| More and more online backup services are popping up | | | | standards, both when the information is in transit and |
| every day, and some big name players have exited | | | | while being stored. Do they have redundant backup |
| the market. This makes it harder to decide which | | | | sites, in case one of their sites is affected by a |
| online backup service is right for you or your | | | | disaster? |
| business. We've compiled a top 10 list for you to | | | | 6. Does the Provider Offer Flexible Scheduling? A |
| consider before making that decision: | | | | good and reputable online backup service provider |
| | | | should offer a variety of backup scheduling options |
| 1. How Much Storage Space Do I Really Need? You | | | | such as monthly, weekly, daily, hourly or even |
| will want to determine your storage needs carefully. | | | | instantly. This way you can choose what's right for |
| Some services provide unlimited storage, while the | | | | you or your business. When deciding which online |
| providers that don't offer unlimited storage will either | | | | backup service to go with, you should also look for |
| put a hard cap on the amount of storage space you | | | | providers who offer the choice of full control or as |
| get, or they may charge you a fee for going over | | | | hands-off automated backups as well. |
| your allotted limit. Something to consider is that many | | | | 7. How Scalable is the Service? For businesses that |
| people will utilize online backup as a secondary backup | | | | plan on expanding or opening additional locations or |
| strategy for their most important data. This strategy | | | | branches, you should look for a provider that offers |
| gives ultimate confidence that your important data is | | | | unlimited computers to be backed up under one |
| safe, while keeping backup times lower, and storage | | | | account. |
| needs affordable. | | | | 8. How Stable is the Company? With so many of |
| 2. I Want an Online Backup Solution that is Simple and | | | | these companies deciding not to continue offering |
| Very User Friendly? If a simple "set it up and forget | | | | their services, it's extremely important to look into |
| it" solution is key in determining which online backup | | | | the over-all stability, long term viability and vision that |
| service is right for you, then look for a backup | | | | these companies have for themselves. Examples of |
| service that works quietly and efficiently in the | | | | three well known companies that have recently |
| background automatically backing up your changes. | | | | discontinued their online backup and storage offerings |
| Data backup should not interfere with your daily | | | | are Hp's Upline, AOL's Xdrive, and Yahoo's Briefcase. |
| business routines, but rather protect you without you | | | | So, when deciding which online backup service is right |
| even having o think about it. | | | | for you, it's not enough to go with a "big name", but |
| 3. Do I have to download special software? A good | | | | rather you must find out what vision the company |
| web interface should be a crucial factor in deciding | | | | has for its product. Are they looking to fill a particular |
| which online backup service is a fit for anyone. A | | | | "niche" or somehow set themselves apart form all |
| good online backup service will enable users not only | | | | the rest of the crowd? |
| to access their backup data online, but also be able | | | | 9. Do they offer a Free Trial? In order to evaluate a |
| to backup files to, and restore files directly from the | | | | service effectively make sure that the provider |
| Internet from anywhere in the world with Internet | | | | either offers a free trial period sufficient to test out |
| access. | | | | their offering, or a money back guarantee period. |
| 4. What if I Accidentally Delete a file, or a file gets | | | | Most providers do not offer refunds, or very limited |
| Corrupted? While some providers just keep the | | | | refunds, so make sure that you test them out |
| latest copy of a backup, there are those that allow | | | | before deciding which online backup service fits your |
| you to save and retrieve multiple copies of your data | | | | needs best. |
| files along with a version history. This can be | | | | 10. What if I have a problem? How do I get help? |
| extremely useful in circumstances where someone | | | | Type of support options available, should be a crucial |
| may have deleted information accidentally, or data is | | | | factor in deciding which online backup service you |
| corrupted or irreparably infected by a virus. Being | | | | select. If the provider only offers email support, and |
| able to retrieve an earlier version, can be a life saver. | | | | you then have problems accessing or restoring a |
| 5. How Secure is My Data? When deciding which | | | | critical backup, will you be playing email tag for days? |
| online backup service is a fit for you, a careful review | | | | Do they have an established escalation policy? If your |
| of their security features should be at the top of the | | | | computer is down, and you use it for your business, |
| list. Make sure your provider is able to offer detailed | | | | even waiting 24 hours for a response could be a |
| information about how data is transferred to and | | | | large problem. If they offer phone support, is it |
| from the backup site, and how security is guaranteed | | | | staffed 24×7x365 or only during specified |
| at the backup location itself. These features should | | | | hours? Do you have to pay extra for phone support? |
| include strong file encryption and access-control | | | | |