External storage options
External storage devices allow users to save their data and move it between devices. There are both physical and cloud solutions to saving data.
USB memory stick
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Small and portable | Easy to lose |
| Reusable | If unprotected, the USB plug may be damaged |
| Convenient | |
| Durable |
| Advantages | Small and portable |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Easy to lose |
| Advantages | Reusable |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | If unprotected, the USB plug may be damaged |
| Advantages | Convenient |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages |
| Advantages | Durable |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages |
CDs and DVDs
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cheap | Easily damaged |
| Reusable (if rewritable) | Relatively small capacity |
| Writable discs can only be used once | |
| Need a CD/DVD drive | |
| Relatively difficult to save to |
| Advantages | Cheap |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Easily damaged |
| Advantages | Reusable (if rewritable) |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Relatively small capacity |
| Advantages | |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Writable discs can only be used once |
| Advantages | |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Need a CD/DVD drive |
| Advantages | |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Relatively difficult to save to |
External - Hard drive
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Large capacity | Expensive compared to other options |
| Convenient (plug and play) | Often smaller capacity than hard disk drive |
| Extremely fast | Additional power supply sometimes required |
| Portable |
| Advantages | Large capacity |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Expensive compared to other options |
| Advantages | Convenient (plug and play) |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Often smaller capacity than hard disk drive |
| Advantages | Extremely fast |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Additional power supply sometimes required |
| Advantages | Portable |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages |
Online or cloud based services
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Access from any computer with an internet connection | Need connection to the internet |
| Remote back-up | Service may be unreliable |
| Hackers may gain unauthorised access to your data | |
| Slow to back up to and restore from, depending on the speed of your internet connection |
| Advantages | Access from any computer with an internet connection |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Need connection to the internet |
| Advantages | Remote back-up |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Service may be unreliable |
| Advantages | |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Hackers may gain unauthorised access to your data |
| Advantages | |
|---|---|
| Disadvantages | Slow to back up to and restore from, depending on the speed of your internet connection |
