How Much to Store in the Cloud?

[Windows 10 Pro, v.20H2, build 19042.746]

As computing moves increasingly to the cloud, I'm finding myself storing more and more personal data in OneDrive (and Google Drive.) While this is really convenient - and just what Microsoft and Google want - it does make me nervous for two reasons:

First - I have no backup for cloud storage. Granted, Microsoft and Google surely have industrial strength backup capability, but I have no backup that I can easily restore on my own.

Second - A well-executed hack can separate me from my data, perhaps permanently. At home I have several ways to defend myself against attack and, if everything fails, I've got my backups.

So here's my question: How much data does it make sense to store in the cloud, and how can that be (efficiently) backed up, or does it need to be backed up? Thanks for your advice.

Well, with something like OneDrive, you can set that to keep a copy on your local drive as well as in the cloud. This way the data will be stored in 2 locations. It's unlikely you would lose your home PC at the same time that the cloud lost your data too.

All "data" should be backed up. If it's not something you can easily replace, you should at least have 1 backup copy of it.

If possible,use one or perhaps two,usb drives as storage and backup.Macrium free or paid is a good choice.
Unplugged usb drives are perfectly safe,cloud and others are questionable. Fraudulent use of "acquired" personal data will only ever increase.
Maybe I'm too cynical.

Thanks for everyone's advice, which I appreciate. In reply:

It's good to know that cloud storage providers take precautions to keep more than one copy of my uploaded data. I expected that anyway, but good to know. I'm only dealing with Google Drive and OneDrive, so I'm confident that Google and Microsoft will do this right and have no fears that either will go bankrupt in a hurry.

I do not use either Google's sync app or Microsoft's sync app. I keep files either in the cloud or on my hard drive, but not both. I only interact with Google Drive and OneDrive through their websites. So if my computer were to be attacked by ransomware, I do not fear my cloud storage would also be attacked.

Of course, I backup my hard drive daily - sometimes more often than that. I happen to use Macrium Reflect but I know there are also other great choices. Reflect has this feature whereby nothing can change your backups - ransomware protection. I'm actually a backup fanatic and follow the 3-2-1 rule.

Like others who replied, I do not store sensitive personal information in either cloud storage provider.

It seems like I needn't worry about backing up data stored in either Google Drive or OneDrive. Even so, to a backup fanatic that just seems 'wrong.' But the only way to backup cloud storage is to download it and that's not very practical.

So it seems that the answer to my questions is: I needn't worry about backing up what I store in the cloud, and don't store anything really sensitive there.

Technically not. Cloud stores data in multiple locations, so there are backed up. There are 3 problems:

1. The provider could go bankrupt, but usually they allow people to download their files before that. But as far as reliable providers go, like MS or Google, I would not worry about it much. You can use more than one.

2. Ransowmare could encrypt your files on your computer and they would upload online as such. That is where file versions comes in. Make sure you use it, Google has it ON by default, not sure about OneDrive.

3. Ransomware with malware could remove your files in the cloud. That is the most dangerous option. I would keep personal files in the secure folder. So even if malware would remove all your files from the cloud, that should protect your files. As long as you keep it locked, when not in use. I do not run the cloud app nonstop, just when syncing or downloading to mitigate it. Not to mention using 2FA (preferably via OTP app).

There are fourth and fifth issues to consider. Storage limits on your plan may vary in the future, possibly downwards. Services that are free today may not be so in the future.