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Online backup solutions are becoming an increasingly popular way of storing data. In the old days, we probably would have backed up to a floppy disc or CD, but since floppy discs suffered the same fate as the dinosaurs and CDs have a nasty habit of being overwritten or damaged, online backup is a welcome technological development. But just in case you need a bit more convincing, why is online backup such a clever idea?
Disaster Limitation
The overriding reason why people choose to back up their important files online is down to safety. Computers die, external hard drives are lost or stolen, and offices sometimes burn down or suffer some other kind of disaster. Backing up files is always sensible, unless they have no value whatsoever. Online backup is the perfect place for storing secure files and documents, so if your files are a danger to national security, there is bound to be a super secure online storage facility in a secret bunker hidden somewhere in cyberspace.
Make Copies of Documents
Keeping digital copies of important documents in a different location is always good, for as we have already touched upon, files are sometimes subject to disastrous accidents. The beauty of online backup solutions is that you can always retrieve a different version of your files if necessary. So if you were working on an important presentation and your laptop dropped dead mid sentence, you can at least access an older version from your online backup, which could just save your bacon in a tight spot.
Transfer Files between Devices
Computers don’t last forever and devices sometime fail at an inopportune moment, which is why it is useful to be able to transfer files from one place to another. Online backup solutions make transferring files very easy. As long as you have access to your online account, all you have to do is download the software on to a new device and then select which files you wish to ‘restore’. Unless you have several terabytes of data, it shouldn’t take long at all.
Automatic Backups
Online backup solutions run in the background, so once you have set up an account and downloaded the appropriate software, you never have to worry about backing up your files again. Most online backup software programs are very unobtrusive and you won’t even be aware they are ticking away behind the scenes. In fact you won’t even have to think about them at all until your computer hard drive fails and you need to retrieve all the lost documents.
Disadvantages of Online Backup Solutions
The main disadvantage of an online backup data solution is that you need to be online for it to work. In most cases, this is not a problem, but if you live in a part of the world where internet is intermittent, it could be a huge problem. Online backups are only effective if files are regularly uploaded. If the backups don’t take place very often or are interrupted by a bad connection, you could end up losing important data. Another disadvantage of online backups is that they can be expensive if you have a large amount of data to store.
Before selecting an online backup solution for your data storage, check out the main available options. Some are more expensive and reliable than others, so always read reviews and decide how much storage you actually need before signing up for an account.
About the Author: This post has been contributed by Ken Rogers.
