"Do you need to store numerous files but your PC is not enough for you? Is your data important and needs to be backed up? An easy solution for these problems might be cloud storage. But that needs an Internet connection which might not always be reliable. This is where local storage devices enter. Your portable storage devices are always far more accessible than cloud and you don’t always need to worry about their performance. So, whether it is backing up data for your company or simply saving photographs, local storage devices are the wisest option. With more developments, the USB and flash drives have become faster, portable and more powerful than ever before.

When you save such important data on something you will definitely need to satisfy yourself that the data cannot be corrupted. Here are five things to ensure before buying portable storage devices so you do not have any qualms about the safety of your data:

Use the correct connection:

This depends on the type of machine you want to connect the device to. Some computers and even smartphones support Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port while most others have at least one USB port. So, although Thunderbolt is fairly common, USB ports are a must in most computers. This makes them a safer and long-term option because one thing is sure: USB will not become obsolete in the coming years.

See what’s famous:

The USB-C ports are the most recent and popular type of connector in most laptops and computers. Every new computer will mostly have a USB-C connector so buying a storage device that supports this port is the best option. This is also because a USB-C port can also work on any type of connector whereas a non-USB-C port will not work with a USB-C connector.

Choose between what is fast and what is cheap:

This mainly depends upon the type of storage you need.If you need a faster device then choose SSD because they tend to be quicker and more responsive. However, they are also expensive. So if your requirement is for simple everyday tasks like backing up and not editing large HD files then don’t go for SSD. Choose a simple hard drive. In addition, Thunderbolt is also faster than USB.

Check if it has adequate storage:

This is quite obvious seeing that the main purpose of these portable devices is storage. You may choose a device that has greatest storage capacity but do not waste money on extra storage when you do not need it.

Make sure your device is sturdy:

If you are clumsy then you must ensure that the portable device you are buying is not fragile and is crash resistant.

A list of the best portable devices includes:

Glyph Atom SSD
Samsung Portable SSD T3
Sandisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD
LaCie RuggedThunderbolt All-Terrain
So, it is wise to analyze which device is suited to your needs before buying or it might be a waste of money."