up to 15 GB shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Check total account usage, not just the size of your photo library, when deciding how much space you need.