Secure Backup to external HDD

I want to set up an external HDD, connected to a wireless hub, to be used for backup. This hub is used by 2 or 3 people during the week, and I want to set up automatic backup for each of them to the HDD.

Because the HDD will be in a semi-public area, it wll be relatively easy for it to to pinched. While there is not much I can do about that, what i would like to do is to encrypt the backed up data.

What i want to be able to do is to establish the HDD as encrypted, and somehow register the machines to it such that a password is not needed every time they need to back up. If the users need to do this, they will not carry out the backup, and I want them to do this.

I suspect that a NAS drive will provide this functionality but this is a very expensive solution, and my reading of WD and Seagate products SEEMS to imply that their encryption requires a password every time user wishes to access the drive for backup etc.

Is there some software that I can install on the machines to give me NAS-like functionaity (that is log in in the background), or are there any easily available USB connected HDD that I ca buy that will not break the bank.

Thanks in anticipation

Hi there

Wireless backup will be a DOG unless your backup volume is SMALL and users don't backup at the same time.

You might consider using STORAGE SPACES on your target machine -- that way you can aggregate several SMALL volumes into a single large data space with some sort of protection too.

Wifi backup though - forget it !!! 20 GB will take forever at a typical wifi speed - remember also that UPLOAD which is effectively what your users are doing is often 10 times slower than download. Is YOUR system also up to it.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 - thank you for your comment. I used the term 'wireless hub' as a description of the product, rather than a description of its use. Most of the connections will by by cable, and those that are not will only be having delta's added.

I am more concerned about the encryption rather than the speed of backup. Any suggestions on that, please?

Do you have some software to perform the backup operation? Does it need to be automatic or all will be manual?
Since many users will be using the same device, would you like to have per-user encryption or everything will be protected under the same password?