Data storage options have become increasingly varied and sophisticated in recent years. In fact, there are now more options than ever before! It can be hard to figure out which data storage solution is the best one for your personal or business needs, so here’s a list of ten of the best data storage options currently available on the market.
USB 3.0 Drives
The latest iterations of USB are faster than ever. But, in terms of storage, nothing beats a traditional hard drive for cost per gigabyte and portability. Sure, there are lots of storage options out there, but only a few really stand out from the crowd. Here are some easy-to-use but reliable drives that offer tons of space for a low price—but remember: it’s always good to invest in at least one extra hard drive as well. With inexpensive external drives readily available these days you don’t have to worry about losing valuable data if your main drive fails.
SATA III Hard Drives
Traditional hard drives provide decent performance, but they’re not nearly as fast as solid-state drives (SSDs). SATA III makes SSDs faster still by increasing data transfer rates to 6 gigabits per second. These days, most new PCs come with at least one SATA III port for an internal drive and there are external options, too. If you plan on storing large amounts of data or editing media files on your computer, consider purchasing a desktop with multiple SATA III ports or an external SATA III enclosure. You’ll enjoy much faster speeds than with traditional hard drives and can add more storage space when you need it in a snap.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
SSDs are only a few years old, but their low cost and high capacity have made them one of the most popular storage options for laptops and small computers. SSD stands for the solid-state drive which means there is no hard disk; instead, your data is stored on flash memory chips. They are reliable and have fast read/write speeds with no moving parts to break down. If you need to purchase an external hard drive, you will likely find a wide range of prices depending on capacity, which makes choosing the best option difficult. For example, you could easily spend $250 on a 1TB external solid-state drive or pay less than $50 for a 250GB model.
External Memory Cards
Whether it’s a USB flash drive or an SD card, external memory cards can be invaluable additions to your computer. These little guys are nearly essential if you have photos or other data that you need to save and carry with you but don’t want to clutter up space on your computer. Most computers come with at least one port for memory cards, so getting one is as easy as visiting your local electronics store. Also, they tend to be inexpensive and take up hardly any space in a desk drawer or purse. If you have a lot of data that could get lost easily if left on your home computer, then memory cards are a great option for backing up important files quickly and effortlessly.
Micro SD Cards
No matter what device you’re looking to store your data on, it’s crucial that you have a large amount of space. Unfortunately, most devices only come with small amounts of storage (8GB-64GB) and even those larger versions are quickly becoming obsolete in today’s world. Fortunately, micro SD cards are an inexpensive way to expand your memory. They can be used to expand both Android and Apple phones.
Removable Drives
Whether you’re a developer or an ordinary user, it’s often convenient to be able to easily share or transport your data. While USB drives are one of the most popular ways to do so, they aren’t always ideal. For starters, they can be slow and vulnerable to data loss if damaged. Luckily, there are many better options available! In our opinion, these removable drive storage products are some of your best bets
Online Backups
They’re not sexy, but online backups are among your most valuable data storage options. The best backup systems upload or transfer your files to a cloud-based server that’s outside of your home or office—off-site backups ensure that even if there’s an incident at your office or home, you won’t lose any data. Though it can take a bit of time and some technical know-how to set up online backups, they can be relatively inexpensive and ultimately save you from being down for days—or even weeks—at a time. Online services like Carbonite and Backblaze offer easy backup solutions starting at $59/year and $5/month respectively.
Cloud Storage
One of the most obvious and perhaps least-expensive options is to store your data in a cloud storage service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. While it is easy to upload and access documents, many businesses choose not to use cloud storage for security reasons. If you do decide to go with cloud storage, look for an option that allows you control over your data encryption, or at least provides peace of mind about security measures. Also, consider whether syncing files will be a hassle when you need offline access. Regardless of how safe you think your data is, remember that if someone gains physical access to your computer or smartphone, they’ll have all your information.
