If you’re a developer, you know backups are critical. But how long will yours really last? Is your critical data actually backed up for the long haul?
You need hardcore long-term cold storage—designed to last 50–100 years and survive an EMP. (I had lightning take out a few pieces of equipment once. It happens.)
So, let’s talk about cold storage. Not the kind with glacier services and subscription fees. I’m talking old-school, low-tech, long-life backup. Something you can hand your grandkids one day and say, “Here’s the stuff that actually mattered.”
Only Back Up What You Can’t Afford to Lose
This isn’t about saving everything. Cold storage we are talking about is for mission-critical only—not the family photos, not the 20 years of personal code, not your 4K vacation videos.
Here’s what makes the cut:
- Tax and financial documents
- Health records
- Legal paperwork
- IDs or passports
- 2FA QR codes and backup codes
- Writings or books you authored
The goal is simple: back up the things that, if lost, would cause real pain.
Use 3-2-1 and Optical Discs
Stick to the tried-and-true 3-2-1 backup rule:
- 3 total copies (one can be your working copy)
- 2 different storage types or locations
- 1 off-site or locked in a fire-safe
But here’s the twist: use archival-grade DVD-Rs. Yes, DVDs are the best (not Blu-ray ~5 years is all they will give you before risk gets involved).
- Write-once only (not rewritable)
- From two different spindles (manufacturing flaws happen)
- Burn two copies per archive for redundancy
Why DVDs? Because magnetic storage (HDDs, SSDs, tapes) starts degrading around year 5. Archival DVDs are stable for 50 to 100 years if stored correctly.
Don’t Encrypt It
Encryption sounds good now, but:
- The algorithm could become obsolete
- Passwords can be lost
- In 20+ years, you might not be around to explain it
- In 50+ years, future compute will likely breakthrough the encryption
Keep it unencrypted and physically secure instead. A locked safe trumps fancy crypto if no one can get to the data.
Store It in a Fire-Safe (With Silica Gel)
Get a real mechanical safe—fireproof, EMP-proof, waterproof, theft-resistant. Put inside:
- Your DVDs
- A printed index of the contents
- Silica gel packets (to keep moisture out)
Simple. Reliable. Future-proof.
TL;DR
Cold storage = mission-critical, long-term backup. Your strategy:
- Use archival-grade DVD-Rs, not hard drives
- Follow the 3-2-1 rule
- Don’t encrypt, but store securely
- Use a safe, with silica gel and a printed index
Set it. Forget it. Sleep better knowing the stuff that matters will still exist long after your current laptop is scrap metal.
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