Last minute gift guide: 5 portable hard drives for the mobile professional

Available with storage of 1 - 3TB, this drive from Western Digital features good encryption to keep files safe, automatic backup capability, and works with Windows and Macs. It features a USB 3.0 connection for fast data transfer.

The WD 1TB is $54.99 and the 3TB version is $119.08 on Amazon.

Seagate adds two years of 200GB of free OneDrive cloud storage with the 2TB of onboard storage of this portable drive. It comes with software to create customized backup plans to keep a system up-to-date with little effort.

It features USB 3.0 connectivity.

Get the Seagate drive from Amazon for $99.99. There is a 1TB model for $59.00.

Those hard on their gear may need a rugged drive, and this one features military grade protection. It is shockproof including drops. It features USB 3.0 connectivity with transfer rates up to 5GB/second. It has a clever system for wrapping the cables around the device for transport.

Find they Silicon Power 1TB drive on Amazon for $57.99. There is a 2TB model for $97.99.

This is another drive for those clumsy folks on your gift list as it is tested to survive military grade drops. The 1TB capacity should be adequate for most folks' needs. It features both USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectivity options to cover all the bases.

It has an automatic backup system.

Get the Transcend 1TB drive from Amazon for $54.90. There is a 2TB option for $94.99.

The folks at Toshiba have a drive that is designed to be easy to use. There is no software to install, just plug and play. It has USB 3.0 connectivity and a slim design for maximum portability. There is an optional case that can be ordered with the drive to proted it during transport.

You can get the Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB from Amazon for $56.48.