Date: 04 Jan 12

The Ins and Outs of Online Backup

Online backup is becoming one of the most popular forms of storing data and files in order to keep them safe and secure. While some people still choose to backup data using the standard CD or flash drives, this does not always prevent data loss. In the case of a fire or a flood, these hard copies can also be damaged along with the computer that the files they are storing originate from. Online backup is therefore the best option in ensuring that any crucial data is stored entirely.

How does online backup work?

An explanation of how online backup works is simple: businesses can send their critical data, with the use of the internet, to an external computer which then acts as the remote storage backup. When a business loses their data, they are then able to connect to this remote storage computer and recover the lost data. Online backup is therefore the most convenient and reliable method for any business to adopt, in order to store their important information. It is an especially convenient method for businesses that have employees who travel around the world and are situated in various offices. Files can be accessed from anywhere in the globe, from any location, allowing information to be easily transferred and shared between colleagues.

Why use online backup?

When there is a possibility of losing data, it needs to be backed up. Misfortunes can occur at any time, with fires, vandalism, theft and even viruses causing destruction to PCs. In these events vital information will almost certainly be lost and if it is not backed up, it will be lost forever. Even when data is backed up on external sources (i.e. CDs and flash drives) it is risky to keep these external storage devices in the same place as the computers the data is stored from, such as in the office.

Online backups can also run automatically, meaning they can be configured upon purchase, with the backup service provider to run in whatever way suits your business schedule.

What is internet backup?

When it comes to internet backup, there are two different ways in which this can be conducted. The first option is that the service provider for your online backup package will provide software to be downloaded and installed on the computer. This will connect to an online server run by the backup service provider and allow you to specify the files you wish to be backed up. These files are then transferred via the internet to the remote backup storage site. This allows the recovery of data, in the event of any data loss, by simply connecting the backup provider’s software.

The second option for using internet backup is to use a web-based product. This means that one can use their browser and internet connection to access files on any selected computer. This is the convenient option for allowing users to share files between them. Having said this, the downfall is that it cannot back up as many files as the previously mentioned option.

Those are the basic things anyone needs to know before signing up to an online backup service. However, the most important thing to remember is that this is the most reliable method of keeping data secure and making it easily recoverable.