They all do scheduled backups – daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Some services allow system file backups and will back up files on external or network drives. With others, like IDrive or Acronis True Image, you manually select which files or directories will be backed up. You don’t have to go through a lengthy or complicated configuration (though that option is available). Some, like Backblaze, will automatically upload every important file. But they vary in how they perform and manage your backups. I mentioned that the services do essentially the same thing, and that’s true. If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to think about (or need) your computer backups.īut if you ever do need them, you’ll be really glad that you have them. From the technical tinkerers to those who prefer to set-it-and-forget-it. There are also considerations around storage, another area where we may not all have the same needs.īut, there is something on the list for each of us. So what may be best for a large family might not be best for a young solo entrepreneur. While each of the online backup services here does essentially the same thing, their options and pricing differ. It isn’t meant to be used for file-syncing or sharing (though many backup services offer those features). Online backup is intended to automatically protect documents and media files. Online backup services are not the same as cloud storage or file-syncing services like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive. In the event of a system or hard drive failure, in many cases, a physical hard drive containing all of your backed up files can be sent to you. If a file is inadvertently deleted or corrupted, a copy can be downloaded from the backup. What Are Online Backup Services?Īn online backup service copies files from your computer or mobile device to a cloud storage location. When your files are safely stored in a remote location, a hard drive failure doesn’t have to be a disaster. But online backup services have made computer and mobile device backup painless and convenient. Only 9% of us back up our computers daily. If you’re reading this, you have at least one computer that needs to be backed up regularly.

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