The next step in 3-2-1 is about diversifying—because not all storage is created equal.
Using two different types of storage protects you from specific types of failures. If your hard drive crashes, your cloud copy still exists. If your cloud account gets compromised, your external drive is still safe.
Common storage types
Here are a few storage options you can mix and match:
External hard drives
Great for large files and quick access. Easy to use, but can fail over time.USB flash drives
Portable and simple—but better for short-term or light use.Network-attached storage (NAS)
Your own little server at home. Good for families, freelancers, or teams.Cloud storage (like Hivenet)
Accessible anywhere, always offsite, and great for backups you don’t want to babysit.
A good combo might look like:
Original file on your laptop
Backup to an external SSD
Offsite copy on Hivenet
That gives you speed, control, and safety—all in one simple setup.
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⬅️ Three copies: your first line of defense
Next:
➡️ One offsite backup