Online server backups

Online backup is a great way to keep you precious files safe. Online server backups are easy to automate and they are also the easiest way to keep your backups in a different location than your computer. Having your backups in a different location than your computer ensures that even in the cases of theft, fire, or other natural disaster you will not lose your valuable files.

Advantages of online server backups
Online backup allows you to automate storing backups in a separate location than your computer. When making local backups you can manually store your backups in a different location. For example you could burn your backups to DVDs and store the DVDs in your car or at a family members home but there is no way to automate that process. In fact burning DVDs and taking them to another location daily could be a real pain (and an unnecessary one). You can perform similar types of backup methods with online backup as with local backup such as incremental backup and differential backup.

Limitations of online server backups
Your internet speed is the biggest limitation. Your upload bandwidth may make it unpractical to backup large amounts of data. Whole system backup by hard disk image technology is typically impractical. Obviously your internet access will have to be working for both backup or recovery.

Online backup is free for home users that don't want to backup enormous amounts of data
1. IDrive offers 2 GB of free storage for home users. IDrive encrypts your data transfer with SSL and stores your backups encrypted with 256-bit AES. IDrive allows you to schedule incremental backups. IDrive has many predefined one click backup sets like Outlook email, My Favorites, Firefox, QuickBooks, and many more. Restoring files can be done through a Windows like explorer. Overall IDrive is pretty easy to use. You can get unlimited storage for $4.95/month.
2. Mozy is another service that gives you 2 GB of free storage. Mozy has very similar features to IDrive except it stores your data with 448-bit Blowfish encryption instead of 256-bit AES. Unlimited backup is also $4.95/month. If you have two computer or you just want more free space you could sign up for both Mozy and IDrive.