Online Backup - How to choose the right supplier - part 4

Following on from part 3, it is important to understand how your potential providers charge you for storage although fundamentally you'll want to know how much it will cost to backup X amount of data.

As this point can be confusing, we'll give another example here.

Supposing your hard disk is 80 GB and you want to back up 2 GB of critical data (no point in just backing up the whole hard disk unless it is all critical information). Using a supplier who charges for compressed storage on their servers you'll want to know how much space 2GB of data will compress down to.

If the 2 GB of data is mainly office files and spreadsheets, etc then you are likely to receive a high compression ratio - say 4 to 1. This means your data will compress down to 500MB - the amount of data this type of provider will charge you. If you want to be more cautious, assume a compression ratio of 3 to 1 which means you 'll be charged for around 660 MB of space.

beginning to get the picture?

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Online Backup - How to choose the right supplier - part 3

So you know you can take a trial without obligation and you have checked the contractual terms and conditions. What next before you take the plunge and sign up?

We'll you need to consider if the product fits your price point and this is where a little care is required. Different providers offer their services in such a way that it can be difficult to compare like with like. Some providers price compressed storage space while others depict prices for uncompressed storage.

Let's consider some examples to convey the difference.

Offer from supplier 1

1 GB of data for X pounds per month uncompressed


Offer from supplier 2

1 GB of data for Y pounds per month compressed.

Now if X=Y which supplier is more expensive?

Supplier 2 is charging you for the amount of data stored on their servers. Supplier 1 is charging you for the amount of data stored on your PC/laptops/etc. So assuming your data can be compressed, supplier 1 is actually more expensive.

More on this in part 4.

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Online Backup - How to choose the right supplier - part 2

So you re interested in online backup and you know you want to have a trial before committing. What else do you need to consider at the outset?

Let's look at contractual terms. Some providers get you to sign up for a year in advance while others opt for three months in advance. Just imagine if the service starts going wrong or the support is appalling? The scene would be set for maximum frustration and worst still you'd be wasting money.

We therefore advise you opt for a monthly contract at the very maximum. If a provider is that good, they won't need to lure you into a contract longer than one month. It is very easy to collect payment nowadays so a one month subscription isn't a problem from that perspective.

So remember - one month contract at the outset.

Professional online backup

Online Backup - how to choose the right supplier - part 1

Online backup is be coming a popular method of backing up important files as business users wake up to the increasing threat of data loss. A recent report by the London Chamber of commerce highlights that many companies have yet to properly protect their computer data or prepare for disaster.

There are many different ways to back up data each with their differing security levels. Online backup offers several benefits such as automatic offsite backup. That's two traditional tasks replaced by automation. As the use of online backup increases and more providers flood the market it is important to educate the market to understand the level of true protection the different providers offer.

Tip number one is make sure you opt for a non obligatory trial for at least 2 weeks. This is a good time to gain confidence with the service and determine if it really will work for you.

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