While Cloud storage is a growing form, there are issues with this new technology. Firstly, unlike with a physical external hard-drive, you don’t know exactly where your data is being stored – which could be an issue for some businesses. Unless you have top notch encryption, the service is also open to possible security breaches. Such breaches can lead to missing files, spam e-mails, and a whole host of other issues. This means that, should you choose to use cloud storage to hold your files and data, it might not always be as safe and secure as you would hope. Another alternative to both cloud and external drives, hyper-converged server based storage, is incredibly expensive and only really viable for those with a lot of extra funds.

So, with this in mind, more ‘traditional’ methods – either an upgrade to your internal PC storage or a new external hard drive - may still be the best solution for your storage needs. Here are the top reasons why:

One of the biggest selling points of external hard disks is that they cannot be beaten on price. Out of all of the methods, external drives offer the lowest cost per GB, making them highly cost effective for both personal and business use.

Depending on what you need, you can go for a portable external drive or a stationary hard drive for your desktop. A portable external hard-drive means you can keep your files and data with you on the go and plug in anywhere without having to install drivers – whilst desktop external hard drives remain linked to one device, so you know exactly where your files are at all times.

Despite the difference in physical size, both types can store huge amounts of data and are incredibly easy to use. Both types are supported by Windows and Apple systems, meaning you can simply plug in the drive and let your machine do all the hard work. Once the drive has been detected, you can then use it in exactly the same way as you would internal storage.

The speed of external drives is another huge advantage. Hard drives with Firewire can work at high speeds, without the worry that all of your data will disappear into the ether. You can copy large files quickly, and drives with higher RPM speeds will make it possible to work even faster.

Like what you hear? Take a look at our range of external hard drives.