An external drive for backup is one of the simplest, most effective data protection investments available. The choices have gotten more interesting as portable SSDs drop in price — but spinning drives still make sense for large-capacity backup at low cost.
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WHEN TO BUY SPINNING VS SSD
For a backup drive that lives on your desk: spinning drive. Extra capacity per dollar matters, speed irrelevant for backup, reliability comparable for a stationary device.
For a drive you carry with you: portable SSD. No moving parts, shock resistant, significantly faster, now available at $80-100 for 1TB.
BEST PORTABLE SPINNING: WD MY PASSPORT 4TB
WD My Passport 4TB Portable External Drive
Reliable, bus-powered, hardware encrypted. The safe choice for home backup. 4TB covers most users with room to grow.
Check Price on Amazon →BEST PORTABLE SSD: SAMSUNG T7
Fast, compact, shock resistant, and Samsung's reliability record is excellent. Right choice when the drive travels or doubles as a working drive.
Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD
Fast USB 3.2, hardware AES encryption, aluminum housing. The portable SSD we recommend most.
Check Price on Amazon →Rather have a professional handle it? We implement a complete backup strategy that will actually protect you for homes and businesses throughout Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley. On-site or remote — we stand behind every job.