Here’s How To Back Up Your Data On Beats External Hard Drive Using The Cloud

We may receive a commission on purchases made through links.

Cloud storage seemed like a miracle when we first arrived, and in some ways, it still is. It allows you to access your data from anywhere, as long as you have a device connected to the Internet. In those early days when Dropbox was the hottest new startup on the block, I even helped companies and professionals move their data to the cloud in my capacity as an independent IT consultant.

But these days, I rarely recommend relying on cloud storage, especially if you only see it as your copy. Over the years, the issues of cloud storage have become more apparent: not only is it expensive, but there are a lot of privacy and security headaches that don’t exist with physical media. Not only do you have to worry about the usual malicious actors and security threats that come with any online account, but cloud providers themselves are increasingly hostile to users who would like their private files to be shared.

Portable storage, such as an external hard drive or SSD, is one of the best ways to back up your PC data. This depends on the greater storage capacity of hard drives and the increasing durability of flash storage technology. Of course, there are high-quality physical storage solutions such as RAID or NAS, but even a standard SSD has its advantages. Unlike a cloud account, physical storage is not vulnerable to remote attacks (as long as your drive is not connected to the Internet), and you own it directly rather than renting space from a third party. So, here’s why saving your data to an external hard drive still beats using the cloud.

If you’re looking to keep your data safe, physical drives have several advantages over cloud storage. The first is the simple fact that, as long as it is not connected to a device connected to the Internet, the SSD or hard drive cannot be accessed remotely. Cloud storage is vulnerable to remote attacks, and all that stands between a hacker and your private files is your account password. Yes, there are things you can do to keep your personal data safe, cloud storage included, but the chances of a breach are never zero. It’s much more likely that someone will try to remotely attack your Google Drive or Dropbox account than break into your home or office looking for storage drives.

In some cases, the entity actively trying to access your data could be your cloud provider itself. Google’s privacy policy states that it collects information from any files you provide, including photos, videos, documents, and spreadsheets you save. Privacy-focused cloud providers like Proton Drive exist, but after checking it out, I found Proton’s storage to be not easy to use and lacking a few features.

Some people may believe that permanence is the Achilles heel of the conservative media. After all, a few drops of water can completely freeze an unprotected SSD. But cloud storage isn’t a panacea — just ask anyone who’s lost files in the cloud due to a bug or sync error. Cloud providers have the right to delete your files or account, and this can happen without your fault. For example, a 2022 New York Times report revealed how some Google users had their entire accounts deleted after Google’s AI mistakenly flagged innocent photos as violating its guidelines.

One of the most attractive features of cloud storage can be the low monthly fees. As of this writing, the Google One 2 terabyte plan is just $10 per month if you choose the option without AI benefits. Dropbox has the same price. But those costs add up. In a year, you will have spent $120 on cloud storage or more. Granted, AI has made conventional PC components painfully expensive by 2026, which changes things somewhat. A 2-terabyte Samsung T9 SSD that was $200 in 2025 sells for $400 in 2026. Many people may choose to use a small portion of that cost each month to maintain the cloud rather than cough up all at once for a physical drive. For many, a cloud provider is still the only affordable option for mass storage.

However, there is no guarantee that the price of the cloud will remain low, as any increase in the cost of hardware may give the cloud providers the opportunity to increase the cost of the subscription accordingly. If you already own enough storage to meet your needs, moving to physical backup is an easy way to reduce subscription slippage and avoid unexpected price increases.

Many experts suggest the so-called 3-2-1 backup strategy: back up your data in three places, including an original copy, in two different storage solutions, and only one copy on site to guard against unexpected disasters. For example, you can store your tax documents on your computer and two separate SSDs, one of which is stored in a safe or bank deposit box. You can use both a physical drive and a cloud backup, with the latter not available locally by definition.