SpiderOak Delivers ‘SuperCloud’ Virtual Personal Network: Store, Backup, Access, Share & Sync with One Online Service

September 24, 2008

10-15 Times Faster, More Versatile & More Secure Than Other Offerings

CHICAGO, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Online data manager SpiderOak is taking personal data into the cloud, enabling users to store, backup, access, share and sync files to their personal ‘SuperCloud’ from any combination of Windows, Mac and Linux computers as well as external storage media. No other service offers this full range of capabilities, along with essential usability features such as advanced de-duplication that cuts backup/sync time by as much as 90%. This also drastically reduces storage costs by conserving space.

SpiderOak allows users to create a virtual personal network from which they can access stored documents, music, photos, movies and other data 24×7 from any computer anywhere in the world with a click — including historical versions and deleted files that are irretrievable with most online storage and synchronization services. This eliminates worries about data loss, forgetting to transfer files between computers, data inaccessibility after a computer crash, carrying flash drives on the road, or delays caused by the need to submit information retrieval requests to the service provider.

The sharing portion of the service — unique for online storage providers — enables users to create password-protected ‘ShareRooms’ with groups of folders that can be seen by designated friends, family members, colleagues, or clients. The sync feature — coming in October — will be the market’s most rapid, flexible, space-saving and feature-rich utility for online synchronization of multiple computers.

“Most online storage/backup services are basically bulk uploaders. They don’t offer sharing, sync or remote access features, and many of them limit the amount of data you can upload or number of files you can restore in a month. This prevents people from protecting all of their data on all of their devices,” said SpiderOak CEO Ethan R. Oberman. “With our service, you can not only do more than backup, but you can also literally throw your computer away and still have access to all your data. That’s why we call it a ‘SuperCloud.’”

SpiderOak also overcomes the technical limitations and cost inefficiencies of other services with features that include:

– Faster backup and sync via massive data de-duplication, which ensures that only new files or changes to existing files are transmitted for backup. This allows uploads after the initial backup of the first computer in a user’s account to be 10 to 15 times faster than other services. Backups occur automatically whenever changes or additions are made.

– Cost-saving intelligent duplication removal, again through SpiderOak’s massive data de-duping technology. In one case, SpiderOak backed up four machines with 80GB of data in only 25GB, saving storage costs as well as days of backup time.

– Windows/Mac/Linux/peripheral support, accommodating any mix of computers, external hard drives, network drives, removable media and soon-to-be-added mobile devices. Most services support only Windows and Mac computers.

– Low-cost aggregating of multiple devices on one account, enabling users to take advantage of bulk storage rates. Users also save time by managing data on work, home and spare computers as well as external drives in a unified manner. Other services with “unlimited” support cover only the user’s primary hard drive.

– Perpetual file and version storage, ensuring access to older and even deleted files at any time. Other services do not save historical versions or deleted material, leaving users without full protection. SpiderOak’s ability to store only unique data shrinks the space required for multiple versions, avoiding excess storage costs.

– An industry-first no-password-storage security policy that prevents even SpiderOak employees from viewing user information including file and folder names. The user’s password is used to generate an encryption key that again is inaccessible to the company.

SpiderOak is free for the first 2GB of storage, $10/month from 2 to 100GB, and $10/month for each additional 100GB increment for an unlimited number of devices.

About SpiderOak

SpiderOak provides innovative virtual personal network services that simplify the process of backing up, accessing, organizing, sharing and synchronizing data from any number of computers or external storage media. The company allows users to create a ‘SuperCloud’ that protects them against data loss, makes all stored information available by browser on a 24×7 basis, offers password-protected ‘Share Rooms’ for easy family/friend/colleague access, and provides a variety of technical advantages for efficient and cost-effective data management. For more information, visit http://www.spideroak.com