1 What type of storage do I want: USB, NAS or cloud?
The three main types of storage that we cover here are USB, NAS and cloud. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and your requirements will dictate which type is best for you. External storage is the cheapest per gigabyte (over time) and is the simplest: just plug a device into your computer, and it pops up like any other hard disk. Simple.
Given the huge capacities available, USB drives are great for large-scale backups (including complete images of computers), as well as long-term storage of photos and documents. They have the advantage that the drives can be unplugged and carried wherever you want, say by putting them in a safe for extra protection. The downside is that they’re harder to share, and the files are only available while the drive is plugged in.
A network-attached storage (NAS) device works like an external drive but puts your files on your home network,
