The backup question that comes up constantly: "I use OneDrive — is that enough?" Mostly yes, but there are specific failure scenarios that cloud-only backup doesn't protect against. Here's the full picture.
What Cloud Backup Does Well
Offsite protection: Your files survive fire, flood, theft, or any local disaster. The data is in Microsoft's or Google's data centres, not in your home.
Automatic and continuous: Files sync automatically as you save them. No remembering to plug in a drive.
Accessible from anywhere: Access your files from any device.
Versioning: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace keep version history, letting you restore an older version of a file if you accidentally overwrite it.
Where Cloud Backup Falls Short
Ransomware: If your computer gets ransomware, the encrypted versions of your files sync to the cloud, overwriting the good versions. Most cloud services have a recycle bin and version history that lets you recover, but the recovery process can be complex and may not cover all file types.
Internet speed: Restoring 500GB from the cloud over Australian NBN can take days. Restoring from a local external drive takes minutes.
Cost: 1TB of cloud storage costs $5–$10/month ongoing. A 2TB external drive costs $90–$130 once.
Account compromise: If your Microsoft or Google account is compromised and an attacker deletes your files, cloud backup doesn't help.
What Local Backup Does Well
Fast restoration. Works without internet. Can use a drive that's kept disconnected from the network (immune to ransomware). Stores large media files cheaply.
The Ideal Setup for Most Melbourne Households
OneDrive or Google Drive syncing your working documents continuously. Weekly backup to an external hard drive using Windows File History or Mac Time Machine. That's it. Both run automatically. Total cost: one external drive, one cloud subscription.
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