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5 Best File Backup Software and Services
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First, you have to decide if you want to back up your files onto your own local system or would you rather have your files stored online with a remote backup service? A backup service is similar in purpose to backup software. The service simply stores the information in a remote location, rather than on your premises. There are pros and cons to each approach. Online backup can be more expensive, and it consumes a certain amount of bandwidth to constantly be syncing into the cloud. However, having an off-site backup protects you in case of a catastrophe that damages your entire building. Reliable companies that offer online backup and cloud storage are Dropbox, Mozy, Box.net, Carbonite and SugarSync. Google, Microsoft, and Apple also have cloud storage solutions - Google Drive, Windows Live SkyDrive and iCloud, respectively. For personal users, Dropbox and SugarSync are excellent choices. For business users, Box.net and Carbonite may be a better fit. Local storage is usually the more cost-effective route, but it carries the risk of hardware failure. As with security, it pays to have multiple layers of backups. In addition to your backup hard disk drives and backup RAID enclosures, you'll also need software. Here are some backup utilities to consider: The NovaBACKUP 12 Professional software provides complex features to meet your file backup needs. It is user friendly for both novice and advanced computer users with a dynamic interface. You can select from individual file, folder or complete system backup and can choose to save the backup onto a hard drive, removable media, FTP locations and more. It also provides excellent support services if you run into a snag. R-Tools R-Drive Image is among the easiest of user-friendly backup software programs for novice computer users and it is, in fact, in a league of its own. It creates an exact image of every bit of space on your system for a great duplicate copy and provides an excellent platform if the need for data recovery takes place. It has an easy, interactive interface that guides you through the imaging process so you'll be a pro in no time. You can create an exact image of every file and store them on an external USB hard drive, flash memory cards, network drives, and CDs or DVDs. The program's schedule allows you to set predefined backup times to keep your files safe always. The DT Utilities PC Backup is another excellent backup software program. It offers the same features as the NovaBACKUP program, but is a little bit more suitable for individuals with some experience with this type of program because its support services are not quite as exhaustive and therefore, users are expected to be able to utilize the program with less customer support. Acronis True Image allows you to set a predefined backup schedule for disk imaging. It creates a picture of every bit of space on your system for easy data recovery in the event of file loss. You can also select for the program to provide you with email notifications, letting you know each time the system was backed up. For any software difficulties, users can receive assistance through live chat on the product's website. The Genie Backup Manager 9 allows you to set your backup schedule and will perform backups even if you are not logged on at the time. Backups can also be postponed with the snooze button if you're busy working on the computer at its scheduled time. The program offers file compression and the old backups can be purged to save space. Now that you know about the best options out there for backing up your files, you can choose the one that's right for you and keep your files safe and secure at all times. Backup your files on a regular basis and you'll never have to worry about accidental file loss. |