Why Do I Need Online Backup?

Insurance

The same way you buy life insurance for yourself, your family and your properties, you need to insure your data from unforeseen incidents, like: virus, theft of your computer, accidental human error, fire, flood, tornado, mud-slides, earthquake, tsunami, hurricane or other disasters.

Just think of the Tsunami in Asia, and Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in the southern USA! People who saved their family pictures online were able to submit their missing kids’ pictures to the authorities immediately! Those who did not save their file online gave the authorities pictures of their kids taken when the kids were infants, while the missing kids were almost teenagers!

Most people backup their data onto a CD/DVD, Tape or external hard drive. The problem with these traditional methods of backup is that, they don’t completely protect you unless they are stored offsite. If you store your backup CD/DVD in the same location as your source, they could be destroyed along with the original data by any one of the unforeseen incidents, listed above.

Convenience

One of the most common problems with traditional backup is that, people don’t perform it regularly. At best, backups are done sporadically, when planning a major trip or hearing news reports about computer virus or hackers destroying computer files.

With online backup computer users don’t have to worry about remembering to backup regularly. Once the program is setup, it does the job automatically and consistently, at desired time intervals.

Cost

For home users, the cost of copying your data to a CD/DVD is negligible, however the cost of keeping them current and storing them offsite (such as bank deposit boxes) could be substantial. The cost is even more pronounced for business, whether running tape backups for a multitude of servers or copying files to CD/DVD. Costs for hardware, backup software and tapes will vary depending on data-set size and the amount of automation required. For example : a 100-GB single-drive DLT or DAT system can exceed $5,000 per installation. This does not include annual support, maintenance, off-site tape storage costs, and inevitable equipment upgrades.

Key Features and Benefits of Online Backup

Although features and benefits vary from one company to another, most online providers have the following features not available with traditional backups:

• Cost No capital outlay (payment on a monthly or yearly basis)
• No huge set up fees nor license fees
• No tape storage costs
• Low operating costs

Ease of use

• Setup and installation is generally simpler and completed within minutes of downloading the software
• Backups can run in the background and in parallel with users normal activities
• Current and historical data can be restored easily and immediately
• Easy and centralized management of all backups

Reliability

• Scalable
• Mirrored Data
• Protected against data loss due to sabotage, fire, theft, flood, virus or other disasters
• There is no worry over lost, damaged, or worn out tapes
• Better accuracy for budgeting and forecasting
• Increased compliance assurance

Convenience

• File sharing capabilities, if needed
• Remote web access to data anytime
• 24 x 7 x 365 data availability
• Extensive reporting for audits and verification

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