Storing important documents online

missile

Store them on a SD card and /or USB stick 

Neil_Jones

If its important to you back it up, back it up and back it up again.  Online and Offline. Do not put all your eggs in one basket.  Use online (Google Drive, One Drive) as one of a range of backup methods. 

pramsay13

danthemoneysavingman said:

How secure are they though? I know internet sites can get hacked, so I guess there's a chance they could be compromised?
Interested to hear opinions

There is an outside chance the site could be compromised. 
As long as you are careful with your login details, I think there is more chance though of something happening with your hard copy, e.g. house break in, fire, damp etc.

IvanOpinion

You could try sync.com which uses zero knowledge encryption (unlike some of the others mentioned). You get 5Gb free or pay for more.  You could also try pCloud with their Crypto add-on - you have to pay though).

I use both the above.  All paperwork is scanned in before being shredded.  Once scanned and stored it is automatically uploaded both the above.  I no longer keep any paper documents unless absolutely necessary.  For extra security I also use veracrypt and axcrypt where necessary.  

For vital documents I would recommend using at least one cloud storage provider as part of your backup strategy.  More and more I am getting requests to recover files from corrupt DVD and pendrive backups (with varying degrees of success). I have been using cloud storage for about 11 years now and have never lost a document.

Chino

IvanOpinion said:

I have been using cloud storage for about 11 years now and have never lost a document.

And I'm sure you never will. Because companies never, ever go out of business.

IvanOpinion

Chino said:

IvanOpinion said:

I have been using cloud storage for about 11 years now and have never lost a document.

And I'm sure you never will. Because companies never, ever go out of business.

I am not quite sure what point you are trying to make..  but, yes, companies go out of business, you could equally have said something like 'because backup media never ever fails'!   Is your contribution a suggestion that you should never take backups because something may go wrong?

I have used cloud suppliers that have changed their business model (SugarSync, Cubby) or gone out of business (can't remember which one) and, so far, there has not been an issue with moving my data to another cloud supplier.  You still own your data it is yours to place and manage where you like and I choose to use 2 separate cloud storage providers in addition to local backups (all handled automatically). 

In the 21st century cloud storage should be part of any robust backup strategy.

Mickey666

Neil_Jones said:

If its important to you back it up, back it up and back it up again.  Online and Offline. Do not put all your eggs in one basket.  Use online (Google Drive, One Drive) as one of a range of backup methods. 

That's about as succinct as can be.  Multiple copies, multiple media, multiple places. 
The importance of the material should determine how many multiples of each.
The only thing you can rely on is that something WILL fail at sometime.

Gravedigger

Perhaps the docs should be deposited in a bank or secure unit. If they are ever going to be used from media because the originals have been lost, then they will be copies not "Original" as is required from some organisations.  

Neil_Jones

Mickey666 said:

Neil_Jones said:

If its important to you back it up, back it up and back it up again.  Online and Offline. Do not put all your eggs in one basket.  Use online (Google Drive, One Drive) as one of a range of backup methods. 

That's about as succinct as can be.  Multiple copies, multiple media, multiple places. 
The importance of the material should determine how many multiples of each.
The only thing you can rely on is that something WILL fail at sometime.

Indeed.  If you don't give a monkeys about it, don't back it up and if it goes, it goes.

If its relatively important but not the end of the world if it goes bye bye, back it up anyway.

If its the only picture/copy you have (and know about) of great Aunt Aggie who died 15 years ago, it'll be far more important as it's irreplaceable.  Back it up multiple times.

pbartlett

IvanOpinion said:

You could try sync.com which uses zero knowledge encryption (unlike some of the others mentioned). You get 5Gb free or pay for more.  You could also try pCloud with their Crypto add-on - you have to pay though).

I use both the above.  All paperwork is scanned in before being shredded.  Once scanned and stored it is automatically uploaded both the above.  I no longer keep any paper documents unless absolutely necessary.  For extra security I also use veracrypt and axcrypt where necessary.  

For vital documents I would recommend using at least one cloud storage provider as part of your backup strategy.  More and more I am getting requests to recover files from corrupt DVD and pendrive backups (with varying degrees of success). I have been using cloud storage for about 11 years now and have never lost a document.

Until today maybe??

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