Monday, 31 March 2025
25.8 C
Singapore
28.1 C
Thailand
21.4 C
Indonesia
27.7 C
Philippines

Most consumers now back up their data, but cloud storage limits push shift to hybrid solutions

87% of people now back up their data, but cloud limits and rising costs are driving a shift to hybrid storage solutions.

Western Digital revealed the results of a new global survey conducted by Researchscape in recognition of World Backup Day. The research found that a significant 87% of consumers now back up their data either automatically or manually. This shift highlights growing awareness of the value of digital dataโ€”ranging from health and financial records to personal photos and videosโ€”and the importance of protecting it from loss.

The top reason respondents gave for backing up their data was fear of losing important files, cited by 83% of participants. Other motivations included freeing up storage space on devices (67%) and safeguarding against cyber threats (42%). Some 19% admitted to doing it simply because they were told to.

Stefan Mandl, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the APJ region at Western Digital, welcomed the trend. โ€œItโ€™s fantastic to see more people recognising the importance of protecting their data,โ€ he said. โ€œWorld Backup Day is an important yearly reminder to everyone to backup their data and to educate the people who still arenโ€™t aware of the impact of failing to backup. Itโ€™s also an opportunity to reinforce just how critical it is to safeguard what matters mostโ€”because all it takes is one small accident for data to be lost forever.โ€

Challenges remain despite improved awareness

Despite the overall rise in backup activity, many consumers still face obstacles. Among those who donโ€™t back up their data, 36% believed it wasnโ€™t necessary, 30% cited limited storage space, 29% said it took too much time, and 23% admitted they didnโ€™t know how. In fact, 63% said they would back up more often if the process were automatic and effortless.

Experts continue to recommend the โ€œ3-2-1โ€ strategyโ€”keeping three copies of data, on two different types of storage media, with one copy stored offsite such as in the cloud. But with cloud storage limits quickly filling up, this has become harder for many users.

Hybrid strategies emerge as a cost-effective solution

The survey showed that 78% of respondents use free cloud storage, but 60% ran out of space within the past six months. More than half (56%) had to upgrade to paid plans, while 35% found cloud storage increasingly expensive. This is pushing many users to adopt a hybrid approach, combining both cloud and local storage solutions.

External hard drives are gaining popularity as a cost-effective option. Currently, 45% of respondents use external HDDs and 19% rely on network-attached storage (NAS). High-capacity devices offering up to 26TB are now available, making it easier to manage growing volumes of data without relying solely on costly cloud upgrades.

To support this trend, Western Digital has introduced 26TB WD Red Pro CMR HDDs for NAS systems and a range of 26TB-based G-DRIVE and G-RAID solutions aimed at professionals and content creators. Additionally, its WD My Passport 20th Anniversary Edition now offers up to 6TB in a compact portable format, bundled with Acronis True Image for Western Digital software to simplify scheduled backups.

These findings are based on a survey of 6,118 people conducted between 7 and 25 February 2025, with 3,346 responses from the Asia-Pacific region, including countries such as Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Hot this week

How Chinese EVs are powering Southeast Asia’s ‘Green Revolution’?

Learn how Chinese EV makers are revolutionising Southeast Asiaโ€™s automotive market with innovative strategies, sustainable solutions, and rapid growth.

Samsung’s smart glasses could arrive before the end of 2025

Samsung is reportedly developing smart glasses, codenamed Haean, with AR and gesture controls, set to launch by late 2025.

How analytics drive Data-Driven Decision Making for business growth

Discover how data-driven decision-making empowers businesses to enhance efficiency, drive strategic growth, and gain a competitive advantage through analytics.

Google Assistant to be phased out on Waze for iPhone

Waze is removing Google Assistant from iPhones due to issues and plans to upgrade with improved voice integration, possibly using Gemini.

Apple to bring lossless and ultra-low latency audio to AirPods Max with USB-C

In an upcoming update, Apple is adding lossless and ultra-low latency audio to the AirPods Max with USB-C, improving sound quality and performance.

Microsoft removes Windows 11 loophole for skipping account setup

Microsoft is blocking a well-known workaround that lets you set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account, enforcing stricter installation rules.

Samsungโ€™s latest vacuum alerts you to calls and texts while you clean

Samsungโ€™s new Bespoke AI Jet Ultra vacuum can alert you to calls and texts while cleaning as the brand expands smart home screens across appliances.

Fujifilm unveils GFX100RF: A 102MP medium format compact camera

Fujifilm announces the GFX100RF, a 102MP medium-format compact camera. It is available for pre-order at S$7,999, and early buyers will receive free gifts.

Google Pixel 9a arrives in Singapore this April for S$799

The Google Pixel 9a launches in Singapore in April 2025 with a Tensor G4 chip, 48MP camera, and seven years of updates, starting at S$799.

Related Articles