Title : Online backup software
Audience : Small business principals and managers with an interest in backup software.
Source : Http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : Sept 07
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime.

Backup Software
One of the key issues in choosing an online or offline backup system is the software you will use.
To make the correct choice you will need to look deeper than the supplier provided blurb and user interface. The key requirements and areas to question are as follows.

Security of the backup :
Proper backups are not intended as additional working copies. They should not be readable or usable without planned intervention and should be for your eyes only. This is managed by encryption which makes the backup files unreadable to anyone but you. Only you and or people nominated by you should have the key. This is very important for any type of backup and standard (with all reputable suppliers) with online backup. Also of great importance is the type and level of encryption used. Backupanytime.com use bank level encryption so if you use online banking you can expect the same level of security from backupanytime. This is not the norm with online backup companies as the technology is expensive so ensure you quiz your intended provider on this and get the answer in writing. Encryption is what makes online backup a very safe application to use.
For more information about encryption you can view: All about online backup encryption/

Payload of backup software :
What resources does the proposed backup software require and what effect will it have on any normal operational activities on your computer. This is important not just because it may slow down other critical applications but because it may not work effectively on your system leaving you with no backup and possibly doing so unawares to you. Your intended provider should be able to tell you the minimum specification required to run the software and advise as to the suitability of your system and any upgrades which may be required.

Backup compression :
Compression is important for online and offline backup. In the online backup software scenario, compression saves you money as compressed data will use less space on your online backup companies servers. In the off line environment compression is essential as offline backups use considerable local space and to keep a safe quantity of online backups on different media can be complicated and expensive to manage properly. Backupanytime.com compression rates run to 90% depending on the data types. This is also configurable in the backupanytime.com software thus allowing you to control the compression rate.
For more information about compression you can view: All about online backup compression/

Backup verification :
An unverified backup is about as reasuring as a thief's wink. Your backups should report to you automatically and you should be able to log in to the system and do a sample test restore at any time, in under one minute and without any tech support requirement. Backupanytime provide this. Most vendors do not.

Management of backups and ease of use :
Your backup requirements will change as your business does. Common ongoing changing backup variables are; data types, data volume, additional users and systems, new software requiring its data to be backed up, additional backups required and changes in backup start up times. When you use backupanytime.com, all of this is controllable from one station. The backup company you are considering should offer an easy to use system which does not require you to run from system to system.

Backup and restore support :
Your provider should be available to provide one to one technical support. Email is not a suitable medium for any non technical business decision maker to receive support by. If your intended provider does not provide telephone technical support without fuss, charge or appointment you should look elsewhere. When you need to restore, it is likely the situation will be an emergency. Ideally you want to be dealing with people who take tech support calls as the norm and will not require you to communicate by email at times unsuitable to you. Ideally your provider should have some on the ground support personell within driving distance of you. This allows for a “man in a van” solution if your broadband is down. Do not be too concerned if this service is chargeable. If you need it, and any charges are reasonable it will be a great bonus for it to be available. No matter how involved you intend to become, you are not going to get to know your backup software to anything like to provider technical level undersatnding.

Data retention periods :
The retention period of your backup software it the period of time it will keep all copies of data. Some providers use a default of 30 days, most use 90 days. The backupanytime default retention period is 365 days. There are numerous good reasons for this. The most striking is the latent virus scenario. Most virus infections do not release their payload immediately on receipt and when they do it may not be obvious for some time. A virus on your system which had come in some time ago could run its payload starting today. You may not notice this for some time. Lets say two months later it becomes obvious. If you have a thirty day archive, all of your backups are infected and will in time put you back in the pre-restore position. So, you were told. A lengthy retention period is essential. You can decrease or increase the retention period of our software as you wish.

Free upgrades :
Do not deal with any online backup company that charges for software upgrades. Any upgrades are produced to keep up with absolute requirements or solve software issues in previous versions. You subscription should cover this. If they are prepared to leave you paying a subscription on an outdated version, your data is not as important to them as it is to you and you should look elsewhere.

In summary
Your backup software should offer bank level security, use minimal resources on your system, compress data efficiently, provide absolute backup verification, be easy to manage, come with excellent support, cover lengthy retention periods and free upgrades.

This may seem like a lot to ask. Do remember however, we are not talking about someone else's data here. We are talking about yours.

If you found this document helpful you may like to visit www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm or our website proper at www.backupanytime.com

If you are a system administrator and would like technical details please register your interest on our contact page www.backupanytime.com/contact.htm requesting membership of our private white paper area for I.T. Professionals.

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