The Little Geeni

If you want to backup your data, one of the best ways to do it is by using a remote offsite backup service. Below are some of the features and benefits of it.

If you ever lost data or had it corrupted, you already know what a problem it can be for you. You can lose a lot of work, documents that are important and family photos.

There are plenty of methods to make sure that software and hardware failures don’t happen, but you can’t keep it safe 100% of the time, so using a backup solution is a must for any business.

There are several ways you can use to protect data: you can use a DVD, a HDD, a remote backup service or even remote locations. In my experience, if you want the best safety level, you should use remote data backup. This is because you avoid any accidents like floods or fires which would destroy both your main data and your backup data if they were in the same place.

One other advantage is that you no longer need to disconnect or connect manually different devices, it all gets transferred by broadband internet. The problem can be in this case the fact that you need an Internet connection all the time, it can take longer than if you would use local storage and there is a small chance of your data getting in the hands of third parties.

The disadvantages I just mentioned aren’t that important to most people though.

Below are the benefits that can be brought by the use of a remote backup service:

Free backup software – In most cases you don’t need to pay for backup software, since the backup service provides it for free.

Technical support – If you have questions about the backup process or their service, you have specialists in computers at your disposal to help.

Servers with professional protection – Your data will be kept in shelters designed to protect those computers, in most cases underground, designed to be kept safe in cases of disasters or accidents.

Unlimited remote data storage – Store and backup all the data you need.

Global access to your data – Get access to your files from anywhere in the world.

Data encryption – You’re the only one able to access the data, since it’s password encrypted by the remote backup service.

Not all good things are free though. You will pay depending on how much space you need or what extra features you want added. In most cases, you will pay $2 for each GB per month. 5GB should be enough if you’re an individual, which would get the price to $10 per month.

If you want to use it for a corporation, the amount of space needed and the price will probably be much bigger, but the benefits that a remote backup service brings you can be invaluable.

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Offsite data backups include storage, such as compact discs and DVD’s, memory cards, and flash memory devices including magnetic tapes, floppy discs, USB drives and zip discs. Consumers and businesses have been using these options as offsite data backup for years because they are proven methods for keeping data safe and recoverable.

Although these storages can provide regular computer users with a sufficient means of storing data, hardcore computer workers and large businesses should consider an offsite data backup solution. An offsite solution can provide your data a higher level of security and a reliable storage for all of your materials in the event that uncontrollable incidents such as fire, theft or hard drive failures occur.

When you choose an offsite data backup solution, a third party that specializes in commercial data protection will manage and store all of the data that you provide. Sending data electronically, or by using your computer, involves a process known as “electronic vaulting” or “e-vaulting”.

An offsite data backup provider allows users to back up easily and automatically each day, week or month by connecting to a data center or software. Once connected, you can upload the changed data created during the day, week or entire month (depending on your backup preferences). All of the data you upload will then be encrypted using the industry’s standard protocol, and sent over to the provider’s physically separate data center.

How to Choose an Offsite Data Backup Provider

Although there are hundreds of companies advertising their offsite data backup services, only a few major companies actually provide these services. The hundreds of other companies are usually service providers or resellers of the major companies.

The main offsite data backup vendors are divided into two categories – the “product-only” companies and the “service provider” companies. If you know how to back up data and simply need a program to do it easily, a product-only offsite company (such as Avamar and Asigra) will provide you with their product and an option to subscribe with a service provider that will back up data for you.

On the other hand, if you want a hassle-free offsite data backup solution, then look for service providers, such as Connected, LiveVault or Evault. These companies provide clients with two options – to subscribe with their services where they will host the vault, or buy their stand-alone product where you will host the vault yourself.

Most experts recommend in starting with a service provider before buying a stand-alone product. However, your choice will depend on largely on how well a specific program or service can meet your personal or business requirements.

