Take it easy on your external hard drives

External HDDs can be a useful part of your backup strategy, even if you also use a cloud-based backup solution. When using one, make sure to keep it in a safe place where it won’t fall or get buried under other objects. Consider transferring its contents to other media after 4 years, when the risk of drive failure dramatically increases for most HDD models. If your extra hard on your equipment you may consider the added ruggedness and increased speed of Solid State Drives (SSD) which are now starting to come down in price.