Why You Should Backup Your Data Online
Posted by: Brad
Tags: back up, backup data online, Computers, data, data backup, Internet, offsite data backup, online backup, online data backup, storage
Backing up the data on a desktop or laptop is something most people probably don’t think about. If you one of those that don’t take data backup seriously, stop of a minute and think about how much personal data your have stored on your computer right now. Imagine if you hard drive crashed, and you couldn’t recover that data?
We store thousands of files on our computers, files that can’t be replaced easily. Such files may include personal digital photos or videos, work or school assignments, and even your e-mail and contact information.
There are probably several reasons that you may not backup your data, such as it is too complex, too expensive, or you can’t remember to perform the actual backup. Data backup has improved substantially over the last few years, especially in the area of online data backup.
Online data backup basically allows you to backup your data from the computer to a online storage provider. There are many benefits to using such a service, such as security, offsite storage, affordable, and automatic backups.
Online backup providers usually encrypt your files on your local computer and transfer the files over an encrypted SSL connection. The files are then stored, still encrypted, on the backup provider’s servers. This ensures the contents of you files can’t be read by anyone but yourself.
Another benefit, and this one is huge, is that your files are stored offsite, meaning they aren’t stored in the same location as your computer. While external hard drives are also great for backing up your data, if there was ever a disaster that destroy your home, your computer and external hard drive could be lost. Offsite data backup prevents a situation such as this from being a reality.
In terms of cost, this on depends on the online backup provider. Many offer a free package that provides several gigabytes of storage space. From there it depends on the company. Some offer unlimited storage for less than ten dollars a month, which is still a good price considering your data is safe and secure.
Finally, the last point is a rather good one – automatic backup. Usually an online data backup provider will supply an application that runs in the background of your computer. This application monitors the directories and files you have chosen to be backed up. If there are any changes, the application will automatically backup those changes for you. This means that you don’t need to remember to backup your files on a regular basis as the application does it for you.
With the above advantages to online data backup, it is definitely something you should consider if you wish the keep your data safe.