Cloud storage for 8TB of music files on an external HD

@whitestix - thanks for starting this thread 

@ghdprentice - thanks for your input.  I’m transitioning from CDs to streaming, and was wondering if I should burn my CD collection or just skip as I plan to subscribe to Qobuz and maybe Tidal.  Also, I was confused on best method to backup files.  Your IT background speaks volumes - thanks for sharing your expertise.

I’m a PC user, is there some advantage moving to Apple?

For myself, don't store ANYTHING personal and important to me on a cloud service. They can be hacked just like everything else on the net, so I don't trust them. All my music is backed up on both both disc and SS external drives along with my Sony HAPZ1ES and a 2TB drive in my Eversolo DMPA8. Here's the rub; as ghdprentice mentioned, now a days, I do the majority of my listening on Qobuz, Amazon Music, and the Sirius XM app on my streamers. I haven't used my actual music server for several months now, and I've lately started to wonder if I even need it anymore. Besides those considerations, I'm 74. Although my health is excellent,  my need for any of the things I own and treasure is predicated on how much longer I'll be around. None of my heirs will have any use for any of it. 

Remote and Portable Data is so compact and affordable, and USB 3.0 is very fast.

I keep only Operating System and Programs on the internal start up drive. All data is on a portable drive, USB 3.0 is so fast you think it’s an internal drive. And, after the large initial backup, incremental updates are quick.

I have two identical external hard drives, one connected USB 3.0 to my Desktop Computer for all data, and I keep the second backup one in the trunk of my car which I park in my inactive residential street at the end of the driveway.

Weekly backup of new/modified files.

If there is a house fire, hopefully they will put it out before my car is destroyed.

I really should keep backup copies of my software somewhere safe.

When I was running my business from home, more critical client files, and external drives were neither afordable or compact, and SCSI chains were involved, I kept my backup drive inside my neighbor’s home across the street, and I kept her backup here. We reminded each other to backup weekly.

It’s not if a drive will die, it;s when, but both won’t die at the same time.

Another advantage, I can take my primary portable drive with my laptop, and have the latest files anywhere anytime, and do the backup anywhere anytime, just don't risk keeping them both in the same place often.

No idea why people want to use Cloud Backups for personal data. Get a RAID device, put your data on another drive, basically have it in more then one spot. Unless the drive is physically destroyed, it can be recovered, even when destroyed they can sometimes work wonders. 

As you have noticed cloud backup is slow! As well everything might not be there. Then you have to remember to upload anything new you add. 

Stripe 2 drive, get a RAID, have a backup disk of your disk, you will be fine. 

Total HDD failures are rare, usually you start to loose block, and the drive will self repair, over time it will tell you it needs to be replaced. 

OP,

Solid state drives are reasonably reliable when used constantly so if they're attached to your computer and you're using them all the time.  This refreshes the memory with power. But for long-term storage, they are not. It's much better to have discs and discs are cheap. When not in use the data does not deteriorate over a few years. I always have a minimum of two.backups of everything. You can get an attachable USB drive with 8tb for $150. You can rotate the two extra ones or you can keep one attached all the time and put one in the closet. Sounds like you simply want long-term storage so just make two copies and two different discs and throw them in the closet.

You can also get raid boxes that attach to your computer or that attach to your network. I have both. I wouldn't do it. They can be useful, but they are complex. They have many different ways to configure them with different reliabilities and data requirements. For instance, you'll generally need twice as much data storage capacity than data. This just goes on and on and you can end up like me with 100 TB in your house.

Under no circumstances trust back up software that stuff is so unbelievably unreliable. It's amazing. Not only did I have trouble at home when I ended up in charge of data centers the backup software that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars didn't work until we played with it for months, so stay away from that stuff.

Absolutely keep it simple. Otherwise, you're gonna become an IT guy.

Also consider the concept of sunk cost. I understand the feeling of the value of this material so if you just make a couple copies, you'll be feel comfortable.