Solutions for off-site backup strategies?

Hello everyone,

I use a service called Mozy. For those of you who are not familiar with it, it is an off-site backup solution, which backs up my files throughout the day, as they change, through the Internet and, should I need to access them due to an accidental deletion or total loss, I can retrieve anywhere from 1 to all of my backed up files. They charge a monthly fee, based on how much space you need.

I have recently acquired a 2 TB external hard drive (HDD), and I am in the process of loading all of my file backups that were on CDs and DVDs to it. I'm not even half way through, and am at 169 GB of data alone. At Mozy's rates, just for this amount of backup, it would cost over $30 monthly.

So, I am looking for a less expensive solution. Either a different service provider who charges less for more storage, or an alternative strategy for off-site back up. I was thinking that, since my mom lives in Arizona, and I am in Los Angeles, if there was a way to have a hard drive at her computer dedicated to being my backup, and there was an application to support it, I could backup my files to this hard drive through the Internet.

Can you please tell me if there are any other providers who allow a greater amount of data for a lower price, or if there is an alternative to this strategy? I really want off-site backup, and preferably from a solutions provider who has redundancy. But, if it is more economical, I would be willing to do my own set up.

Any ideas or input is welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

Hello Bill2,

Thanks for the response to my query. I was looking more for a 'set and forget' kind of backup.

I want something that I can set up once and then it just runs itself in the background as files are changed, and / or on a regular schedule. I'm thinking that if Mozy had a service where the actual backing up of the files was free, but that you paid when you needed to access them. That way, I would not be penalized for having a lot of data.

Take good care.

Hi Bill2!

You are getting closer to what I'm talking about. I would like this service, which offers 500GB for $14.95 monthly for up to 5 PCs, but for 1 PC at less cost. Although...I could theoretically share the storage space with my mother and sister, bringing down the overall individual cost. I wonder what the price is for more than 500GB; that is only have a terabyte.

Let me know your thoughts! Thanks again so much!!!

Bill2,

Although I am still open to other service providers if anyone else wants to post them, this seems like a good solution. If I could get more than 500GB when needed, and get my mom, sister, and step dad on this plan with me, we would average a very low cost per user. Thanks for getting my brain thinking along these lines!

Take good care!

richyrichuk,

Thanks for the recommendation. I actually have used Second Copy in the past before I switched completely to Mozy. Although I am not completely opposed to it, I would prefer an online backup service.

I also use Mozy pro for my clients who backup each evening, They like it because it has been reliable and dependable. They can retrieve one single file in a real short time if necessary or they will provide you a complete set of DVD's of your data for a reasonable fee.

One problem that I see with cheaper alternatives is the reliablity and retrievability of your data. Some new entries into the on-line backup arena don't have the capacity to backup reliably. It costs money to have servers on-line and the storage capability with the necessary security of your data. Encryption is a big deal and as one on-line backup company had problems with others being able to see data that was not theirs. It was only for about 4 hours but still a securiy breach.

I guess it boils down to bottom line, Is your data that important or is it sentimental?

One problem that I have had with some of the others is the overhead that their program has with instantaneous backup over the internet. Unless you have a good bit pipe, it will slow down other access. Also it is the upload speed that is important, not the download speed.

Just my thoughts on this.

Rich

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