I'm wondering about the best ways to archive photos at home that I'd like to keep safe for 50 to 100 years. I know there are a ton of enterprise options like cloud storage and tape, but what about for personal use? I currently store my pictures in the cloud, but what can I do to make it feel like they're really safe—maybe even better than 99.999% secure? I'm considering using something like DVD WORM or tape, but I'm looking for a method that could automatically download from the cloud and write to a WORM medium without needing constant hardware swaps or being too expensive. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
5 Answers
I think using multiple cloud providers is smart. Physical media can degrade over time, but the risk of multiple cloud services going down at the same time is pretty low. I stick with at least two different clouds just to be safe.
I use Google Photos too, but I also upload to Azure Cold Storage every few months. It adds an extra layer of security.
You actually don't just leave it alone—you have to actively maintain your archives! Media becomes obsolete, so you’ll need to move your files to newer formats over time.
I might suggest pairing cloud storage with a physical drive at home. For really important files, consider using different types of media and then store them in a fireproof safe just in case.
If you're looking into tape, the 3-2-1-1-0 rule is a good idea. It involves keeping three copies with two types of media, one off-site, and one copy that isn’t connected to the internet, in case of ransomware attacks.
The 3-2-1 backup method is a classic for a reason! It suggests keeping three copies of your data, on two different media, with one copy stored off-site. That way, you’re covered even if one option fails.
Exactly! Redundancy is key here; you can never have too many backups.