My Tech Talk

Backing up your data is critical and using an online service to securely backup your information accomplishes two important objectives:

1. First and foremost, you have a backup copy of your data!
2. Second of all, your backup data is stored “off site” or away from your computer.

Point # 2 is often overlooked. Folks backup their data to CDs, DVDs or external hard drives and then store those backup files in the same place as their computer. Even worse, some store it in the same bag as their laptop!

What happens when your bag is stolen? Bye-bye laptop and bye-bye data backup!

What happens when your home is damaged by fire, flood or ________ (insert your natural disaster here)? Bye bye computer and bye bye data backup!

Ok, so disasters aren’t an every day occurrence. What if you spill some soda on your external hard drive? Or drop it? Or misplace it? Or your toddler wants to see if it will float in the bath tub?

Have you ever scratched a CD? Yep, me too.

In order to avoid this type of headache, online backup services are ideal. I just tested out Mozy.com and found it very user-friendly. They offer 2GB of free (and secure) storage, which will be either:

• Woefully inadequate for users with large quantities of data OR
• Just right for backing up a few important files, pictures, etc.

Here’s what I like about mozy.com’s service:

• Free 2 GB of storage (no trials or tricks, just good ole’ free!)
• User friendly software identifies and categorizes files to backup and lists the size of the files (very helpful for novice users who often wonder what to backup)
• Advanced features for those more comfortable with PCs and configuring backups.
• Option to schedule backups to run on a regular basis. (In other words, set it and forget it)
• Larger storage options available for a monthly (not annual) fee.
• “Slider” setting in the software allows you to control how much bandwidth is used during the backup process.

Here’s what I don’t like:

• Slow upload speeds.

However, this isn’t Mozy’s fault. It’s a reality for most home users on DSL or cable Internet, except for that lucky 75 year old woman in Sweden. Upload speeds are always slower than download speeds. Regardless of the culprit, transferring large amounts of your data securely onto Mozy’s servers takes longer than transferring them onto an external hard drive or burning them to CD.

That’s just a limitation of any kind of online backup service.

I’d suggest you consider giving Mozy a try. If you like it, you can decide whether to upgrade to a larger account (if you need it).

If Mozy isn’t to your liking, there are other online backup services to explore:

Carbonite

Xdrive

Kela

Whatever you do, you need to backup your important data. It will save you a lot of stress and worry when your hard drive crashes or your laptop wanders off. Backing up your important files limits a catastrophe to a mere inconvenience.

Trust me.

This is experience talking here. : )

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 at 6:54 am and is filed under Online/Social Media, Software, Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.