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Today, the wonderful services long afforded big businesses are available to small businesses, home-based businesses and even ordinary home computers. By using offsite data backup software, any computer user can link to a remote data storage company and make automatic copies of selected files. This can be absolutely essential for rebuilding a hard drive in case of damage by virus invasions, accident or natural disaster. The offsite data backup software enables any computer to have its important files preserved by professional technicians in a safe server located far away from any flood, earthquake or tornado that could damage the original computer files.

Far and Away

For years, businesses dependant on large masses of sensitive data have relied on offsite data backup software to keep current data safe and ready in case files need to be rebuilt. The terror attacks on September 11, 2001 caused part of New York City to be shut down for a considerable time, creating a situation where many banks and stock exchange companies were unable to access their primary offices. The companies that were able to open secondary offices and download their business information quickly were able to continue their operations as usual. Businesses that hadn’t planned so well were less fortunate.

The costs that used to be associated with such storage made it an option only for the large financial corporations that depended on the accuracy of their files. Today, new technology has made it affordable for medium and small businesses to take advantage of data storage. Some companies even specialize in storage for home networks and individual computers.

The storage companies send offsite data backup software to the new customer to install. This enables the user to select the files to be stored and how often copies will be uploaded over a LAN or the Internet. The offsite data backup software is different for different companies. High-end offsite data backup software is able to backup open files without any add-ons, including the complex files for database programs. Some offsite data backup software comes ready for multi-site backup for small businesses with multiple office locations.

Very good offsite data backup software even offers online access to the user’s files. Most offsite data backup software is ready to backup a variety of platforms and set the online schedules for automatic copying. Once a user understands how much data storage he needs, he’s ready to select his storage company and its offsite data backup software.

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Personal and business files are very important. These are usually stored at home or in the office prone to accidental loss or theft. If there is no solid, effective backup system, people who use the information will face a very frustrating situation. For critical data, there are offsite data backup services that can protect the precious information and give the owners peace of mind.

Offsite data backup refers to storing copies of important files in a secured area outside of or different from the original location of the information. This makes data recovery easy in case things get messed up at the original data site.

Every one has personal information to keep and to protect. Some of these data include taxes and financial records, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, work files from the office, family’s treasured photographs, customer databases, email messages and contact details.

The most common way to back these up is by using CDs or DVDs. Although these could be trusted to keep the files, they are not very efficient. Dusts, water, or even extreme weather conditions can damage these disks easily if they are not kept properly. CDs also are stored at home with the computer and are not secured or encrypted. These media can get easily stolen too, or be lost to fire and other such disasters.

Business or work-related files have obvious needs for efficient backup. Since data could be very critical, an ordinary backup system may not be enough. Hackers, criminals, spies, delinquent employees may get their hands on the data and the company will surely suffer. Traditional backup systems are too vulnerable to threats since they can be easily copied or stolen.

Offsite data backup is necessary for both home and office. When data is stored offsite, the potential for losing data is decreased; data recovery should not be an issue. The data is backed up at a separate, secured location and are usually free from human intervention. These offsite data backup facilities offer tight security 24 by 7, backup power systems like generators, 24 hour monitoring and climate controlled systems.

Of course such protection translates to a few dollars. But, it is important to weigh things out before costs get in the way. Consider how much you or the company will lose if all the critical data gets lost. How much would it take for data recovery or recreation? How much damage is there if data cannot be recovered? How much can you actually save by just being preventive?

Depending on the service provider, office data backup may vary. The basic way is to install the software application for offsite backup onsite. This program will establish the connection and communication with the system that is securely placed in a separate location.

Client servers talk to the backup servers via the Internet. Initially, a complete encrypted copy of all critical files will be transmitted to the offsite system. Any changes made on the original files will be monitored and only these changes will be sent to offsite for backup. This makes the transmission faster and more efficient.

Offsite data backup could be one of the most important investments a person or a company could do to prevent data loss. Consider the threats and the possibilities and you will see its advantages.

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