Abstract: A system and method of real time and automatic back up of media files, e.g., image, audio, and video files, etc., from a user device to a media storage device. A process on the user device detects the presence of a new media file, and initiates the backup process. The backup process determines if the media storage device is available over a local network. If so, the user device transfers the media file to the media storage device for backup. The media file may be encrypted. If the media storage device is not available over a local network, one or more servers may be used to facilitate a direct remote connection between the user device and the media storage device to enable the backup. If a direct remote connection is not possible, a server may be used as a relay to transfer the media file from the user device to the media storage device. After the media files are backed up, user-defined and/or automatically-generated tags may be associated with the media files as metadata.