The process of backing up one's computer data is a process that, like other forms of insurance, may seem too mundane or unnecessary to bother with - until disaster strikes and it is too late. Years ago, computer data backup software and solutions consisted of some form of external physical media, such as a CD, zip drive, dvd, external hard drive, or tape drive, plus automating software running on the computer.

If you're in the market for a backup solution, consider more modern broadband internet connections and affordable hard drive space to meet your online backup needs. Many online backup services offer plenty of additional space including disaster recovery. The advantage of these services is that the user doesn't need to purchase additional external storage, but rather continue paying for the service on an ongoing basis just like an internet service provider.

Performing a typical backup program can be quite a strain on one's computer compared to using the software client's footprint. However, the speed of the latter method is limited to bandwidth and a large backup can become very time intensive. Traditional methods using external physical media are faster, but can be halted if the Internet connection is lost.

Many of the services offered allow free trials; fees are approximately five dollars per month for a normal subscription, all the way up to hundreds of dollars per year for enterprise subscriptions. At the moment, storage space availability starts at one gigabyte on up to unlimited space. Compared to external media, the user has the option of purchasing much more storage space as they need it.

Some services are geared more towards the Windows operating system, or more towards the Mac operating system. As such, one can expect the restoration of their data to be a smoother process from certain services than others. Many of the online backup services also include various additional functionality, such as photo sharing through the creation of online slideshows, file sharing, and data encryption during the upload process, the download process, as well as for the data storage itself.

Internal hard drives have a natural failure rate. There are various ways in which a hard drive can be endangered, or the stored data can be stolen along with the computer. Therefore, regardless of what service someone opts for, having an operational and regular data backup procedure in place is essential in case such an emergency occurs.