dropbox vs onedrive vs google drive offsite backup

OneDrive iPhone (Image credit: Windows Central) Relies on internet service provider (IP changes, slow upload speeds).In the end, it's possible to create your very own cloud, which offers full control over backups, upgrades, storage capacity, and allowing others to use said storage. Thankfully, companies like Synology are making it easier than ever to configure a NAS, but it's still not quite as straightforward as cloud storage.

There's also a steep learning curve, especially if you've never managed a NAS before. The issue with this form of storage is the initial costs, which involve purchasing a diskless model, some hard drives, and accessories. Using a NAS can not only reduce costs over time, since you'll have no monthly subscription to pay out for, it also allows for future upgrades by replacing or adding more hard drives. With a NAS, you aren't relying on a service or company to gain access to files, because it's all on your local unit.Ī NAS is cheaper in the long term, but be prepared to ride a learning curve. I'm sure you're aware of all the issues with cloud storage with celebrities having their accounts broken into and sensitive data obtained by malicious individuals. That cuts out any third-parties and lowers the risk of your data being compromised. The most important thing to remember about a NAS is that it's local and it's managed by yourself. Small units can be purchased from companies like Synology and QNAP. What these machines are capable of is storing data, transcoding media and even running services like Plex. It can be a PC, too, depending on how you configure the OS and hardware.

We do not include the price of electricity and a working internet connection to keep the NAS online in the figures above.Ī NAS device is that little black box located somewhere in the home or office that acts as a file server. The latter 24TB and 30TB pricing reflect the inclusion of the DS418J and the use of RAID 5. Up to 24TB is priced with the DS218+ in mind, running in RAID 1.

Dropbox vs onedrive vs google drive offsite backup