Backup Features:  

With this service you can configure automatic, incremental and selective backups. It can also be set to perform backups while your system is in low use. The file structure is easy to understand and you can easily view the progress of your backup. We would have liked to have seen file versioning support and the ability to resume after an interruption, but we did not see this in the program and we did not see these two features discussed in the user manual.

Remote/ Mobile/ Web Access:  

Similar to many online backup services, iStorage does not offer mobile phone tools or apps, but does offer good internet based tools. You can view your files from any computer with an Internet connection. One unique feature this service has is a tool called WhaleMail that will allow you to send large files, much larger than what you could normally send through an email. The WhaleMail tool does not limit the size of a file you can send, you are only limited by your overall memory package.

Security:  

iStorage does a good job at protecting your information, they use 128-bit encryption for transfers and offer a Triple-DES option. They use high-end firewall technology and store your information redundantly, with servers on the East and West coast for added protection.

Backup Space/ Price:  

This service is pricey, the home version is $5.99 per month for just one GB and the professional version is $99.99 per month for 25 GB. We would also like to see larger packages available; the home version offers one GB to 5GB and the Professional provides packages of one GB to 25 GB. This does not seem like much when many people’s cell phones hold over 5GB.

Ease of Use:  

As you can see from the screenshots, iStorage’s control panel is easy to understand and navigate. The file system hierarchy is similar to what you are used to and you can easily find files and configure the type of backup you desire. The advanced options are a little harder to learn, but the comprehensive user guide explains everything quite well.

Help/Support:  

You can contact iStorage for support by telephone and live chat during business hours. Chat support is available 7:00 am to 8:00 pm mountain time Monday thru Friday. However, they only offer email support for sales, rebates and promotions, product registration and for general feedback for Iomega. We would really like to see an email support option for support; we find it quite unusual that they do not offer it.

In terms of technical support, there are useful items like user manuals and a forum online. The user manual is comprehensive; the home guide alone is 48 pages in length and is full of instructions and explanations with accompanying helpful screenshots. It is offered as a PDF file so it is searchable, printable and more.

iStorage, like some other capable services like IBackup and SOS Backup, have higher prices than their competitors like Mozy and ElephantDrive. Though price is not usually an issue when we review a service, it’s one of the factors that makes a difference with these services and is important to evaluate. It’s important to make sure you use a service that can offer enough memory, at an affordable rate, to back up all the files you want. Other than the small setback on price, iStorage offers good basic backup and remote access tools coupled with excellent security. You might want to compare them with SugarSync or Dropbox.