Hard Disk Life Expectancy and SMART Errors

and there is still no practical guarantee that backups are being made,

It is reasonable to believe that a reputable cloud business (not a "diingbat" as bgelfand alluded to) would follow normal safety and ethical protocols.

Edited August 3, 2022 by Mary Doo

Mary, you use a Cloud backup service; I do not. Does your backup software generate log files, a list of files it backs up?

I just checked, yes there is a log detailing how many files from which folder. It certainly knows more about my storage than I do.

 

Also, I apologize that the cloud company backing up my laptop drives is "IDrive", not ICloud (which is the backup for the Apple IPhone and storage is much more limited).

Alan makes a good point. How can we trust these ‘data centres’ not to steal our photos and make millions selling ‘em to Getty

I was not making that point.

.... and just how do you prove they've lost your data?

I'm not trying to prove they lost my data. I'm not looking to sue them. All I expect is that should there have been a failure in their disks that caused the loss of my data, or some of it, they would inform me immediately of the circumstances. That way, I could then provide the lost data back to them while I still have the data on my machine or my own backup disk.

 

I would not want to be in a situation where they didn't tell me, then when my house burned down and I lost my own copies, I find out then they lost some of my data and there's no way of getting it back.

 

So do these companies inform their customers when losses occur?

Edited August 3, 2022 by AlanKlein

I apologize that the cloud company backing up my laptop drives is "IDrive",

By the way, I don't necessarily recommend IDrive as it may not be the best cloud service out there. I accepted their trial offer and hadn't paid much attention to it and just let it continue. It is something extra. When the need comes, I would prefer to copy from a regular non-cloud backup.

 

So do these companies inform their customers when losses occur?

It is reasonable to expect this from a reputable company. That's how we heard about the data breaches and how they planned to fix it.

Edited August 3, 2022 by Mary Doo

I'm not trying to prove they lost my data.

It was more theoretical than personal...:)

 

However, if they're not entirely reputable, if they don't tell you, or maybe don't know themselves, you won't know 'til you go and get it and it's either corrupt or missing.

 

Some of these data hacks go undetected for quite some time.... however, I'm not sure anyone wants my 10K pictures of random natural history..... but I guess they might try ransom, 'cos I do! ;)

I think the question is why you should use a commercial cloud storage service or arrange your own cloud, or even not use internet-connected storage at all. A number of things to consider have been mentioned. To each to weigh it all up and make his or her own decision.

I think the question is why you should use a commercial cloud storage service or arrange your own cloud, or even not use internet-connected storage at all. A number of things to consider have been mentioned. To each to weigh it all up and make his or her own decision.

How do you make an informed decision without knowing how each company handles "lost" data at their end? That's why I'm asking the questions. To argue I should remain ignorant about what they do and still make a decision seems foolhardy to me.

It was more theoretical than personal...:)

 

However, if they're not entirely reputable, if they don't tell you, or maybe don't know themselves, you won't know 'til you go and get it and it's either corrupt or missing.

 

Some of these data hacks go undetected for quite some time.... however, I'm not sure anyone wants my 10K pictures of random natural history..... but I guess they might try ransom, 'cos I do! ;)

 

Why would anyone spend money every month for years backing up data that the cloud backup service could lose? That's the whole point of buying the service.

How do you make an informed decision without knowing how each company handles "lost" data at their end? That's why I'm asking the questions. To argue I should remain ignorant about what they do and still make a decision seems foolhardy to me.

Ask the companies if you are so concerned. We are just photographers. ;)

Why would anyone spend money every month for years backing up data that the cloud backup service could lose? That's the whole point of buying the service.

There are customary professional practices and processes that one normally trust. For example, you never ask the bank how they handle every dollar because there are standard practices and there are laws governing each business to protect you. But of course any thing can happen.

How do you make an informed decision without knowing how each company handles "lost" data at their end? That's why I'm asking the questions. To argue I should remain ignorant about what they do and still make a decision seems foolhardy to me.

Not knowing if, or fear that they may not handle your data securely is something that is information you can base a decision on. If guarantees matter, and you can't get any, do not do it.

Ask the companies if you are so concerned. We are just photographers. ;)

 

There are customary professional practices and processes that one normally trust. For example, you never ask the bank how they handle every dollar because there are standard practices and there are laws governing each business to protect you. But of course any thing can happen.

But then again, there is a guarantee in place that protects at least some of your money in case your bank (your example) should fail. Remember? But not so, as far as the thing we are discussing here is concerned. And money can be replaced with other money. Your data can't.

There is a difference.

And money can be replaced with other money. Your data can't.

You have a point. I was using the bank as an example only because it is regulated and has strict standards and procedures. The still-developing cloud biz is certainly not so highly regulated.

 

If guarantees matter, and you can't get any, do not do it.

Risk-averse individuals may best take things into their own hands; i.e., follow some good routines and don't let anyone else handle it.

Why would anyone spend money every month for years backing up data that the cloud backup service could lose? That's the whole point of buying the service.

Same concept that you buy insurance for things.

 

It may be different where you are, but lots of businesses in the UK went bust 'cos the insurance cover they had was more than adequate for COVID losses, until the Insurers moved the goalposts and 're-interpreted' the cover they provided. By the time they were sued and it was sorted out, the companies had folded and all the staff laid off.

 

What I'm not sure about is if a Cloud company goes bust. What's in the small print regarding your data?

 

That being said, I'm not sure I've read about any issues with data loss from Cloud storage.

What I'm not sure about is if a Cloud company goes bust. What's in the small print regarding your data?

Small print does not mean anything then.

Yup...:)

Wouldn't it be nice to know how each backup service handled these things so you can make an informed judgment before you select one?

 

How did you make the decision on who you went with? Was it only based only on price? You know the cliche about getting what you pay for? ;)

That I might lose a mediocre photo or two?

 

Only two? ;) <Wrote he running and ducking> (sorry, I couldn't resist, I tried, I tried.)

Only two

'cos all the rest are splendid!

I’d challenge you two losers to a photo competition any day of the week

What would be the point? You have declared us to be "losers". ;)

 

And in case you missed it, I did have a Smiley after my original message and added I was "running and ducking" to show the message was in jest. I am sure Mike meant his in the same vein. But you should not leave people openings.

 

Photography is my hobby; I do it for relaxation, not competition. If you are interested, you can always look at my portfolio on PN and some images I have posted in Nature and Nikon Wednesday. I welcome the feedback. BTW, I notice you do not have any images in your portfolio.

Edited August 5, 2022 by bgelfand

I’d challenge you two losers to a photo competition any day of the week

You assumed sarcasm?

 

Really?

 

;)