Online Backup Reviews

An Easy Guide to the Features of Online Backup

If you’ve spent any time browsing the internet for online backup providers, one thing will have become clear: there are many, many out there!

Yes, online backup is a highly competitive and thriving market which is constantly growing, so much so that start-ups often pop up out of nowhere, sometimes on a daily or weekly basis. They all offer you the bread and butter features of backup and access, of course...but what are all those other extras?

Automated Backups – This is one of the most common features of online backup nowadays and is the bare minimum you should expect. With this invaluable feature, you’ll never have to threat about manually backing up again; backups can be set to run weekly, daily, or even hourly.

File Sync – Short for synchronization (OK, that was kind of a given!). If you have multiple devices linked to your account, there’s a good chance you have some commonly used files, such as music and photos, which you’d like instantly accessible via a single folder. File sync makes this possible!

Drag & Drop – Just like dragging & dropping files from one location to another on your computer, you can do the exact same thing with online backup. If there’s a file you want to backup from your desktop, you can simply drag it straight into your provider’s app.

File Sharing – It sounds simple, and...well, it is! Far simpler than sending countless email attachments and writing files to CDs to share with friends and family. With this feature, you can send a small document or even a large photo album in the click of a button.

File Versioning – File versioning saves a lot of storage space and time. Once you’ve completed the initial backup of your computer, for example, only future changes to files will be backed up. For instance, to save the same report being backed up over and over, only future changes will be. There’s even the option to recover different versions of the file later.

Mobile App Compatibility – Many providers offer you not just online backup for your PC and notebook, but also for your mobile devices. Apps can be downloaded and installed onto your smartphone and tablet, for example, allowing you to manage your online backup world on-the-move.

Device Locator – This is a feature which providers such as JustCloud offer. Any linked devices, such as your smartphone, PC or notebook, can be located in the event of them becoming lost or stolen.

Remember, when you’re considering an online backup provider, make sure to check their list of features. Not all providers supply the above, and some only supply a small number. Figure out how you plan to utilize your provider’s services, and this will make your decision a lot easier.

Is Online Backup Secure?

Successful companies in the competitive market of online backup understand that their customers are looking for more than just automated backups and recovery. Of course, this other aspect that is usually at the top everyone’s list is security.

And rightly so, because security should always be paramount when it comes to user’s data.

Data is secured upon upload and download with high levels of software encryption such as 256 bit AES and SSL for storage within the data center. The data centers themselves are also of particularly high standards; MyPC Backup, for example, uses Amazon’s well known S3 servers.

In terms of the integrity of online backup companies, it should not be questioned in regards to them sneaking a peek at your data. Their philosophy is to ‘protect’ data—not to invade privacy.

It is, however, always worth checking out the websites of your potential providers to make sure you are happy with the level of security they are offering, as providers can vary from one to the next.

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