Frequently Asked Questions about Offsite Backup Services

Q: What Is Backup And Why Is It Important?

If you own a computer, chances are that you have some important information on it. Whether your hard-drive is home to important emails, documents, pictures, or financial records, the data on your computer is likely playing an increasingly large role in your day-to-day life. With so much riding on these delicate machines, it’s no surprise that the words crash, virus, and stolen laptop can send chills down our spines. We’ve all heard horror stories from friends, family, and colleagues about the nightmare that lost data can reap upon us. Backing up is the process of taking your important files and storing them separately from your computer. In this way, if your computer crashes or is infected with a virus, you will still have your important data available to you. When your computer is fixed or replaced, you can then restore your files and continue on with your life. Backups are usually accomplished by periodically copying files to DVDs or cassette tapes. When used diligently, these methods are often effective ways of preventing data loss. However, the cost and time associated with creating backups every night means that all but the most diligent among us are usually left without our most recent data when something goes wrong.

Q:What Is Online Backup?

Online backup is an alternative to optical or tape backup systems. It uses a combination of software and high-speed internet services to automatically make backups of your information every night. Using military-grade encryption that only you have the key to, your data is transported to, and stored in, high-security facilities. It is then readily available when you need it, without any tapes, CDs, or nightly rituals to worry about. Think of it as a nightly armoured-car and safety-deposit-box service for your valuable information.

Q: What Are The Benefits Of Online Backup?

Online backups offer several advantages. The main one is the disaster recovery offered by offsite storage,. but there are also several advantages in terms of ease of use. No capital outlay is required for purchasing new equipment. There are no ongoing media costs or staff costs. Operational costs are limited to a small monthly fee. Setup and installation is a simple matter of downloading the software, and it takes only a few minutes to set up. Data recovery is equally fast, as there is no searching for the right tape or waiting for IT staff to recover lost data. The backup process itself is completely automated, which ensures that it gets done right and on-time.

Q.How Secure Is My Data?

Though some may have understandable concerns about a third party holding their most valuable data, in reality online backups are very secure. Before being transferred, the backup data is encrypted to a 128-bit level - military-grade – making it effectively impossible for any one to intercept or decrypt the data. You are the only person who can read it. Another common concern is about the security of the data storage center itself. These are invariably class-A facilities equipped with fire suppression, security cameras, personnel access controls, backup electricity generators, using multiple ISPs, high-end firewalls, and clustering and mirroring techniques to ensure the stored data is always available to clients. Except in exceptional cases, the storage premises will be more secure than the client's own premises.