[traveler01]

I use the Cloud to store all my work and it's my way of backup. I trust Google's capacity to save my files. But, this being said, you SHOULD have other ways of backing up your data, like another HDD, storing locally in your PC too.

Being too careful is never enough.

[tinco]

Sure, Google can save your files. But will it? and will you never lose access to Google?

The problem with these big cloud providers is there are employees and robots with a big "disable account button", but there's no one you can call to talk about reenabling your account. I don't know what the odds are that Google is going to hit that "disable account" button on your account, it's probably incredible small, but if it would ever happen they might have permanently deleted all your stuff before you get far enough in their customer support system to have them reinstate your account.

If my livelihood depended on Google storing my files, I'd store a backup of my data somewhere that I can access in person if push comes to shove. As a matter of fact it does, and I do.

[traveler01]

Well I always sync my files between two PCs so I always have them stored on these. If anything goes wrong with any of these PCs (both) I always have Google. I also do some backups on both my externals HDDs so yeah I don't see all this failing anytime soon.

[chrisseaton]

> Sure, X can save your files. But will it? and will you never lose access to X?

Google, DropBox, a storage server in your house, external hard drives, tapes, burnt DVDs... you can swap in any backup system there and it's exactly the same. Google's cloud is just as valid as a backup as any other.

[tinco]

True, the problem is people thinking their files being stored at Google means they don't need another location for backing them up.

[syshum]

>> I trust Google's capacity to save my files

Sure but do you Trust Google's AI not pick up something from you, or a network you happen to be connected to then determine your account is in violation of their ToS at which time all of your accounts are suspended.

Which if that happens you better hope you can get enough social media attention to have your issue attract and actual person with authority in google to do something...

If not your SOL as is your data that google "reliably saved" for you

[ghaff]

One of the advantages of having another independent backup is that, if you need it, you not only have a backup somewhere other than a specific cloud provider but you also have a backup that's being made via a completely different mechanism.

But I know that, careful as I am, I still feel vulnerable if, for example, I lose my main data disk.

[phone[phone]]

3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite