Backup vs Sync: Are Your Photos Truly Protected?

Many people want to safeguard and protect their cherished photos, but the truth is that they may unknowingly leave them vulnerable to loss or deletion. Are your photos truly protected? Read on to learn the difference between backup and sync services and understand how to ensure the safety and security for your precious memories.

Backup: A One-Way Copy

Imagine capturing that perfect moment, whether it's a breathtaking sunset or a joyous family gathering. With backup services you can rest assured that your photos are shielded from the unfortunate mishaps or unexpected failures that could befall your original device.

How does backup work? It's both simple and powerful. Each time you take a photo, a copy is created and securely stored in the backup. This one-way copy ensures that your photos remain safe and sound, completely unaffected by any changes or deletions on your device. You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your precious memories are protected even in the face of device malfunctions or accidents.

Sync: Two-Way Synchronization Across Devices

Picture this: You snap a photo, and like magic, a copy is instantaneously transported to the cloud and made available on all your connected devices. Syncing your files creates a seamless connection between your devices, ensuring that any modifications or deletions made on one device are instantly reflected on all others.

However, it's essential to remember that sync operates like a two-way street. If you delete a photo from one device, it will be removed from the cloud and subsequently vanish from all other synchronized devices. While this feature can be advantageous for decluttering or saving storage space, it's crucial to be mindful of accidental deletions that could result in permanent loss if not addressed promptly.

iCloud is a Sync Not a Backup

You will see the same photos on your Mac + iPhone + iPad, because they are synchronized across devices. But, there is only one copy of the photo. If you delete on one device, it deletes from all devices. With iCloud enabled, you camera roll reflects 100% of your iCloud contents, there is not another backup.

My Favorite Cloud Backup Apps

Amazon Photos - When enabled, Amazon backs up your entire camera roll. If you delete items from the phone after backup, they remain in Amazon. If you delete in Amazon Photos, the photos will remain on your phone. Plus get free unlimited photo storage with a Prime subscription!

Dropbox - Using camera uploads, automatically back up photos from your phone or camera and keeps a separate copy. Dropbox will also rename your files in the "yyyy-mm-dd" format, making it easy to find everything later.

So, are your photos truly protected? Choose wisely, and rest easy knowing that your memories are in the best of hands.

Once you have chosen a cloud service, it is time to build a backup system. Learn more on how I can help create a backup plan that works for you!