Goodbye Flash Drives, Hello Online Backup

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Computers )



Nowadays, viruses are becoming harder to detect and trojans are multiplying as fast as India’s birth rate. It is not surprising that a lot of computer users are realizing the need for multiple antivirus and firewall programs in their systems. The primary rationale: they wouldn’t dare sacrifice their valuable files of MP3s, movies, documents, and programs to a single virus.

But layers of protection, however, can not protect your computer from physical harm, such as fire, theft or accidents. Even if you have an external hard drive, a CD or DVD burn system or a USB thumb drive, given their limited storage space, these wouldn’t suffice as they can be destroyed along with the main system, especially that they are usually placed nearby.

This unending paranoia of file crashes and unbelievable acts of nature (whether human or physical) is the reason why online backup services are necessary alternatives. Online backup is possible by downloading a backup program from the service’s website. The program, then, will allow you to select (or perhaps, a drag-and-drop utility) files that you’d like to upload and save into the online backup storage. Once you’re done, the server will compress the files to save space. However, your beloved files will be readily available whenever you log-in to the server to retrieve them.

Whether your computer gets that virus crash, or is simply taken away from you by a thief, you’re sure that your files have been saved. However, for such a wonderful idea of security, there’s a corresponding price to pay. There are back-up companies geared towards a user-friendly online data backup facility for small businesses, backing up a 50 GB hard drive can cost as much as buying four camcorders. On the other hand, there are some back-up facilities that offer file sharing in addition to the usual back-up service.

Most definitely, online backup storage beats out external back-up systems by a mile. And for such a price, it is better to streamline your online backup solutions according to your needs. First, your most critical files, like MS Office documents and your portfolio of videos, should be backed-up online. Complement this by getting a portable external hard drive, especially if you’re using a notebook, which you will use as a mirror of your primary hard drive. And to make the whole grandiose plan foolproof, backup disks should be placed off-site, preferably in a steel vault or in your bank’s vault.

Online backup is the future’s answer to secure and convenient file storage. But it should not be the only step to be taken in protecting your most treasured files. Accompanied by other back-up resources, file back-up will have never been so secure.


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