Online Backup or Local Backup?
When it comes to making backup copies of data, you have two fundamental choices: local or online data backup. Local means at your desktop, making backup copies on removable or external media that you keep nearby. Online backup involves transferring your files over the Internet to a remote server, which might be on the other side of the planet. Here are the pros and cons to online backup versus local backup... |
What's the Best Backup Method?
There are trade-offs when considering online backup or a do-it-yourself approach in your home or office. Local backup is secure while you are doing it. When you copy data from your computer to a DVD, flash drive, or external hard drive, no one else can steal it. Local backup is faster than online backup, in most cases, because your Internet connection probably is not as fast as your backup drive's data transfer rate. The initial full backup with an online backup service Mozy or Carbonite can take days or weeks, depending on how much data you have, and the speed of your Internet connection.
The downside of local backup is mainly before and after the actual backup process. Adhering to a regimen of regular, orderly backup sessions is hard for many people. Keeping multiple backup sets of discs adds clutter and work. If you backup on DVDs, you have to swap discs, label them, put them in protective sleeves, and find someplace safe to store them. And if you use an external drive, should you have more than one backup image?
When you need to restore data from backup copies, there is the problem of remembering where the right discs are. And there's always the question of what happens in the event of a fire, flood or burglary. If you keep your backup copies in a safety deposit box or off-site data backup storage center, the time and hassle of retrieving them is significant.
One strategy I use is to make backups to a set of 500GB external drives. One stays connected to the computer for automatic daily backups, and one stays in a fire-proof safe. Once a month, I swap them. This way, I always have a complete, up-to-the minute backup, and another one that's safely stored away and at most a month old. If you need help getting started with a local backup system, see my related article Backup Software.
What About Online Backups?
Online backup services eliminate many of these hassles. You can configure backup sessions to run when your computer is otherwise idle, and backups will be made even if you forget about them. The servers used to store backup copies are much more secure than the typical home or office environment against natural disasters and theft. When you need to restore selected data, a Web interface helps you find the right backup copy and choose just the file(s) you want to restore. What's not to like about online backup?
Cost is the first downside of online backup. Most online backup solutions give you a few gigabytes of backup storage space for free to get you to try them. But for a complete system backup, five gigabytes or even ten is often not enough. Then you have to pay monthly storage fees which can range from ten dollars upward.
Speed is another consideration. The online backup process can run while you are asleep, but when you need to restore data you usually want it in a hurry. Even if you subscribe to the fastest broadband service available, Internet traffic jams can slow your online backup and restore sessions to a crawl.
Availability is a question with online backup. The Internet sometimes goes down for everyone, and downtime is beyond the user's or the online backup service's control. (Fortunately, a backup or restore session interrupted by an Internet service outage can resume where it left off.)
CrashPlan is an online backup service that helps you avoid the long wait times when making your initial backup, or if you need to do a full restore. They'll send you an external hard drive for your first backup. After you mail it back, all your backups are incremental, over the Internet. And if you need to restore an entire disk (or just a lot of data) you can use CrashPlan's "Restore to Your Door" service, and have your backup drive mailed to you.
Security is an open question with online backup services. Encryption protects your Internet connection and your data files, but they are exposed to hackers as local backup copies are not. There have been no publicized cases of security breaches involving online backup services, but the slim chance remains.
Some online backup services to try include Mozy, Carbonite, Backup.com by Norton Utilities, iDrive, and CrashPlan. Try a few, taking advantage of their free storage allowances, until you find one that suits your needs.
Got something to say about backup strategies? Post your comment or question below...
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Posted by Bob Rankin on 17 Jan 2011
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Most recent comments on "Online Backup or Local Backup?"
Posted by:
GeorgeB
17 Jan 2011
I have been using Carbonite for about a year and a half now. I have 25 gig backed up currently.It has worked well for me and when I rebuilt my machine the restore brought back all of my files. I can pick and choose what is backed up and there seems to be no limit.
Posted by:
TPS
17 Jan 2011
Hi Bob,
Good article, straight and to the point.
I use Mosy, which @ 4.95 a month for unlimited storage is a good deal for sure. Like you said, though, initial backup (140GB) took two weeks. I'm also having a problem with the incremental backups right now and will have to contact them to figure out what the problem is since their online help has no troubleshooting routines of any value. Still, it beats the DVD routine....
Rgds,
Tom
Posted by:
chesscanoe
17 Jan 2011
Half the solution is to backup; the other half is to restore. I suggest practicing doing a restore when you're not under pressure to do so after an actual failure. Your confidence that you've chosen a good total solution will go up immeasurably.
Posted by:
Linda Crawford
17 Jan 2011
My first backups were with discs, CDs and DVDs, then it got to be too much so I went to Carbonite for a couple of years and was happy, but our local phone company offered a good deal. I tried them, but went back to Carbonite. I had to use them one time when I seemed to have lost a file and it was sent to me immediately. I like the automatic features and not having to worry about getting the DVDs or external hard drive to another location. It does take a bit of time at first to get the backup all done. For me the online is much better.
Posted by:
Nat
17 Jan 2011
I use both methods. I backup online with Carbonite. Then I use a portable hard drive to transfer my data to my laptop. This gives me 4 copies of my data, usually of varying age.
