Appealing to online backup for your most precious data is not actually a new practice. Ever since the appearance of the so-called “clouds” more and more Internet users and companies decided to move a part of their data (if not all) on secondary places with facile accessibility instead of keeping them in the “real” version, saved on their hardware. And since there are already numerous providers of similar services, how can you be sure you chose the best one for you, and, more important, why it is so important to keep your data backed up? Here is an online backup guide to help you out.

Why do I need to backup my data?

Online data backup is a spread practice throughout the Internauts as a protection measure from all kind of internal and external threats. Unfortunately the virtual background has become more insecure in the past few years, with multiple threats waiting at each Internet corner. Hackers and viruses represent the main reason why important data should always be backed up using a cloud service. Strong antivirus programs can help you keep the data protected but are not 100% impenetrable, especially if you daily surf on the Internet and seek for information from different unauthorized sources. Moreover, viruses have also become more powerful, being able to wipe off your data in a matter of seconds, no matter how protected your PC, laptop or server is.

Hard drive crashes can also occur, especially if you use external HDDs to store more information. However, by appealing to cloud-based solutions you can store all of your important data, documents, files, movies, videos, or high resolution pictures without having to worry about “wearing gloves” with your HDDs. Online storing is basically the easiest way to access your data wherever you are too. This means that you do not have to fit all your favorite contents in one DVD or hard-drive to carry it along whenever you go on vacation, but you simply need an Internet connection and one cloud account.

How can I choose the perfect cloud storage provider?

As previously mentioned there are numerous providers offering cloud storage solutions to those interested of keeping their data on the Internet. Here are some tips from a useful online backup guide to make you choose the perfect provider for your business/ data:

• Think about your financial resources. First thing you need to know is that there are two types of cloud providers — the free ones and the ones you need to pay a monthly or a yearly subscription. Based on your needs and financial situation, choose the right one for you.

• Think about the security of these clouds. Obviously, paid clouds will offer you improved security for your data as well as strict confidentiality for the information you choose to upload on your cloud. Before choosing your cloud provider make sure you know all about the security of information. Be aware that non-paid clouds may be easier to hack and all of your information may be compromised.

• Think about your data size. Different cloud providers offer different storage limits for your data, so before moving your precious info on a cloud, make sure you know if it will fit.