TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ONLINE BACKUP PROVIDER

How secure is your data?

Does your online backup software provider use encryption when they store your data?

Even though most online backup services use encryption to protect your data as it traverses the internet, many do not use encryption when they store your data on their servers. In fact some even state in their terms of service that encrypting your data storage is not allowed. They are banking on the fact that many people will store the same files, so they don't want to backup a file more than once. If someone else needs that file, they could be giving them access to one of your files instead.

This may be fine if you're just saving MP3 music files, but wouldn't you prefer your personal information (like banking records or emails) be kept secure?

With One2backup™, each file is 448 bit encrypted before it leaves your PC (your online banking only uses 128 bit). It travels the internet this way and is stored on the One2backup™ backup software servers as a bunch of numbered files containing encrypted data. Your encryption key is unique to you. Only you have the ability to access your data storage.

Is the backup software easy to install?

Do you need to hire an IT consultant to install and maintain your backup software?

Most online backup tools were designed to be used by expert IT administrators. Many of these services require intimate knowledge of Windows in order to make a backup. For example, did you know that your Microsoft Outlook email file is kept in a special hidden folder 6 levels deep in your PC? If you don't, you may have a lot of trouble backing it up.

One2backup™ online data backup was designed from the start to be used by normal everyday people. No special skills are required to backup your PC. When you download and run the backup software, it will automatically figure out where things like your Outlook email, My Documents, Desktop, and Favorites are located. From there you can easily add or remove other folders if you wish.

Is the online backup continuous?

Does your online backup service only backup files when you tell it to?

It is not enough to simply have an online data storage space on the net. Periodically dragging your files up there will only work as a backup if you happen to do that dragging moments before your PC dies. This almost never happens.

Even if your service has a scheduled online backup agent that runs weekly, how much data will you lose since the last time it ran?

One2backup™ uses a continuous online data backup process where your files are backed up automatically as soon as they change. This means that if you close a Word document at 2pm on Tuesday, that file will back up at 2:01pm Tuesday. If something horrible happens at 2:15pm, you're protected.

Does it store multiple versions?

Does your backup software service keep multiple versions of files?

To keep data storage costs down, a lot of online backup services keep only one copy of each file. This may seem fine to you, but what would happen if some of your critical files get corrupted by a virus and you do not notice until after your next data backup? Could it be that your online data backup provider is keeping perfectly preserved copies of your corrupted files? This could be an issue when it comes time to recover.

One2backup™ keeps multiple versions of your files. If a file gets corrupted, or if you just need an earlier version of a file, you simply go online and download whichever version of the file you need.

Does it backup changes or just whole files?

Does your online backup software tool backup the whole file every time it changes?

Online backup services without versioning features need to backup the whole file each time it changes. This is not so bad for smaller files like Word documents. But backing up your whole mail file every time you get new mail is unworkable. If your mail file is 500MB, it could take hours to backup just that one file. If you get just one new email message, will you have to start all over?

Some data backup services deal with this issue by backing up only weekly or at night. If disaster strikes, how much new email would you lose since the last time your backup ran? Other services deal with this by not backing up your email at all.

With One2backup™, once you have a file backed up once, the backup software will detect and extract only the data that changes for backup. If you have a 500MB email file and get 2MB of new mail, One2backup™ only needs to backup the 2MB that changed. That online backup can happen in a matter of seconds.

These changes are stored in your One2backup™ as different versions. This is why you can recover so many earlier versions of your files without taking up a lot of extra data storage.

What happens if the online backup gets interrupted?

What happens if your data backup connection drops or you unplug your laptop?

Many online backup software tools work just like old tape backup software. They look for all the files that need to be backed up, and then transfer everything as one huge blob of data. The problem is that most online backup internet connections aren't actually all that good at transferring huge blobs of data.

If your data backup connection gets interrupted (even if just a blip) many online backups will fail and you will have to start over. If they fail, they will probably fail when they are 90% of the way through that 500MB mail file.

One2backup™ was designed to be interruptible. If your online data backup connection gets interrupted, the backup will simply pause until the connection comes back. Then it will continue your backup from where it left off.

Will they delete your files without asking?

Does your online backup service delete your files for you?

Some data backup servers try to keep costs down by automatically deleting files that are no longer on your PC. From a cost perspective this is nice, but accidental deletion (human error) is one of the biggest reasons why people lose files.

One2backup™ will never delete your online data backup files automatically. If you delete a file by mistake, rest assured that it will still be in your One2backup™ data storage. This is what a reliable backup is for.

Instead, with One2backup™ you can run a Clean-Up wizard that will reconcile the files on your PC with your online backup and suggest things you may wish to delete? Once you have reviewed the list, you can choose to delete those files if you no longer need them.

Can you backup multiple PC's, servers or networks?

Does your online backup service charge you again and again for every machine you back up?

Most data backup plans are based on a single PC. If they say you can backup your PC for R99 /month, they really mean you can backup that one PC for R99 /month. If you want to backup more PCs, that will cost another R99 each. What seemed like a good deal for R99 is often less interesting when it becomes R400.

Many also put restrictions on the types of devices you can backup. They may require a more expensive plan for a server, or they may not allow you to backup network shares or external hard drives.

With One2backup™ you can install the backup software on as many computers as you need. You can add as many users as you like. You can backup PCs, laptops, servers, hard disks (even external), network drives, even USB memory keys. In all cases you just pay for the storage you actually use. For example, if you backup 1GB from one PC, that will cost R3.90/month. If you backup 1GB shared among 5 computers, that will still cost just R4.00/month. It's really that simple.

Is the rate plan excessively complex?

Does your online backup software service require you to buy more data storage than you need? Then what happens if you exceed your data storage plan?

Most online backup plans are based on set "buckets" or storage. If you pay R99/month you can perhaps store up to 2GB. When you try to back up 2.001GB, the backup will fail and you will have to either delete some data storage or upgrade your plan. To upgrade your data storage plan, some services even require you to download and reinstall new backup software. Usually this happens just before a big disaster.

If you have more than one PC this gets even worse. You need to figure out how much data storage each PC needs and manage each plan separately. Each time a PC fills up its plan, you will have to go through this process again.

With One2backup™ you are charged based on how much data storage you actually use. If you backup 1GB you will be charged R4.00/month. If you suddenly need to back up 1.3GB then next month you will be charged R60.00. The number of PCs is not important. You only pay for what you actually use.

Will you be able to access your data remotely?

How easy is it to access your data storage?

Once you have backed up your data, how easy is it to access? Some of the lower cost services will only allow you to access your files from the PC that backed them up. To transfer them to another computer usually requires that you sign up the new PC for a separate plan.

With One2backup™, you can install the backup software and restore on as many computers as you like. There is no charge unless you actually back something up.

You can also access your data storage remotely with any web browser. If you are in a client meeting and suddenly need a file from your PC, simply log into your One2backup™account from your client's web browser and download the file you need.

One2backup™ even allows you to selectively share files or folders with others. Simply select the data to share and assign a password. Then you can share that data by emailing secure web links.