External drives and USB devices are often the forgotten orphans of backup strategies. While many cloud backup services handle your main computer files effectively, peripheral storage—especially external hard drives, USB sticks, and network-attached storage (NAS)—requires a different approach. I've spent years evaluating backup solutions across different use cases, and the reality is that not all services are created equal when it comes to protecting data on external devices.
The Challenge With Peripheral Storage
Most people accumulate external drives over time without a coherent backup plan. A USB stick with project files, an external hard drive with photo archives, a portable SSD for work—these devices often exist in a dangerous limbo. They're disconnected from regular backup routines, frequently transported, and occasionally left unattended. According to industry reports, data loss incidents involving external storage account for roughly 40% of all backup disasters in small businesses.
The core problem is that traditional backup solutions are built around backing up internal drives. When you connect an external drive to your computer, some services handle it seamlessly, while others ignore it entirely or treat it as optional. You need a service that actively monitors external devices and includes them in your backup plan without requiring manual intervention every time you plug something in.
Key Features for External Drive Backup
Before evaluating specific services, understand what actually matters:
Automatic Detection and Backup: Your backup software should recognize external devices when connected and automatically back them up without prompts. Manual backups are convenient until you forget—and you will forget.
Incremental Backup Technology: Not every file needs to be re-uploaded on every sync. Incremental backups only transfer changed files, dramatically reducing time and bandwidth consumption. This is essential for large external drives.
Versioning and Recovery: You need the ability to recover previous versions of files, not just the current state. Ransomware can encrypt files before you notice; versioning allows you to recover a clean copy from before the infection.
Encryption in Transit and at Rest: Data on external devices is particularly vulnerable because these drives are portable. Military-grade AES-256 encryption should be standard, and you should verify that your provider doesn't have master keys to your data.
Cross-Platform Support: External drives get moved between Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. Your backup solution should work seamlessly across platforms.
Best Services for Backing Up External Storage
Backblaze
Backblaze ($8/month per computer) stands out for external drive support. It actively backs up all connected drives automatically, and there's no storage limit—a substantial advantage if you're protecting terabytes. The interface is straightforward, and recovery is fast. However, Backblaze's strength is reliability rather than speed; initial backups of large external drives can take weeks.
Pros: Unlimited storage, automatic external drive detection, decent pricing
Cons: Slow initial backup, no file sync capabilities, cloud access to files is web-based only
IDrive
IDrive ($74.62/year or $14.95/month) offers strong external device support with automatic backup scheduling. You can set it to back up external drives only when they're connected and plugged in—useful if you prefer not to consume bandwidth constantly. IDrive also includes a solid versioning system with the ability to keep versions for up to 180 days.
Pros: Good version control, flexible scheduling, affordable annual plan, works with Windows, Mac, and Linux
Cons: Can be slower than competitors, the interface feels dated, limited free trial
Carbonite
Carbonite ($7.99/month) has actually improved its external drive handling significantly in recent years. It monitors external devices and backs them up on a schedule you set. The service includes file sync capabilities, which is useful if you work with files across multiple machines. Recovery is straightforward, and they offer versioning.
Pros: Affordable, automatic external device recognition, includes file sync
Cons: Storage limits on some plans, customer support is sometimes slow, backup speeds vary
Acronis True Image
Acronis ($99.99/year) takes a different approach—it backs up entire drives as disk images, not just files. This is powerful if you want to restore an entire external drive to its exact state, but it requires more technical knowledge. Acronis is especially popular with professionals who need bare-metal recovery.
Pros: Byte-for-byte backup, can restore entire external drives, includes ransomware protection
Cons: More complex to set up, requires more storage space, steeper learning curve
Comparison Table
| Service | Monthly Cost | Storage Limit | Auto-Detect External Drives | Versioning | Platform Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze | $8 | Unlimited | Yes | Yes (30 days) | Windows, Mac |
| IDrive | $14.95 | 2 TB | Yes | 180 days | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Carbonite | $7.99 | 500 GB–Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Windows, Mac |
| Acronis | $8.33/mo | 1 TB–Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Prices and features updated September 2025; verify current offerings on provider websites
Configuration and Best Practices
Regardless of which service you choose, follow these practices:
Organize Your External Drives: Use consistent folder structures across devices. If you have multiple external drives, label them clearly and maintain a simple inventory. This makes recovery simpler when you need to locate specific files.
Test Recovery Before Crisis: Actually restore files from your backups at least once a year. Many people discover their backup strategy is broken only when they need it. Pull a few random files and verify they're intact.
Set Reasonable Schedules: Back up external drives frequently enough to avoid significant data loss, but not so frequently that you consume excessive bandwidth. Daily backups for USB sticks containing work files; weekly for archive drives.
Use Multiple Backup Layers: Don't rely on a single backup service. The 3-2-1 rule (3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, 1 offsite) is industry standard for a reason. Your external drive should be backed up to cloud storage AND also have a local backup copy on another drive kept in a different physical location.
Enable Encryption Locally Too: Many backup services offer client-side encryption, meaning they can't see your data even if they wanted to. Enable this feature. It's extra protection if your account is ever compromised.
For additional guidance on evaluating backup solutions, BackupToolPick provides detailed reviews comparing services across various criteria—worth checking if you're comparing multiple options.
Conclusion
Backing up external drives doesn't require expensive enterprise solutions or complex setups. The right service handles this automatically and reliably. For most people, Backblaze offers the best value because of its unlimited storage and genuine "set and forget" approach. If you need more control, IDrive's scheduling flexibility is worth the slight extra cost. Carbonite splits the difference effectively.
The key insight is this: your backup strategy is only as good as its weakest link. External drives represent a real weak point for most people. Choose a service that actively monitors these devices, backs them up automatically, and keeps versions you can recover. Test it regularly. Don't assume it's working until you've verified recovery works when you actually need it.
Your external drives contain data too valuable to leave to chance. With the right backup service in place, you can stop worrying about losing them.
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