I wanted to discuss my backup approach for protecting digital files across my family’s devices and local network. We all have important data—family photos, tax documents, hobby projects—that deserves protection.

The Challenge

Our household uses diverse devices (PCs, Macs, tablets, etc.), and while cloud services are convenient, I prioritize data ownership and privacy. That’s why I’ve built a multi-layered backup system.

Desktop & Laptop Backups

For computers, I use Backblaze at $6.99/month per machine for unlimited backup storage. The service runs continuously with encryption and zero-knowledge architecture, making it ideal for less technical family members. While it limits manual selection, their AI effectively identifies important files like the home directory while excluding system files.

Mobile & Tablet Strategy

Phones and tablets sync through iCloud, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Additionally, I run a Synology DS220+ NAS on my home network that backs up photos directly from mobile devices.

Cloud Data Protection

The Synology uses Cloud Sync to simultaneously back up Apple and Google data to my NAS, Backblaze, and AWS S3 Glacier—creating dual redundancy at minimal cost.

Server & IoT Backups

For Raspberry Pis and cloud servers, I employ restic, which creates encrypted snapshots stored in both Glacier and Backblaze via daily cronjobs.

This approach ensures comprehensive protection across all devices with full data ownership.