Do you try to protect your onsite backup from fire? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago by Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I fully understand backup in layers. Ideally you want an onsite backup, and an offsite backup. But for the onsite... do you even try to protect it from fire?

If not, doesn't that mean all your "fire" protection is really just the one online layer?

And if you do, where do you get such a thing. I have looked around, I can't find anything that actually lists hard drives as protected. Like sentry safe has "data protection" safes, but they say this

"CDs, DVDs, memory sticks and USB drives up to 1700°F (927°C) for all FPW base models. These products are NOT intended to protect computer floppy or 21⁄4” diskettes, cartridges, tapes, audio or video cassettes, or photo negatives. "

That doesn't seem to include HDD or SSD. So I started wondering if anyone actually tries to protect their onsite backup from fire.

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[-] sparky1337@ttrpg.network 5 points 1 week ago

I think they mean if you’re using removable media that is easily portable then the answer to your question about fire proofing is doable.

You can store them in a fire safe when not actively backing up or need constant access.

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 1 week ago

Fireproof safes are for paper, not drives or tape.

They work by having a material in the walls that breaks down from heat, keeping the interior cool enough for paper.

I wouldn't trust that without some kind of testing.

[-] sparky1337@ttrpg.network 1 points 6 days ago

Well, honestly they’re not really good for anything. Most manufacturers use a bake type method, which is not in anyway comparable to a house engulfed in actual flames.

As a general consumer, this is about the best you can do. Put whatever in a “fireproof” bag inside a “fireproof” safe and you might save your data in the event of a fire.

It’s the same thing about gun “safes”. They’re not really safes unless you spend big money. Like $10,000+. Otherwise they’re categorized as “residential containers”.

I should have clarified whether or not my answer was in response to “is it possible” instead of “is it recommended”.

this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2025

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