Cloud Storage Vs External Hard Drive: Which Is Better?

Backing up your computer or laptop’s data grows more and more important by the day. From malware attacks to hard disk failures, having a backup storage space will ensure that you don’t lose any important files on your device.

Copying your data to an external hard drive was deemed the most effective and cost-efficient method for a long time. Now the landscape has changed significantly and a variety of storage options have appeared on the market, making things even more confusing. 

Cloud storage has surged in popularity in recent years. With quick and efficient response times and endless storage plans, it’s a solid competitor in the field. Many cloud storage systems have endless backup and sync features to ensure that you’re never left without the latest copy of your files. 

At Manchester PC, we understand the importance of keeping your important files and data safe and secure. Here are some factors to consider when looking into the cloud and external hard drive storage systems:

Security

One major problem that occurred with cloud storage was optimal security. Cloud users would lose their data to hackers, resulting in data breaches and loss of files. However, cloud security has greatly improved in recent years and reports of these data breaches are rarely heard of.

Many cloud servers now offer uncrackable 256 AES encryption to protect your data before it leaves your device. There’s also an option known as zero-knowledge encryption that requires an encryption key to access your storage – meaning hackers can’t unlock it. 

The security on an external hard drive is still a very strong option for most buyers. Hackers cannot access your files unless your hard drive is connected to a computer. However, the reliability can outweigh its strong security, with many hard drives failing before the end of their warranty period – something to consider if you keep hold of important files for long periods of time.

Universal Access

If you find backing up data a challenging task, there’s a chance that you do it infrequently. If so, it’s important to consider storage systems that run seamlessly from any device. 

Cloud storage is the most efficient when it comes to accessibility. The only feature you need for cloud storage to run smoothly and effortlessly across multiple devices is a strong internet connection – or as long as you have a strong mobile data plan. 

Files can be accessed online and from anywhere in the world, certainly the best storage option for people constantly on the move.

External hard drives require a more manual setup. To access your storage, you need to be able to plug in the hard drive and connect your data to the computer as well as having a strong internet connection. 

It’s certainly not an easy setup for those who travel frequently as the more storage available with a hard drive, the heavier they tend to be.

Sync Technology

Cloud storage allows you to constantly sync your files, keeping them backed up at all times. Sync technology, that’s featured on many cloud storage plans, allows all backup features to run in the background and automatically updates any new or modified files to your storage space. 

Therefore, there’s no need to worry about constantly updating files regularly as sync technology does that for you.

Most external hard drives have an automatic backup feature, allowing your files to be updated and modified in the background of your computer. 

It’s important to note that automatic backups require the hard drive to be plugged in throughout the process. Unplugging your drive during backup can result in loss or corruption of important data.

Cost Per Quality

A lot of people have a particular budget to stick to when it comes to external storage space. Therefore, it’s important to look at the cost efficiency of each option and which one is best for your pocket. 

You can find solid external hard drives with sufficient storage for under £100, whilst cloud storage normally offers a monthly subscription rather than a one-off payment. 

It’s important to consider the cost-efficiency of both options. For example, if your external hard drive fails, it might cost more to recover the corrupt data than to buy a brand new device. With this, there isn’t a guarantee that your files will be reduced – meaning you’ve spent £1000 trying to recover lost files that won’t work. 

With cloud storage, it’s virtually impossible for your files to disappear. There are advanced recovery options included in many monthly subscription plans that will recover your data in case you accidentally delete a file. 

Cloud storage might be the better option for many people as it seems to possess better security, data recovery and efficiency features. The monthly subscription allows users to be flexible with endless storage, whereas the external hard drive will need to be replaced once storage space is full.

Cloud storage allows more peace of mind with the ability to back up your data endlessly from any device. The pros of a cloud external drive are starting to exceed physical drives to the point where we could see them start to become a casualty of digital processes.

For further information or local enquiries on computer security, tech support and more, do not hesitate to contact Manchester PC.