How reliable is flash memory?

[Dickstar]

I'm thinking about buying a 32GB USB flash drive for backing up my important stuff. Photo's, documents... stuff like that.

Just wondering, how reliable is this technology? I'm either buying a drive like this, or signing up for one of those online backup services. The 2nd option is a bit more expensive (and better of course).

My question is, would you (as a HDD guru) use a USB stick to back up your most important data?

[CK]

Personally.. NO WAY!

Forget about how reliable it is, all it takes is a fire, flood damage or theft for your valuable data to be gone forever.

We backup our most important data (accounts, etc) to an online storage service. I also keep 2 copies on HDD of all data in our safe, should something catastrophic happen. I know it seems stupid that a DR company stores its data offsite and the providers are probably having a good laugh at our expense, but I just don't trust HDD's or Flash memory.

The key to safety of data is MULTIPLE COPIES OF DATA IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

[dick]

Hi!
Whatever you do don't use a single 32gb usb stick to back up all your 'important and most precious data'
Sorry but only a fool would do that? Or maybe somebody with little knowledge.

And why not you may ask...........Its an electronic device and would be susceptible to any kind of natural catastrophe such as lightning strike, overvoltage, spike, etc and sometimes they even just stop working.

My advice would be to use some form of media such as cd or dvd and to make sure you have more than one backup. Then by all means you could keep a backup on a usb flash drive as well!

EDIT: Ahh the above post demonstrates what a bad idea it is as well!

[Dickstar]

Haha alright, that's clear. I'm currently using DVD's to back up my stuff every month.

[pcimage]

These USB drives should NEVER be used for a reliable backup device. I would personally only use for temporary data transfer/storage.

Due to the NAND technology used in these devices, and subsequent write-levelling, they can only write a finite number of times, which does not instill confidence for use as a reliable backup device!

Sean