| You have finally taken the decision to use an online | | | | yourself - i.e. a password - so it can only be |
| backup service. So what next? There are quite a | | | | decrypted by yourself or somebody authorized by |
| number of services out there. Are they all alike? Do | | | | you. It can't be accessed by anybody else including |
| you pick one with a pin? | | | | the backup service itself. If this matters to you, you |
| Well no, they are not all alike by any means. They | | | | need to check this before you finalize your purchase. |
| differ on quite a number of important points. | | | | - Online backup services also differ in terms of the |
| - An online data storage system can be software | | | | ease and speed of recovery of your files. It is quite |
| based, or web based. If it's a software-based | | | | common for people who use some services to |
| system, you download the software and install it on | | | | experience delay and difficulty when trying to |
| your computer. Then you can administer your backup | | | | retrieve their files. Some providers send the data to |
| by connecting to the server of the backup service. | | | | a third party for storage and you have to wait till |
| With the web-based option, you can access your | | | | they can retrieve it from this source, before it can |
| files from any computer by going to the web site of | | | | be sent to you. Sometimes, too, people find some of |
| the backup service and using your unique ID. Some | | | | the files have been corrupted when they get them |
| people like the software option because it puts you | | | | back. Different providers have different ways of |
| more in control. However if your computer is down, it | | | | storing your data, and if this information isn't given on |
| is much easier to access your files with the | | | | their websites, you are quite entitled to ask them. If |
| web-based service and this is the one more people | | | | you sign up for a service, you can use the free trial |
| choose. | | | | period to try to retrieve some files and see how |
| - Not all online backup services encrypt your data | | | | easy it is. |
| before storing it. Unfortunately, some companies will | | | | Online backup services can be very different in all |
| access your stored data and use it for marketing | | | | sorts of ways, but it can be difficult to compare |
| purposes. And of course, if your data isn't encrypted, | | | | them - obviously you can only have direct experience |
| you have very little control over who has access to | | | | of one company. Before choosing a service, you |
| it. More and more companies are becoming aware | | | | should make a list of what factors are important to |
| that customers need to ensure the privacy and | | | | you, and then find out as much as possible about |
| security of their data. These services will encrypt | | | | each company before making your choice. |
| your files using an encryption key provided by | | | | |