Online backup is a fantastic supplement to ‘normal’ backup. Compare to backup in a PC hard disk or an external hard drive, online backup storage could be safer and more cost-saving. Another benefit of remote backup is that the secure files will be available at any time when users have internet access.
Secure Online Backup with Encryption in PC
Online backup media are usually safer than physical backup storage media, for they will not be broken or lost. For files and data, they are really reliable too.
Online backup service providers usually offer encryption of files and encryption in connection. A 256-bit AES encryption key can made files top-secret. At the same time, users can add another security layer by encrypting sensitive files in his computer. For example, he can use the free and open source TrueCrypt to create encrypted volumes where sensitive files stored. Through these processes, users can protect their data from both physical and internet theft.
Best Free Online Backup Services Providers
There are a few offsite backup services providers offering free space online. The free spaces range from 2GB to up to 50GB. Even small business owners can have enough free spaces to secure their database through internet. These storage providers include:
- Adrive offers the biggest free space among all the offsite backup providers – they offer 50GB! Though the bigger is not consequentially the better, sometimes an extra gigabyte could make things different. Adrive doesn’t provide desktop client for free users. But a web based backup system is available.
- Windows Live Skydrive offers 25 GB free space for online storage.
- Idrive offers 2 GB free space. But a user could extend the free space to 12 GB by referring Idrive to his contacts.
- Mozy offers 2 GB free space. MozyHome provides free desktop client for automatic online backup. Simply right-click and click, automated data backup will be done.
- Other free network data backup providers include Memopal (3GB), Dropbox (2GB), Motherdrive (2GB), Humyo (10GB), Opendrive (5GB & 50MB/day), Fabrik (2GB), and Syncplicity (2-3GB).
Risk of Online Data Backup Utilities
Another tip for using free online backup utilities is that do not put all your eggs in one basket. Theoretically online backup services are safe. But unfortunately people make mistakes. It is reported that some data engineers made mistakes causing data loss. A good choice is having at least one online backup as well as one “normal” secure data backup; and a better is having two of both for recovery.
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Best Offsite Backup Services and Solutions 2011 Reviews
Best Online Data Backup Services and Solutions 2011 Reviews
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Chen Nanyang - Chen Nanyang's journalist career began in 2002 when he started writing for China's Nanfang City News, Singapore's United Morning Post and ...
