As we now all have so much data stored on our PCs, archiving it properly is a necessity not an option. Storing it online is one option that you might want to consider.

Webroot is a company perhaps best known for its anti-virus and anti-malware software but is now spreading its wings into online storage. Secure Backup is a new tool that uses the power and capacity of remote storage accessed from the comfort of your own PC.

Backing up is right up there with other things you would rather not do like filling in your tax return and writing thank you letters. As with those others, backing up is essential and using Webroot Secure Backup it's very easy.

Once you have created an account and downloaded the client you simply log in and work your way through the wizard. This enables you to decide what files you want to backup and where you want them to go. Although the main premise of Secure Backup is to store your essential data online, it does work equally well offline with all the usual choices of destination such as HDD, DVD and so on, depending on what you have available.

Whether you choose to go online or off you still have the same choice of whether you want to do a complete backup or an incremental one. Of course the first time you back up you really do need to do a full back up.

Of course although there are obvious benefits to backing up online, there are downsides too. The main issue is the one of trust, how certain are you that the service you are using is safe and reliable?

It's all very well you backing up your data and then losing it, but when you trust someone else to do it you need to be certain that they won't lose it. Webroot says that data stored on its servers is replicated to redundant servers and that they have a tier 4 rating with an uptime of 99.995 per cent. This equates to only 30 minutes downtime a year.

As we store more and more data on our PCs the amount of space required to archive it all is scary. With Secure Backup Webroot offers a sliding scale of storage from 2GB to 50GB. This may not sound sufficient but the files are compressed, not only so that you can store more data but also to make the transfer faster.

We are told that it is possible to use the service on a dial-up connection but it is best with either ADSL or a fixed line. However, as this is mainly a consumer application and will be used in the home, it will most likely be used on an ADSL line.

This then creates an issue in that the upload link for most connections is usually only as much as 512Kbps. Large backups, no matter how much compression is used, will still take many hours to complete. The tool does have a really useful feature where it emails you when the backup has finished to give you the peace of mind though.

Another benefit of online backup is the ability to access it anywhere and also to share files with others who have user accounts, which is obviously far better than just putting your files on a DVD in your home or office.

Webroot's Secure Backup works exactly how you would expect it to and takes the pain and monotony out of backing up. With a sliding scale of cost from £14.95 a year for 2GB to £49.95 for 50GB it's certainly worth looking at for saving those precious files just in case.

86%

Henry Tucker

www.webroot.com 

December 2008