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[O141]Online Backup Service Review

by Andrew Stratton, And

The rationale behind using an online backup service is simple. By saving your data on remote servers, the risk of catastrophic data loss as a result natural disasters, theft, technical failure, or other disaster is virtually eliminated. You can be assured, if your building is unavailable, all of your stored information can be recovered, and your business can get back to work quickly using the online backup service.

The online backup services providers will allow you to completely automate the service they offer - you can schedule your backups to start at regular intervals. You also have the flexibility to manually start them yourselves.

Most Online backup service providers offer:

* Continuous backup
* Offsite storage - Keep a separate copy of data at a remote location
* No wait recovery - data is recovered very quickly (Within Minutes)
* No tapes, no hassles - lower your costs, prices start at around $10 a month

Continuous Backup

Most online backup service companies will allow you to ensure that your data is continuously backed up as it changes, 24 hours a day, so it's always protected. A historical archive containing previous versions is also retained. Whether you need the most recent copy from a few minutes ago or a version from the past, the appropriate copy will be available with a few clicks in a web browser.

Offsite Storage

In the event of a disaster, your data is automatically stored offsite at a secure data center via state-of-the-art security technology. Offsite storage provides your business with disaster recovery for critical server data should your office be damaged or destroyed.

No-Wait Recovery

Restore your data fast. Instantly recover your data to the point of failure, eliminating downtime and data loss from relying on a previous night's backup. For added convenience and speed, most providers supply a unique web interface that allows you to initiate restores from any web browser anywhere.

No Tapes. No Hassles. Lower Costs.

Manual tape backup has proven to be extremely error-prone with failure rates as high as 50%. Compounding this risk is the complex and time-consuming nature of tape backup-particularly for businesses with limited IT resources.

Any online backup service allows you to focus on running, growing and improving your business - not the tedious backup requirements:

No tapes to purchase, handle, catalogue, or store
No backup staffing and scheduling
No driving tapes offsite
No rebuilding files from multiple tapes
No mechanical or environmentally-induced tape failures
No backup error messages to decipher
Many provide 100% guaranteed recovery

In essence for small monthly fee, you can implement a disaster recovery plan that will ensure that no matter what life throws at you and your company, you will be in a position to very quickly continue with your operations safe in the knowledge that your business data is safe.

An online backup service allows your company the flexibility you need in accessing your data.

When it comes to your personal computer files, this secure feeling comes when you know your files are backed up with an online file storage service. As there are literally hundreds of services that exist today, what is it exactly that you should look for when it comes to online backup?

It is important to note that all online backup services are not created equal. Some are free up to a certain point and others charge astronomical prices right off the bat. Those that are free usually hit you with a multitude of advertisements but will also offer you up-gradable plans in which you can pay for more features and ultimately less ads. Deciding which one is right for you really depends on your specific needs.

If you only have a handful of personal files that need to be backed up then you can probably find what you want with one of the free services. But more and more people are finding themselves online constantly and therefore need to backup a multitude of files.

Here are some things to look for when deciding on an online file storage service:

• Features: Typically in the world of online backup, the more you pay the more features you get. With a free account you can expect lots of ads and little features. On the flip side, if you pay a monthly or annual fee, you can usually expect little to no ads and customer support 24/7. Most of the pay plans are very similar when it comes to features, so a little research and cost comparing can save you some money.

• Flexibility: It is good to go with a service that will allow you to upgrade or downgrade your account easily should you need to do so. You may decide to start off with a free plan but wish to switch to a pay plan or vice-versa. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a service that will not work for your changing needs. Be sure to go with a service that is as flexible as your lifestyle.

• Contractual obligation: Many services offer discounted prices as a bait to hook you into signing a lengthy contract. The length of the contract depends on the service but once you sign the contract there is little you can do should you find yourself unhappy with the service. Make sure you go with a service that does not make you sign a long-term contract.

• Reliability: Here is where doing your homework pays off. Don't just go with the cheapest service available. These are after all your personal computer files and you want them protected by a reputable company. Do a Google or Yahoo search of online backup services and take the time to read reviews. You can also ask your bank or any other large institution who they use to back up their files and go from there.

The business of online backup is ever growing. There are more and more companies popping up on a daily basis and only by doing your homework and asking questions can you be sure that you will choose the right online backup service that will meet your needs today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Article Source : Crashed Hard Drive Data Recovery

About Author

Both Andrew Stratton & Jason Kay are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Andrew Stratton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Motorola Cell Phone, Tummy Tucks Before and After and Political and Social. An allows your company the flexibility you need in accessing your data. Online backup from Global Data Vault allows. Andrew Stratton's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.

Jason Kay has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Home Based Business and Cover Letter. Jason Kay recommends reading reviews and ratings of the best services to choose the right one for you.. Jason Kay's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.