Western Digital survey reveals global data backup trends

Western Digital has released findings from a global survey revealing trends in data backup practices among consumers.

The study, which surveyed 6,118 respondents from ten countries including the UK, found that 79% of individuals actively backup their data, either automatically or manually. The primary motivators for this practice are fears of losing important files, the need to free up device space, and protection against cyber threats.

Nitin Kachhwaha, Director of Product Management at Western Digital, commented, "It's fantastic to see more people recognising the importance of protecting their data. World Backup Day is an important yearly reminder to everyone to backup their data and to educate the people who still aren't aware of the impact of failing to backup. It's also an opportunity to reinforce just how critical it is to safeguard what matters most—because all it takes is one small accident for data to be lost forever. In fact, almost half (42%) of respondents have already experienced data loss due to device failure, accidental deletion or cyberattacks."

Despite a large percentage of people backing up their data, challenges remain. Among those who do not backup, 35% indicated they do not know how to go about the process, leaving their data susceptible to loss and cyber threats. Furthermore, 26% believe they do not need to backup, 23% are hindered by insufficient storage space, and 21% are discouraged by the amount of time required.

The survey highlights that 56% of respondents would prefer to backup data more frequently if the process were automatic and effortless. According to industry recommendations, a robust backup routine employs the 3-2-1 strategy, which involves retaining three copies of data on two different types of storage media, with at least one copy stored offsite.

Many users are re-evaluating their storage approaches due to the limitations of free cloud storage. The research indicates that 62% of participants rely on free cloud solutions, yet 35% have run out of space in the last six months. Consequently, 44% have transitioned to paying for additional storage space, with 65% considering these costs to be on the rise.

In response, consumers are increasingly adopting a hybrid model that combines cloud and local external storage to mitigate costs while ensuring data protection. The survey found that 37% of respondents use external HDDs, and 8% utilise network-attached storage (NAS), while a predominant 81% continue to lean on cloud services.

Western Digital has addressed these concerns by providing enhanced storage solutions that cater to both personal and business demands. Recently, the company expanded its product lineup with higher capacity options, including a 26TB WD Red Pro CMR HDD for NAS environments, and the WD My Passport, 20th Anniversary Edition, offering up to 6TB of portable HDD storage. These devices also feature Acronis True Image for Western Digital software, facilitating easier backup scheduling.

The survey, conducted by Researchscape, an international market research consultancy, gathered data between 7 and 25 February 2025. The sample included 562 respondents from the UK, highlighting regional perspectives on data backup practices.