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Reliable, Affordable Online Backup Providers?

rcn asks: "I am looking at online backup solutions for a variety of small and medium sized businesses. I read the most recent Slashdot discussion on online backup but there wasn't much talk about specific providers. The DIY methods of online backup (i.e. backup to a server in another office) aren't really practical in these cases. Security is more important than cost. They want their data secure under a mountain or 3000 miles away. I am overwhelmed by the variety of choices but am looking at Iron Mountain, LiveVault, and SwapDrive. Does anyone have experience with these providers, or others like them? What do pricing structures look like in the 30 to 100 gig range? How easy do they make it to manage backups? Can you backup from more than one machine to the same account?"

38 comments

  1. I can offer help by Mod+Me+God · · Score: 3, Funny

    Post me an encrypted CD (or CDs) of what you want backed up. I will keep it (them) under my bed (i.e. very safe) for the low cost of $500/CD/year. I assure you I'm over 3000 miles away. Regards,

    --
    --

    FreeNET user? Comfortable with the adverse selection?
  2. Pentagon TIA by AtariAmarok · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The Pentagon TIA system. You don't even have to ask, and it backs up all your data.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:Pentagon TIA by baywulf · · Score: 1

      The only problem with the TIA "backup" system is the recovery part.

  3. Livevault == Ironmountain ? by appleb · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I thought that Livevault and Iron Mountain where the same thing. Look closely at each provider. Ask questions about where they are located, where your data will be located, etc. You may find that one is just a marketing front for another.

    1. Re:Livevault == Ironmountain ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      thats wrong dude

    2. Re:Livevault == Ironmountain ? by sartin · · Score: 3, Interesting
  4. Options: by AndrewM1 · · Score: 1

    You have many options in this situation other then an online backup:

    *Buy another HardDrive and occasionally sync the two with Norton Ghost or something similar.
    *Buy a Zip Drive and and a few 750mb Zip Disks, and split the file(s) to fit the Disks.
    *Do the Same as above, but with a tape drive.
    *Maybe set up something with a Friend, you each give each other FTP access to a folder on your server, and you can upload to each other's computers.

    If you really want to use an online backup provider, try XDrive. Pretty Good, 500mb for $10.

    AndrewM

    1. Re:Options: by Txiasaeia · · Score: 1

      The poster says that "Security is more important than cost"; these solutions have little to no security.

      --
      Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
    2. Re:Options: by AndrewM1 · · Score: 1

      Stick the Disks/HD in a Safety Deposit Box at a bank. Volia! Instant Security.

      AndrewM

    3. Re:Options: by Txiasaeia · · Score: 1
      --
      Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
    4. Re:Options: by Cheeze · · Score: 1

      the poster also said something about 30-100GB. using 750MB zip disks would not be an option.

      Your examples are the duct tape examples of someone that wants to (should) get fired from their job. The poster is obviously not going to cheap out and use a friend's hard drive.

      --
      Why read the article when I can just make up a snap judgement?
    5. Re:Options: by Jellybob · · Score: 1
      Well done, you just fulfilled the lowest priority requirement.

      Buy another HardDrive and occasionally sync the two with Norton Ghost or something similar.

      And then... where are you going to keep this hard drive... in the same machine you're backing up? Sounds like a great idea.
      Until the building burns down, and you're backup went with the original data.

      Buy a Zip Drive and and a few 750mb Zip Disks, and split the file(s) to fit the Disks.

      Ok - you can go round the remote sites, and swap disks for a few hours.

      Maybe set up something with a Friend, you each give each other FTP access to a folder on your server, and you can upload to each other's computers.

      How is this any different to the internet based backup, except for providing even less security (do you trust you're friend with your porn stash... how about you're bank details... ok... what about you're *clients* bank details?)
  5. Low tech, I know, but... by Txiasaeia · · Score: 3, Insightful
    ...how bout storing the data on a few HDs and take them to your bank for a safety deposit box? Make it convenient and choose the bank where they/you are doing business. Cost is minimal and security is high and (in most cases) insured in case of theft - but this is a freaking bank we're talking about.

    I know, it's not online, but if you're more concerned about security than anything else, you might want to consider it.

    --
    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  6. might be easier to... by Cheeze · · Score: 1

    ...get a few colo spaces spread out over the physical country. Colo with big providers, they usually have the best, most redundant, [bullet,missile,nuclear] proof datacenters. Bandwidth will be an issue, but getting 1Mbit/sec would probably do fine, depending on how much you have to backup, and how often you want it backed up. Encrypt the data between the backup servers and the source servers for added data security.

    Having your backups on your own machines ensures data integrity and physical security. If you give your data to someone else, don't be suprised if it ends up on the internet.

    --
    Why read the article when I can just make up a snap judgement?
  7. Streamload.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I use streamload.com.

    Free storage, just pay to download it.

  8. Not familiar with their pricing, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    IPR International has a variety of service packages for over the net backup and quick retrieval

    http://www.iprintl.com/

    Disclaimer: they have a cage at a secure colo where I work. I do know they're a pioneer in over-the-net backups and that they've been doing this for several years. Posting anon for NDA purposes.

