Whether you’re using a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera, or your smartphone, these devices offer limited storage space and are vulnerable to damage, loss, and theft. Here are a few methods for off-site storage to free up space and preserve your photos. These methods fall into five categories: magnetic, solid state, secure digital, optical, and cloud.

Magnetic storage refers to any storage that includes a hard drive. Although most computer manufacturers are moving to solid-state drives (SSDs), the conventional hard drive is still used, both in computers and in external and portable storage units.

Magnetic storage is stable and can hold a huge amount of data. Capacities are measured in units as large as terabytes. One of the disadvantages of external hard drives is their vulnerability to physical damage, such as from fire or other disaster. Additionally, magnetic drives rely on physical moving parts, making them more vulnerable to mechanical failure than SSDs. Many photographers who use hard drives keep secondary drives in extra-secure locations.

SSDs use circuitry and sometimes flash memory to store data. They have no moving parts and are therefore quieter, faster, and more reliable than conventional hard drives. These advantages come at a price, but you may find the extra cost worth it when you consider longevity, security, and portability.