Only 22.5 % of Germans Use Cloud Services to Secure Private Media

• eco Association gives 5 tips for securely storing photos and files while on the go
• 57.6 per cent of Germans do not use cloud services, exposing themselves to high risks
• eco Association offers guidance in choosing the right cloud service

Germans do not adequately back up their photos and videos from family holidays or family celebrations on their smartphones. According to a representative survey of 2,506 Germans conducted by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, only 22.5 per cent use cloud services for storing private media. Specifically, 14.6 per cent of Germans rely on the cloud for creating backups, 17.5 per cent back up their mobile phone data, and 8 per cent collaborate on documents using cloud services. However, the majority (57.6 per cent) do not use cloud services.

“Cloud services are the optimal choice for securing valuable photos and videos, offering a wide range of reliable options,” states Markus Schaffrin, eco security expert and Business Unit Manager Member Services. Cloud providers store data via the Internet on servers in data centres, ensuring professional security and a high availability of approximately 100 per cent. “If a smartphone is stolen or lost, valuable memories can be irretrievably lost. However, if photos and videos are previously transferred to the cloud, they can be accessed and downloaded any time, with the option to share selected albums or collections with family members.

Markus Schaffrin gives five tips for securely storing family photos and videos in the cloud to preserve them for eternity:

1. Choosing the appropriate cloud service: Opt for a cloud service that suits your needs. Popular Providers such as Google Photos, Apple iCloud, Amazon Photos and Microsoft OneDrive are well-suited for storing family photos. If it is essential that your photos adhere to the DSGVO (Basic Data Protection Regulation), by being stored in Germany, consider German providers such as Strato, Hetzner or IONOS. Additionally, many providers offer the option to store pictures and videos in encrypted formats.
2. Enable synchronisation and automatic backups: Ensure that you have activated automatic synchronisation and backup of the cloud service on your mobile device. This will regularly upload your photos to the cloud without your manual intervention.
3. Organise and tag: Use the organisation and tagging features of the cloud service to organise your photos into albums or specific categories. This allows you to find your photos easier later.
4. Prioritise security and privacy: Enable additional security measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your user account with your cloud provider. Check the privacy settings and decide which photos should be visible to others. Remember that many cloud providers automatically scan your uploaded images – not all images are legally rated the same in every country.
5. Make regular backups: Don’t solely rely on the cloud for storing your family collection. Regularly make physical backups of your most valuable images, such as on external hard drives, to ensure they are not lost due to a technical problem with your cloud service.

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Civey surveyed 2,500 German citizens aged 18 and older online on behalf of eco from 18 to 21 August 2023. The results are representative due to quotations and weightings, considering the statistical error of 3.4 per cent (overall result).