Online Backup Services

Choosing an online backup service can be overwhelming for anyone, whether a business owner, or individual wishing to store personal data (and personal business). There are plenty of services willing to house and protect that

information. In fact, there are many of these services on the market these days, and remote data storage is a common search phrase, along with 'online backup service.' The information on information storage can make it difficult to decide where to begin.

There are four major things to consider when selecting the right service for an individual's specific needs. Below are some considerations when deciding on which online backup service to use.

#1 - The amount of space to be stored

It's important to note the type of things that need to be backed up, whether it's personal or business data. Consider which files will need to be saved, such as:

• Photos

• Receipts

• Tax Returns

• Creative Writing

• Business Correspondence

• Scanned Legal Documents

All of these have different sizes, all of these files are important, and can and should be backed up. If the hard drive has more than 50 GB of data on it, it would be better to consider a service with an 'unlimited' package. Additionally, it's good to keep in mind that 'unlimited' and 'infinite' are not the same. Some of the services will limit the amount of storage to a certain extent. The reason? Data transfers slow the process speed significantly if the transfer is in excess of 150 GB-200 GB.

#2 - How many computers need backup, at home or at the office

This is a critical consideration for those who have a home office or a small business and use two or more computers to store their information. For example, Acronis backup services offer to protect up to five PCs under one account, and have a cap of 250 GB-all for $4.95 per month; Safecopy, however, allows multiple computers on one account, with a cap of 3 GB-all for free. Depending on the needs of the company or family, and the budget restraints of the individuals involved, the choice in this case would come between space needs and payment ability.

#3 - The technical capabilities of the customer

Some people are very high-tech and can practically create their own cloud servers and back up their own data without any help. The majority of individuals, however, are not so inclined. They simply want a service that is easy to use and can guide them through the process, step-by-step. When checking out an online backup service, consider the following questions:

• Is the service easy to use, and are the instructions clearly laid out for the customer?

• If disaster strikes (virus, computer crash, physical damage to the hard drive), how easy is it to retrieve the backup data?

• Can the data be retrieved through a mobile app?

Answering these questions beforehand can save much time and many headaches when trying to backup data. Many of these services know that their customers are far too busy with their lives and work to be technical wizards, so they often will make it easy for backup transfers to take place. Reading reviews from other customers can help a great deal in this case, as many will provide how easy or difficult it was to backup files and to retrieve them in times of need.

#4 - Specifications and security: save money and rest easy

These two items are important for two related reasons-saving money up front, and ensuring all data backed up cannot be stolen or hacked (therefore saving money by not having personal budget data stolen, for example).

When considering any software for online backup, it is important to note if the software is compatible with all of the computers that will need to be backed up. Older operating systems or uncommonly used operating systems may not be supported by certain programs, and to purchase one without checking compatibility would be a big waste of money. Always check the specifications and requirements prior to purchase.

Security of data being stored is another concern for those looking to protect personal and business information. Certainly, it is great that some programs offer unlimited storage, but if that data is not secure, then it might not be worth having backup that can be stolen and used for fraudulent purposes. Find out which services offer data encryption, and which ones offer double encryption. Some services have set up the backup data so that if, in the unlikely event a hacker is able to get his or her hands on those files, when they open them up for use, all they will get is nonsense-all because of the data encryption. Additionally, in order to keep the data safe, many services keep a backup of the backup, in the event of natural disasters or physical destruction of the remote server. It may be a good idea to ask ahead prior to choosing the right service for the individual needs of the business or person.