Posted by:
Joseph
17 Jan 2011
One problem with internet backup is if you can't access the internet at all because of a total crash. A local HD backup can get you up and running in a short time.
Better still is to have a secondary hard drive (especially if you can mount it in your system) set up with a complete operating system on it so you can just swap out drives and repair the other without having to rush.
Posted by:
Old Dog
17 Jan 2011
I have been using Carbonite for about a year now. I costs me about $54 @ year. I figure for about a buck a week, it is a pretty good deal. Since it is off-site, if the office (which is in my home) burns down, I can still recreate my data (worth more to me than the cost of replacing the physical equipment).
Carbonite did take about a week to make a complete upload but did it in the background. Carbonite continually updates my drives whenever I am connected to the Internet and I have not noticed any slowdown in my use of the Internet.
I recommend Carbonite.
Posted by:
AUS-IP SecurVault
18 Jan 2011
Great article. Cloud data backup services are a great backup solution as you benefit from scheduled backups and off-site secure storage.
Posted by:
Anna, CloudBerry Lab
18 Jan 2011
There is another option to backup data to cloud storage powered by Amazon S3. Check out CloudBerry Backup http://backup.cloudberrylab.com/ . It is onetime fee and the rest what you pay for Amazon S3. Besides, there is no proprietary data format and you can access your data using other Amazon s3 tools. Supports all Amazon S3 regions and Reduced Redundancy Storage.
Posted by:
FAN
18 Jan 2011
I use LiveSafer Unlimited for file back-up. It can also make backups of files on my external (USB) HDD. With LiveSafer you make a backup to your own (external) HDD. You can than relocate the HDD to you friends house and plug it into a computer also running LiveSafer. The backup process continues via the Internet. My own online backup without monthly costs. You can make back-ups of all your PC's with one license, see www.neverloseafile.com
Posted by:
LinWilcox
18 Jan 2011
I do what Bob does. The reason I use the 300- 500 GB for my pics in lieu of larger ones, is due to the fact we have lots of pics with 16 grandkids. We had an external drive crash, so only lost 1 years worth as opposed to 4 years worth on one external. Also: Shutterfly saved me. They allow one to post unlimited pics for FREE. I know they are always up there, and am hoping they can have a function to download all at once instead of one at a time. The site also takes documents and we just make this page "unviewable" to the public and scanned and store copies of auto insurance, driver's license, etc there also.
I have used drop box lately to share large files and so far, loving it. I work with a lady in Canada to do slideshows and we share the large files. They do keep them if you get the "PackRat" but only up to bout 50 GB at 13.00 a month. Backing up is extremely important. A friend lost everything in a fire, including the computer, wedding albums and all the externals.
Posted by:
Ralph
19 Jan 2011
One reservation I have with online backup providers:
What happens if they go out of business due to bankruptcy or lack of profitability? Your info is on their servers and it's doubtful the drives are going to wiped clean before they are repossessed or otherwise sold on. No telling in whose hands this hardware will wind up.
If memory serves me a large online photo storage service (the name escapes me) went out of business a few years ago. I think the customers were informed prior to closure that they should retrieve their pics. by a certain date or lose them.
Perhaps, you might be given a heads up by the company of pending business closure or perhaps not. If you are forewarned it's going to be a mad scramble to download your files from their site.
Posted by:
lxm
19 Jan 2011
There is another issue for backups. If you only back up your data files (pics, music, etc), then when your computer dies you must also have all your original system discs and all your program discs as well. You also need to know where your emails are stored, too.
Posted by:
Mitch
20 Jan 2011
Bob, I'm sure fire safes are rated to keep the contents below Farenheit 451, but during a fire it would have to get hot inside. Are you sure the the internal safe temperature would not exceed the designed storage temperature of your backup hard drive? Time for a Rankin Science Experiment!
EDITOR'S NOTE: I'll leave that one to MythBusters, and just hope for the best! Some protection is better than none. :-)
Posted by:
Bob
21 Jan 2011
I have two external drives and put everything on one. Once a week I copy that over to the other. I also have the drive from my old computer and have an external case on order to make a third.
Posted by:
Kim
28 Mar 2011
SAFECOPY - tried a few others - they are by far the BEST. Everything is synched instantly (like dropbox) but it is where I have it on my system not in a designated folder (and when I move it, SAFECOPY does too - before I can even finish to go see if it is making the change!). PLUS many many other extra things - like how it shows a virtual hard drive on “my computer” where I can access everything... like how they file it in their system (just like I do on mine) and how they keep versions and files "forever" but don't charge extra for that (most don't on that one). AND IT IS VERY VERY FAST (comparatively) and as I understand it they are working on getting even faster! PLUS the cost is VERY reasonable compared to others (I bought the 4 year plans). I even made sure I could use it like a real hard drive; I put a file under it's care, then deleted it from my computer - and checked back often over time. It stayed there! Though I could choose to delete it from the site if I wanted to. SO... I can "file" things there and clear up my computer - as well as keep backups of everything. OUTSTANDING and fast customer support too. I admit I also still have 2 external drives at home too (running on 2 separate backup programs). But some of that may be changing very soon due to SAFECOPY. Look for discounts and added freebies on face book and twitter after you check them out! I am still in my honeymoon phase to be sure – but wow, is it ever awesome!