CDs, DVDs, and magnetic tape are the most common traditional media used for backing up files in people's disaster recovery plans. CDs and DVDs are appealing because they're cheap and fast, but there's a risk involved because of their tendency to rot within an uncertain period of time CDs and DVDs likewise can only hold a very limited amount. Meanwhile, magnetic tapes are considered the most reliable of all traditional media because of their 400 GB capacities and 30 year lifespans. Online backup, however, is being used by more and more people to backup their data. One of the most popular online backup providers is Crashplan Pro, because it has cross-platform support, meaning it can run on all operating systems, namely: Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris. Other reasons for its popularity is the fact that it delivers reliable and secure backups for a reasonable one-time fee, as opposed to monthly fees charged by other providers.
An online backup service involves making use of remote backup, meaning data is sent to a particular site (Crashplan, for instance,) through the Internet. This is done by downloading a certain program from the website of the company which provides the backup service. You should next install this program on the computer or computers you want to back up. These computers are then administered through a Windows workstation which has been previously designated.
Administration involves determining which files must be backed up, the frequency and time when backups shall be made, and for how long the backed up data is kept. The backup service provider's primary data center contains the compressed and encrypted data.
For added security, a copy of this backup data is also sent to a secondary remote backup center. Thanks to online computer backup and Crashplan, specifically, you will never really lose your files even if some disaster (like your building burning down or your computer getting stolen,) happens. Online backup companies now also offer emergency restores in cases of dire need. Every person should have online backup as part of their disaster recovery plan, especially since Internet connectivity is now much cheaper and faster.
Crashplan Pro, which has been designed especially for laptops, has integrated onsite, offsite, and online backup into one program, making it one of the best providers ever. Onsite backups let you control fast, convenient backups in case you accidentally delete some important files and offsite backup lets you protect your data in your office, in your house, or on the road. Online backups let you recover lost data even if something happens to your computer. Online backups likewise make data immediately available for download and are less costly especially for small restores since you don't have to get a CD, DVD, or tape delivered from a vault.
Traditional backups will most likely not be completely replaced by online backups, but today both forms have complementary functions. Online backups are not just some current trend—it should be an important part of everyone's disaster recovery plan, which is why you should get your files backed up today.
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Having disaster recovery means you must think about backup online, see UK Backup for details. Make sure you protect your data with offsite backup