How can you safely back up data?

• A. By saving files only on a local hard drive
• B. By using only USB flash drives
• C. By utilizing external hard drives or cloud storage
• D. By printing copies of important documents

Answer: (C)

Utilizing external hard drives or cloud storage represents a comprehensive and secure approach to backing up data. This method allows for redundancy and accessibility, ensuring that your data is not solely dependent on a single location. External hard drives provide a physical backup option that can be disconnected from your computer, thus protecting the data from local hardware failures or malware infections. On the other hand, cloud storage offers the advantage of off-site backup, which is critical in the event of physical damage to your hardware, theft, or a natural disaster. Additionally, cloud services often include built-in security features, such as encryption, and facilitate easier recovery and access to files from different devices.

Other methods, such as saving files only on a local hard drive, using only USB flash drives, or printing documents, lack the same level of security, redundancy, and ease of access offered by external hard drives and cloud storage solutions. Relying on a single local storage method exposes data to risks, while printed copies do not offer the same operational flexibility or durability as digital backups.