Backup your digital life: Embrace the personal cloud without sacrificing broadband speed and security

Let’s be honest: The word “backup” is usually very low on our list of priorities until something goes terribly wrong. We spend an inordinate amount of time on devices these days, and yet often overlook how easily we can lose our digital lives – photos from that memorable Tokyo trip, important documents, or even irreplaceable family videos – in an instant. A single faulty hard drive, a lost smartphone, or an accidental delete can turn convenience into catastrophe faster than you’d expect.

The irony is that many of us have access to some form of cloud storage – whether it’s iCloud for Apple devices, Google Drive for Android users, or OneDrive with Office 365 subscriptions. Sadly, we often treat it like a throwaway USB thumb drive, convenient to have around, but often used only for occasional file-sharing with friends or colleagues rather than data backup.

Fortunately, building good backup habits isn’t as intimidating (or as expensive) as it sounds. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics, starting by making the most of your existing cloud storage options, then introduce you to more advanced solutions like Network Attached Storage (NAS). We’ll also discuss how something as simple as a more reliable broadband connection can turn your home storage into a secure personal cloud accessible from anywhere in the world.

1. Maximising your existing cloud storage – and keeping it secure

Of the many cloud storage solutions available, most people would already have the basic versions of iCloud, Google Drive or OneDrive that came bundled with their smartphone or PC. These free versions are often only sufficient for document backup purposes, with more storage available through paid subscriptions. If you have Office 365, you already have 1TB of OneDrive storage, while both iCloud and Google One offer an extra 200GB for S$3.99 a month.

On iPhones, iCloud can automatically sync photos, contacts, messages and app data. Android users get similar features with Google Drive and Google Photos, while Microsoft’s OneDrive handles automatic syncing for Windows PCs and Office 365 users. If you haven’t already, turning on auto-backup is the simplest way to protect what matters.

Besides backup, the benefits of synching your data to the cloud can help organise it too, making it searchable and available across multiple devices whenever you need it.

Most cloud platforms can also use encryption to further protect your data, and it’s worth going into your account settings to see what’s available to you. At the very least, enabling two-factor authentication will help to keep your login credentials more secure.

2. Don’t trust big tech with your private data? Create your own personal cloud

If you’re not too keen on handing over sensitive files to a public cloud service, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device might be the better option. A NAS operates similarly to an external hard drive where you’d store your data.

The difference is that a NAS is usually a larger box that is set up with two or more hard drives working in tandem. It is also connected to your home (or office) network, and you can remotely access it from anywhere – just like the cloud. Pictured above is the Synology DiskStation DS925+ 4-bay NAS paired with the DX525 expansion unit, which can give you a total storage capacity of 180TB!

You don’t even need to be a tech expert to set up a NAS these days. Popular brands like Synology or Qnap offer user-friendly interfaces and setup wizards to guide you through the process.

The biggest draw of a NAS over a basic external hard drive is control and security. It’s a great option if you’re handling work files, financial records, or anything too personal to leave in someone else’s hands. Many NAS systems have built-in encryption and user permissions, which means you can share access with family members or colleagues without compromising privacy.

NAS units also support a technology called RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which spreads data across multiple drives. With the right RAID configuration, even if one hard drive fails in your NAS, your data is still safe and available.

3. Best of both worlds: Embracing the hybrid solution for maximum protection

Ultimately, it is prudent and smart not to rely on any single platform. Say, if a cloud account gets locked, or the provider experiences downtime – you could lose access to your files when you need them most. That’s where the 3-2-1 redundancy rule comes in: keep three copies of your most important data, stored on two different types of media, with one of those stored at a separate physical site (either your home or office).

For the average user, that could mean having your data saved in the cloud (one), a local copy on your NAS (two), and syncing the most important files to a second cloud provider (three).

In previous examples, we talked about personal cloud storage options, which typically offer general storage space that can be used for backup purposes. However, there are cloud services that specialise in providing backup-specific functionality. They cost more than basic cloud storage but often come with greater security, additional features like anti-ransomware and customer support.

One such platform is Acronis True Image, with cloud backup subscriptions starting at S$72.99 annually. Small home businesses can take advantage of Acronis’ backup technology through the Singtel Cloud Backup service, which may be a more seamless solution especially if you’re also using Singtel fibre broadband offerings, which brings us to…

4. The importance of reliable broadband connectivity

All the storage in the world won’t mean much if your connection can’t keep up. Whether you’re backing up files to the cloud, accessing your NAS remotely, or syncing across multiple devices, the quality of your broadband connection plays a huge role in how smooth and secure your experience is.

A fast and stable fibre connection ensures that large files can upload quickly, backups can happen seamlessly as you work, and remote access doesn’t feel like a chore. With slower or unstable broadband, you are very likely to run into failed uploads, laggy downloads, and potential data sync issues – none of which you want when you’re dealing with important or time-sensitive files.

This is where a reliable fibre broadband provider like Singtel comes in. With high-speed synchronous 10Gbps plans and low-latency performance, Singtel’s network makes it possible to treat your home NAS as a true personal cloud – one you can easily access from anywhere with little fuss.

Besides speed, security plays a big role too. Singtel’s various broadband add-on services such as Broadband Protect and the McAfee-powered Security Suite Triple Protect adds another layer of defense for your whole home network and devices.

So, now you have multiple backups in place, a good layer of cybersecurity for your whole home, and no more complaints about slow internet. That’s what we call peace of mind.

(In partnership with Singtel)