Protect Your Data With Online Backups

We recommend that everyone consider using an online backup service to protect their data files. We like online backups because they are off-site and accessible from anywhere.  This means that your building can burn down and you can get online somewhere else and quickly recover your files.  This might very well mean the difference of being still in business or out of business.

The other reason that we like online backups is that they simply work.  Far too often, we have found that when we went to recover data from a physical backup media, such as a tape drive or a CD-ROM/DVD, the data is unrecoverable.  Also, tapes and CDs/DVDs take up space, decay over time, and optimally should be stored off-site (at some distance away if you are in an area that could get hit by a widespread disaster like a hurricane) in a fireproof media safe.  You’ll spend far less time, money and effort using an online backup service.

There are a bunch of online backup services out there.  We have tried most of them and the two we like the most are iDrive and Mozy.  Both support Windows and Mac.   iDrive’s pricing model is a little better, especially for business accounts, and easier to understand.  They both offer free 2GB personal backup.  iDrive will give you an additional 10GB for free if you recommend it to 5 other people.