Which Cloud Backup Should I Use?, by Ask Leo! on YouTube. 7 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Decide what you are protecting: the whole machine, or just photos and working files. Full image backups capture everything but are too large for most people to upload.
Set up a local image backup to an external drive. Use the built-in Windows backup tool or backup software, and schedule it to run regularly.
If you want an online backup service, pick one that covers your data files, such as Carbonite. Check what it includes, because these services usually do not back up everything.
For photos and documents you change often, use a sync service like OneDrive. Copy your working folders into the synced folder so changes upload automatically.
Keep the synced folder out of your image backup if space is tight, since the cloud already holds a copy.
Combine both layers: a regular local image backup plus cloud sync for your working files. This is the healthy strategy the video recommends.
Test a restore. Open a file from your cloud folder and check that your image backup can be read before you rely on it.
Tips and common mistakes
A sync service is not a backup on its own. If you delete a file locally, the deletion syncs too.
Check how much storage your cloud plan includes before you upload a large photo library.
Run your local image backup on a schedule so you do not have to remember it.
Keep the external backup drive disconnected when not in use to protect it from ransomware.
Questions
Can I just use OneDrive as my backup?
No. OneDrive syncs your files, so a mistake or deletion spreads to the cloud copy. Pair it with a local image backup for real protection.
Are online backup services like Carbonite worth it?
They cover your data files but not the whole machine. They suit people who want an offsite copy without managing an external drive.
How often should I back up?
Run the local image backup on a regular schedule, such as weekly, and let sync handle your working files continuously.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
