The 5 Key Elements of an Online Backup Service

In my prior post, I discussed the insanity of my existing backup strategy and how I got to this point today.

While doing my research on online backup services, I had a couple of things in mind but it wasn’t until I started doing my research that it became apparent. (Once again, diving deeper into the subject gave me an awareness that I didn’t have before I started out.)

What I wanted was an online service that met the following 5 requirements:

1.Price/GB ratio

I wanted cheap Giga Bytes (GB) of data backup storage and I wasn't willing to pay outrageous prices. If it cost me less than $20 for an 8GB USB thumb drive, why would I be crazy to pay , i.e., 4GB @ $19.95 / month.

2. Reliability/safety/uptime/data redundancy

This is just geek speak for 24 x 7 x 365 accessibility. I want my online data backup service to be available when I need it. Especially on Thanks Giving, Christmas, New Years, 4th of July, etc…

3. Ease of use

If it isn’t easy, it isn’t for me. I just want to backup my data and not have to wade through a manuals learning the ins and outs of an online backup service

4. Speed

I can't wait hours or days to backup/restore my data. If for some unknown reason I need to restore a file, I need it NOW and not 10 minutes or 10 hours or 10 days from now!

5. Versioning

I need to keep versions of specific files and data. Often, I'll revert back to a prior file or data simply because I messed something up and need to start over. Having multiple versions by date/time is an absolute "must have"!

Now with a list of 5 requirements in hand, I began my quest to find an online backup service. OK, how do I begin? Where do I go first or what do I do first? Silly questions I know...but of course I go to Google and search on Home Online Backup Services! (How did I ever manage to find anything without Google?)

From the Google search result, I first jumped over to to PC Mag to read their review...and then to Consumer Research...and then to Information Week...and then to what seemed like a million other sites...you know...there's TOO MUCH INFORMATION...

With over 40 vendors offering online backup services I couldn't possibly review each offering and give a fair assessment--unless of course, I was looking for a new full time job. Instead, I leveraged the work of others (see sources below) and then selected the best 3 for a hands-on-try-before-you-buy analysis.

(click image to inlarge)

Anyway, after doing my research for longer than I wanted, I finally found an online service that met my 5 requirement or needs.



WOW! This is sweet and a big relief.

No longer am I hand-cuffed to external hard drives and to fumbling through a drawer full of different sized USB thumb drives.

No longer do I have to worry about my housing burning down or my hard drive crashing or someone breaking into my home and stealing my computer...

Take a look and see yourself (click on the graphics)



(currently, it's a no brainer--you get 2 GB's of FREE storage to try-before-you-buy!)

Sources
1. PC Magazine:
This roundup rates five online backup services. SOS Online Backup takes the top spot, though Mozy is called "good." Editors say it's a bit harder to use than the other services, according to reviewer Michael Muchmore.
Review: The Best Online Backup Services, Michael Muchmore, Apr. 29, 2008

2. Information Week:
Testing here includes AT&T Online Vault, Carbonite, eSureIT, IBackup and Mozy, and Mozy is an easy winner. Reviewer Serdar Yegulalp likes the free 2 GB service, and notes you can upgrade if you need more.
Review: Five Online Backup Services Keep Your Data Safe, Serdar Yegulalp, Apr. 9, 2007

3. Consumersearch.com:
In this roundup, MozyHome bests Carbonite, Mozy, Xdrive and Iron Mountain's Connected Backup/PC service. Says reviewer Joel Hruska: "Mozy's 2GB of free space is about standard, but the company's unlimited storage plan for just $4.95 a month is by far the most generous of the products we tested."
Review: Online Backup Solutions: A Review, Joel Hruska, July 16, 2007

4. Tom Muse.com:
Review: Ultimate Review List of Best Free Online Storage and Backup Application Services updated: 09/07/2008

Home Online Backups

I just got back from my local bulk Super store and saw an 8GB USB thumb drive for less than the cost of a 4 foot sandwich at Subway's…WOW! The amount of data you can cram into one of these small devices is truly amazing and this led me to thinking about my computer backup strategy--or lack of a strategy.

I won't give you a song and dance about my computer crashing and losing all my data and my girlfriend left me and my car was repossessed and I lost my job and my house was being foreclosed on and all that was left was me and my dog--and only if I backed up my data.

Nope, I'll just say that IF my computer crashed or if my home caught on fire or if someone broke into my house and stole my computer, etc..I'd be crying myself to sleep, would probably quit my job, stop paying the bills, and be out in the street.

Now what? My computer just Blue Screened--unbelievable--probably the new 8GB USB thumb drive I just bought...(I'll have to add that to the list as one of the possible reasons to backup my stuff..!!!)

Anyway, I've always been proactive when it comes to computer backups before the insanity of it all finally hit me square in the face.

My backup strategy was to have several external USB drives connected to my home network backing up a couple of desktops and my laptop. Also, I used individual thumb drives attached to the computers so that whenever I did some "computing" and wanted a fast backup, I'd copy it to the thumb drive. Or, if I wanted to take the information with me--to work or to a friends house etc., I had a portable method of transporting my data.

The problem was my every increasing addiction to downloading music, creating and downloading videos; unloading my digital camera after a weekend of what seemed at the time as memorable pictures, plus all my really important stuff, i.e.., resume, budget, etc...

Here's my reality. The external Giga-byte drives were never big enough--I'd play "shuffle" with my data: moving data from smaller filled-up drives into newly bought "bigger, cheaper, faster" drives.

What was even more insidious was the 250MB USB thumb drive grew into 500MB drive which turned into a 1GB, then 2GB, 4GB drive, and today, an 8GB drive. Now, if that wasn't enough, I had different sized thumb drives laying around my house and I even stashed a couple at my girlfriends house (I'm not sure where they're hidden but just in case my house burns down...what if her house burns down the same time mine does...?)

The insanity of it all.

The cure was a lobotomy..That's right. I cut out all the external USB drives and cut off all of my thumb drives!

Think about it--with increased Internet connection speeds, i.e., the use of cable, FIOS, DSL, and wireless technologies etc.., the days of local computer backups to network drives, external USB drives, and thumb drives are numbered if not over.

For me, I really made it simple. Instead of ME doing the worrying and work, I've turned it over to an Online Backup Service.

One of the benefits was allowing me to backup my data without the hassles of network drives and external hard drives and without the ever increasing population of USB “thumb" drives scattered everywhere but where they're supposed to be.

Why should I spend my money on a fist full of thumb drives and every increasing larger external drives when there's a better way?

The online backup software that came with my online backup service, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux by the way, is super easy to use and allowed me to quickly create a fully automatic data backup solution.

Want to try before you buy?

Heck, the free online storage amounts are more than enough to "test" drive the online backup service and probably meet the storage needs of most casual home users!

And fear not! Online Backup Services offer secured and encrypted online backups that will give you piece of mind knowing that your data is protected from pirates and thieves.

Before you go insane with your home backup strategy, see my article on the 5 Key Elements to Look For in an Online Backup Service that will save you time and money.