Online backup - some options

When was the last time you backed up your data? In my last post I discussed online backup services and today I will take a look at what three of these companies have to offer.

Backblaze has a reputation as being simple to use and hands-off. It costs $5.00 (prices in USD) a month for unlimited storage, but if you pay for a year up front you can get it down to $4.17 a month, and if you pay for two years it goes to $3.96.

Backblaze backs up continuously if you are connected to the internet, but you have the option of manually controlling this or scheduling backup times. Your data is “encrypted on your computer, sent over an encrypted connection, and stored encrypted” in a secure location.

It offers a mobile app for iPhone users and will backup external hard drives attached to your computer.

You can access your files from any web browser and download them for free. For an extra fee Backblaze will also send you your files on a flash drive or USB hard drive.

Carbonite offers three personal plans, which range from $59.99 to $149.99 (all prices in USD) per year. All offer unlimited storage space, but it will cost a bit extra to back up an external hard drive. Your files are backed up continuously and can be accessed from anywhere.

Files are encrypted and protected with “the same level of security used in online banking” and their Sync and Share app allows you to sync and share files across your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. You can also share files with others directly from the app.

Plus ($99.99/year) and Prime ($149.99/year) plans give you the option of mirror image backup, which means you can back up your entire hard drive, including operating systems and programs, to an external hard drive. Video files are backed up automatically with the Prime plan and can be added manually to Basic and Plus plans.

CrashPlan offers an interesting and unique feature that allows you to backup your data to a friend’s computer. Your data is encrypted and password protected, so your friend cannot access it. This is a part of their free plan (which does not include online cloud storage), along with a once daily automatic backup to an external hard drive.

A plan offering unlimited cloud storage will cost A$5.25 a month (note: CrashPlan prices in Australian dollars) if you pay for a year in advance. They also have a family plan (A$12.50 a month) which can be used to protect two or more computers using a single email address and family password.

They offer a mobile app and data is encrypted and stored under “military-grade security standards.”I appreciated that their “Restore-to-Door” service (you are sent a hard drive containing a copy of your computer’s backup for an additional fee) is listed as available in New Zealand, and they have an Australia/New Zealand store as well as a New Zealand help line number.

All of these services are impressive and each would serve you well. They are just three examples of many options when it comes to backing up. We recommend that you decide exactly what you want from a system and then do your own research to choose the right one for you.

In my next post I will report back on my own experience of backing up online.

(Note: I have discussed personal plans in this article, but all three services also offer plans for business. It is worth mentioning that you should check with your school/organisation about your workplace policy for using cloud services if you are planning on using any online backup service to store work files.)

Image: August by Shandi-lee Cox on Flickr