Online Backup - Who Can Access My Data?

In the previous post we looked at encryption systems for online backup services. We saw that the AES 256-bit encryption standard, used by the best online backup services such as Back Up Solutions, provides the highest possible level of security.

So what are the implications of this for backing up your own data? When you sign up to one of these online backup services, you are provided with a decryption key - a complex password - or you may be asked to compose your own. If you are provided with a key it will be computer-generated, and the staff at the online backup service will NOT have access to it. This means that NOBODY can access your data except yourself. You must of course find a secure place to keep your decryption password - probably NOT where you keep your computer - so that you can be sure you can find it when you need it, even if your computer is destroyed in a fire or some other disaster.

You may ask - what about hackers who may target the data center itself? It is generally agreed that the algorithm used for this level of encryption is sufficiently complex to make it virtually impossible for a hacker to break it. Remember that it is used by the US government to encrypt its TOP SECRET classified information!

But it does depend on you being very careful to make sure your key doesn't fall into the wrong hands!

Online Backup - How is My Data Protected?

In an earlier post we discussed some worries that you might have about online backup. One question was - how can I be sure that my data is kept confidential? We briefly explained that any good online backup service will ENCRYPT your data.

If you look at the Back Up Solutions site you will see the statement "Our files are 256-bit AES encrypted before being uploaded." What on earth does this mean?

Well I am not a techie so I don't understand the technicalities of encryption algorithms, but AES stands for "Advanced Encryption Standard". It is a symmetric key encryption technique which was accredited by the US government as the standard to which all encryptions must comply. The US government has confirmed that AES is secure enough to protect classified information up to TOP SECRET level - that is, it is the standard which the government itself uses to protect its MOST SENSITIVE information!

The AES algorithm uses one of three cipher key strengths: 128-bit, 192-bit or 256-bit. The larger the number of "bits", the more complex the algorithm used to scramble the data, so the more difficult it is for a hacker to get in.

So the encryption level used by Back Up Solutions is the highest level of security you can get! If it's good enough for the US government to protect its most top-level secret information, it's probably good enough to protect your data and mine!

More about this in the next post.

Online Backup - What's Cloud Storage?

If you've had a look at the Back Up Solutions web site, you'll have noticed that it describes itself as "online cloud storage". What does this mean?

Actually most web-based online backup services could be referred to as "cloud storage" systems. The term "cloud" is sometimes used as a metaphor for the whole Internet, based on the complex infrastructure it conceals. A diagram of any complex computer network could be made to look like a cloud. When you use any complex computer application, such as a blogging service like this, it is based on an incredibly complex structure of interacting computers and servers. But you don't see that - you just see the final result. That is, you log on to the blogging service, or clink a link to read the blog. Most of us never think of the complex infrastructure beneath all this.

Some computer users, particularly businesses, use "cloud data storage" INSTEAD of storing their data on their computer, rather than as a backup for data that's actually on the computer. This can be useful for users who have such large amounts of data that it would be hard to find enough space on a single hard drive.

But it's not always all that simple - more about this in the next post. Meanwhile don't forget to check out Back Up Solutions to find out more.

Online Backup - Software Based Or Web Based?

An online backup service can be either software based, or web based. What's the difference?

If you are using a software-based backup system, you download the software program the service provides you with when you sign up, and install it on your computer. Then you administer your own backup by connecting to the server of the backup service.

With a web-based system, you don't install anything on your computer. The backup service will access your computer from its own server and perform the backup without you having to do anything.

Some people prefer the software-based system because they feel more in control. If you have your own software, you decide how and when you perform the backing up. It is used more by businesses, who employ specialized IT people. But of course, the main problem comes if your computer crashes! Then you can't access your software to access your data. Businesses who use this kind of system will install the software in more than one place.

If you are using a web-based online backup service, you can of course access your data from any computer, provided you have your password or ID. So if your computer has crashed completely and you get a new one, you can easily restore your files straight away. For this reason, more individuals and small businesses choose a web-based service such as Back Up Solutions. Check out their site to find out more.

Online Backup - Why Does It Have To Be Online?

Well of course it doesn't HAVE to be online. Before I started using online backup, I used to back up on CDs. Of course this is better than nothing, and it is really important that you DO back up in one way or another.

But now I am using online backup, I am finding it such a relief not to have to bother with this any more.

• The process is very time-consuming and fiddly. The more files you have on your computer, the more time-consuming it is, as they probably won't all fit on one disk or even two.


• I found that when I repeated the backup process, there was no way of identifying which files had been added since the last backup. So you have to do the whole lot each time, which is really a waste of time, effort and disks!!


• You never know how long to leave it before doing it again. It's such a pain that the temptation is to leave it for a few weeks. But of course if the worst happened in the meantime, you would lose everything you had downloaded, and all the work you might have done in your word processor. So you have it hanging over you all the time.


• Last but not least - where do you keep the disks containing your backed-up material? Near your computer? I always did - but of course if my computer had been destroyed in a fire or flood, the disks would have been destroyed as well! I can't think of anywhere I could have kept them, where they would have been safe from fire or flood.

What a relief it is now, to have an online backup service that works away in the background and backs up everything every day, without my having to do anything at all. Of course I believe that Back Up Solutions is the best service - but the important thing is that you use something. Otherwise you could be very, very sorry indeed!

Online Backup - I Have Questions!

When you think about online backup, it seems a very abstract process which you can't really see. And you can't see the people who operate the service either. You may have all sorts of questions in your mind about how it works.

• How do I know backup is taking place? Most online backup services provide an icon on your computer which you can click at any time. It will tell you whether backup for the day is pending, in progress, or complete. Sometimes it will say "Searching for files to back up"!


• How do I know if files have been backed up? Usually files that have been backed up have a symbol on them to show that they have been backed up. The web site of the online backup service will tell you what to look for to see if the files are backed up or awaiting backup.


• Will the backup get in my way? It won't get in your way at all. You may notice a humming from your computer while it is taking place, but it just works away in the background.


• How do I know I can access my data? This is a very good question. Your best plan is to "accidentally" delete a file and see if you can retrieve it easily. It's also a good idea to log on to the service from another computer and see if you can easily access your data. You should do this during the guarantee period or free trial period.

There may be lots more questions you have - do ask. Peace of mind is the main reason for using a service like Back Up Solutions, and you need to have all your doubts put to rest.

Online Backup - What Actually Happens?

If you're uncertain about deciding to use an online backup service, it may be because you're not sure what happens.

When you have chosen your online backup service, you will find a place on their site where you sign up. In most cases you won't need to provide much personal information - all they really need is your card details. You also need to provide a password which will be your key to accessing your data so keep it safe.

They will also provide you with a unique ID or order number. This won't usually be required as they recognize your computer, but you will need it if you access the service from a different computer.

If they are providing a free trial period, as most good services do, they will start backing up your files straight away, but they won't use your card details until the trial period is up. You can of course cancel before then, and pay nothing - but you won't have your files backed up, of course!

The initial online backup can take a few days. It can only happen when you are connected to the Internet, but don't worry if you need to switch off before it's finished - it will just carry on when you log back on again.

After this, the online backup service will scan your computer every day for new material to back up.

If you are concerned about finding a totally reliable online backup service, you really can't do much better than Back Up Solutions - it ticks all the boxes to give you complete peaceof mind. Have a look at their site to find out more.