Using an SD card for backup?

Solution 1:

It is possible to do what you are describing, but an external drive or SSD is better suited because:

faster performance (SSD) Lifespan - see below

btw the data can be stored on the SSD "forever" - unlike CDs

Common criticism of flash-based storage like SDHC cards is the lack of "wear leveling." Wear leveling is a technique used in SSDs for prolonging the lifespan of flash memory. Flash memory is limited by the number of times data can be written and erased to the medium. Wear-leveling works around this limitation by arranging data so that erasures and re-writes are distributed evenly across the medium. In this way, no single sector of the flash prematurely fails due to a high number of write cycles.

But some dispute the limitation because: For example, the 16GB A-DATA SDHC card has an estimated endurance or lifetime of 1,000,000 write cycles. What does that mean is "real world" terms? You would have to constantly write, erase and re-write data non-stop for several years before you need to be concerned about failure.

Solution 2:

• SD cards are meant to be written to. There is no reason not to use one.

• Yes, flash medium will eventually wear out over time. However, modern flash media will last a very, very long time.

• SD cards are non-volatile, therefore the data will survive, even without being plugged in for many years, if not decades.