There isn’t even a cost benefit to using DVDs.
you’re free to get a1TB HDDfor about $50.
DVDs aren’t a good option for short-term “hot” storage.
Archival-grade DVDs are made to last for 60 years and don’t require any special hardware or software.
Most HDDs and SSDs will begin to die afterfive or six years.
And, because manufacturing defects areshockingly common, some drives kick the bucket after just a year or two.
Data redundancy is great, and it should always be observed when backing up important files.
The problem, of course, is that data storage solutions require some maintenance.
And, while cloud storage is pretty hands-off, it comes with a monthly fee.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Family and friends can’t be expected to maintain this stuff after you’re gone.
That’s where archival-grade DVDs become useful.
That’s why archival-grade DVDs exist.
Built to last up to 100 years, Verbatim’s Archival Gold DVD-Rs are an effective and affordable long-term storage solution. Use these in conjunction with other storage solutions to protect your important data.
Archival DVDs are engineered to last 60 years or more, and they work with regular old optical drives.
These DVDs are more expensive than consumer-grade discs, with prices floating around$90 for a 50-pack.
(Hey, it’s cheaper than buying new hard drives every few years.)
This LG USB optical drive can write media to CDs, DVDs, or M-Discs at 8X speed. It has a convenient form factor and works with both Windows and macOS.
Archival-grade DVDs are manufactured using resilient materials and proprietary methods to extend shelf life.
They also tend to use a dual-layer design with both a silver and gold reflective layer.
Some people worry that archival DVDs will be difficult to use in the future.
Thismightbe a valid concern.
Plus, the hundreds of millions of optical drives that already exist will continue to work for some time.
Unfortunately, M-Discs costabout $8 apiceand can only store a few gigabytes of data.)
Use these in conjunction with other storage solutions to protect your important data.
Just know that archival-grade DVDs are not rewriteable, so any mistakes you make are permanent.
The hard part, as you might expect, is the process of organizing and cataloging data.
If you only need to use two or three discs, this isn’t much of a concern.
But archives that require several DVDs should be so well-organized that a stranger can figure it out.
Start by finding the data that you gotta archive.
When you start burning this data to discs, write out small labels or notes about the content.
If you have a ton of data, you may want to create a catalog of your archive.
This isn’t a difficult task.
When someone needs to dip into the archive, your catalog will make things easier.
Software likeWinCatalogcan aid in this task and help you produce detailed descriptions of each disc in your archive.
Note that some data just isn’t worth archiving.
This LG USB optical drive can write media to CDs, DVDs, or M-Discs at 8X speed.
It has a convenient form factor and works with both Windows and macOS.
Storing your archival DVDs in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box will ensure protection fromsomedisasters.
That’s why data redundancy is so important.
If you have multiple copies of your data, losing a copy isn’t such a big deal.
As always, we suggest following the3-2-1 data redundancy rule.
These copies do not need to be made on archival CDs.
Hard drives and cloud storage are inexpensive and allow you to quickly retrieve your data.
Just remember that HDDs have a short lifespan and need to be replaced every few years.