  9. eVault Has a nice solution by servicepack158 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You install evault on your main file servers, they upload any changes at nite (the original upload takes a while as it uploads everything). Then when you need your databack, you just download it or they can mail it to you on any number of physical mediums. :) http://www.evault.com/

  10. Re: Troubling post by mikep.maine · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I am troubled by the types of postings that use the N* word as well as sexual refernces. Isn't there some moderation in these posts? That post should be deleted as it is highly offensive.

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    Mike www.sharecube.com
  11. Rsync is your friend by terrencefw · · Score: 1
    I have a few workstations on my home LAN, my laptop, my wife's PC etc... and they rsync /home over to the server upstairs every hour on a cron job.

    Also, I have a server colocated a couple of hours down the road, and the data from the server at home is rsynced to the colo'd server every night.

    The server at home also does an rsync of any important data from the colo'd box back to home every night.

    For large amounts of mostly static data, I use a DDS-3 drive on the server at home.

    When talking to the colo server, rsync runs over ssh, with public key encryption.

    It works an absolute treat. Having lost data in the past it does wonders for my peace of mind. Now, all I have to do is get my wife to hit Ctrl-S every now and again, or her data never hits the disk in the first place!

    --
    Like tinyurl, but one letter less! http://qurl.co.uk/
  12. So... by dtfinch · · Score: 1

    What can possibly be so special about this case that makes do-it-yourself backups impractical?

  13. Re: Troubling post by toast0 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    so it's ok to use the N* word, or sexual references, but not both?

    Seriously though, that post will get moderated down when people feel like wasting their mod points on ask /. ... which tends to get less moderation than front page articles, for obvious reasons. People are idiots, deal with it.

  14. Distributed Internet Backup System by R0 · · Score: 1
  15. e-Backups by theflavor · · Score: 1

    e-Backups is an online service that you can have sync your data when you set it to. Price are going to start running very high if you want 30-100gigs of backup space. http://www.e-backups.net/

  16. Low tech and secure...not very reliable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Will the bank make sure something like this isn't stored next to your media?

    1. Re:Low tech and secure...not very reliable by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      No, but if you wrap your drives in this, you would be protected. Now if someone fired and EMP next to your drive, you might need something a little bit stronger.

  17. Tranxactglobal Just Announced A New Plan... by tomblackwell · · Score: 3, Informative

    no setup fee
    50 cents per gig of storage per month flat fee
    no transfer fees

    I found about it at webhostingtalk's forums

    Tranxactglobal have a pretty good name in the server business.

    1. Re:Tranxactglobal Just Announced A New Plan... by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 1
      Tranxactglobal have a pretty good name in the server business.
      Now if only someone could figure out how to pronounce it...
      --
      "BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.
  18. Damn mods... parent is Funny, not Insightful! by i22y · · Score: 1

    Get a grip...

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    Mike
  19. Backup software that works over TCP/IP by bigredradio · · Score: 1

    If you use Linux try Storix. They offer network backup solution that sends the data over tcp/ip. That way you still backup over the internet, but have complete control over everything. We use it to backup remote locations. It also backups up the entire OS and configuration so you can rebuild the system in case your servers are trashed by fire, flood, even orcs.

  20. Enveloc by shave · · Score: 1

    Been very happy with these guys using them at a corporate level.. http://www.enveloc.com. Got quite a few customers that are using them and all very happy..

  21. Data backups by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Data backups, what is it all about? Is it good, or is it whack?

  22. Not sure on their pricing but by afidel · · Score: 1

    I really, really like Conected Corp's TLM or Total Loss Management product. We used it in conjunction with Connected DataProtector as an internal desktop backup solution for around 35K desktops. They have small and mid sized solutions quoted on their site but nothing in the range the requester mentioned. Give em a ring and they will probably give you a quote.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  23. Connected backup by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 1
    We use Connected at the small software startup I work for, and it pisses the hell out of me. The main reason is because the client software is kind of kludgy. It's much harder than it should be to specify that you want to backup a certain set of folders--you basically have to mess with inclusion/exclusion rules. And when a backup begins at the worst possible time, as it is wont to do, it often takes a LONG time between you clicking Cancel and it actually deciding to cancel.

    OTOH, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that I am a software programmer on a laptop. In other words, all day we need all the performance we can get, and then at night the laptops aren't on/connected. I imagine if you are backing up desktop machines, you can just set it to run at 3am every night and forget it, and never see the client software.

  24. Security?? Encryption?? Try CryptoHeaven by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Excellent online storage service with 256-bit encryption.

  25. UltraBac can do backups over FTP by ejoe_mac · · Score: 1

    Depending on how much data you're looking to backup and what data you're looking to grab, Ultrabac has agents for Exchange, Sql and such. The cool thing is that you should be able to backup to a local tape, and also ftp off the stuff you'd consider most important. ~$200 / month for a box with a raid5 set of 250gb drives sitting in colo that's all pull (internet to box).