Online Data Backup Review

The average computer user will likely tell you they’re afraid of a hard drive crash erasing all their important files, photos, music, videos and more. However, many may also admit that they don’t regularly back up their data, even though they’re aware their priceless personal files and valuable multimedia collection could be gone in an instant. Online data backup services are an excellent, easy and secure way to back up your data automatically at an off-site location.

If your computer’s hard drive fails, you’ll have immediate access to your data from a modern web browser on another computer. Several online data backup services offer a mobile app, allowing you to access your files from your mobile devices. The top three services, MyPC Backup, SugarSync and OpenDrive, offer several features that all quality online data backup services should have.

Because your data is stored off-site, if your computer crashes, is destroyed or stolen, your data is still safe on the service’s secured servers. There are several reasons for using an online data backup service, including not needing to burn CDs or DVDs of your data. By the time you’re done burning discs, you’ll probably have dozens lying around. Having an external hard drive is an essential part of any backup plan, but using an off-site data backup service will keep your files safe if disaster strikes your home. These services are easy to use, and you won’t feel like you need an advanced degree in computer science to schedule your backups. Be sure to read our articles about online data backup services and our online backup reviews to learn more.

Online Data Backup Services: What to Look For

There are several items to consider when you’re looking for quality online computer backup services, such as how much space you require. Some services offer a variety of storage space allotments so you can pick the plan that best fits your needs. Others offer unlimited storage space for a monthly subscription or an annual price.

The next thing you’ll need to consider is what kinds of features and tools you want to have. Some services offer not only basic backup tools, but also tools for sharing, plus versioning and mobile access. Here are the features we looked at when completing our online backup comparison:

Backup Features
These include automatic backups, archiving, incremental backups and file managers. The best online backup services should also offer an intuitive user interface, and it should be simple to set up automatic transfers and syncing. The versioning feature will keep a record of each time you save a file and allow you to access any version. This feature is can prove very useful in the event you accidentally delete a file or save a change you didn’t mean to keep.

Remote/ Mobile/ Web Access
Many online file backup services offer remote-access features, such the ability to sync to multiple computers, folder or album sharing and access from another computer with a web browser. Some services have a mobile app so you can view or change your backed-up data from your smartphone or tablet.

Security
It’s important that your computer data is being protected with high levels of encryption both during the transfer and while it’s in storage. Secure transfers and private storage are paramount. We looked at the types of encryptions each service uses, and we gave preference to the companies that store your data on multiple servers.

Backup Space
Each one of the Offsite backup solutions offers different plans with a variety of storage limits, from a few gigabytes up to several terabytes, all for a monthly subscription fee. Some services offer an unlimited amount of backup space, usually at a discounted annual rate.

Ease of Use
The best online data backup services should be easy to use. The tools and features to backup computers online ought to be simple to understand and work with, and the control panel’s user interface should be intuitive and straightforward.

Help & Support
There should be adequate help and support options, such as a user manual, FAQs page and more. If you need more help or technical support, you should be able to contact the online data backup service by telephone, email or live chat.

Online data backup services provide an excellent way to avoid permanently losing your most important files, documents, music, photos, videos and more if your hard drive crashes or your computer is stolen or destroyed. With these services, you can easily access and download your data 24/7 from anywhere.

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