Productivity Portfolio

I realize there are many backup options available for consumers. In the early days, I made backup disks and meticulously labeled each one. As hard drives became larger, my process included different mediums ranging from CDs to zip disks with some proprietary media along the way.

While the above systems worked, there were several weaknesses. Not one of these solutions would help in the event of a fire unless I had an off-site copy. I was also the weak link, as I would neglect the task. Backing up my data became one of those tasks like recycling, flossing, taking vitamins, documentation, oil changes and eating dark green leafy vegetables. I know I'm supposed to do these items regularly, but I'm not consistent.

I needed a system that would compensate for my weaknesses and still be flexible. In some regards, backup solutions are like time management systems unless you find one that feels right, you wont use it.

The Backup Trials

After going through trials with @Backup, Xdrive and IBackup, I decided an online service better suited my needs rather than physical backups. I decided it was better to pay a premium to ensure the backups were done in a timely manner with minimal reliance on me. I also recognize that online backup solutions don't capture all my files and data. If my hard drive were to fail, I would have to reinstall my applications too.

Although each of these online backup services provided nice features, I chose IBackup. Their 5GB economy package for $9.95 a month allows me to have scheduled backups and interactive backups. I could also cut my cost by buying a year subscription for $99. This flexibility means I can schedule a daily backup of my critical files and still backup other files when needed. And if 5GB isn't enough space for you, they provide plenty of other plans.

One feature that appealed to me is IBackup does backups in combination with patch technology. Rather than incremental backups where files are stored in a separate folder, the data is written to the original backup. This reduces the transfer time and fits better with my file structure. I also use their mirror option to maintain the same path and folder names as on my desktop.

Accessing Your Backup Files

The service offers many ways to access your files. While in the home office, I use the IBackup for Windows client. This software allows me to create backup sets. A backup set is a list of files you expect to backup on a frequent basis such as My Documents. You can then use one of the wizards to create a scheduled backup of your files or sets. This works well for me as Ive created 3 scheduled backup sets for my critical files. As a safety measure, I set the option to have the program send me an email and error log if the backup fails.

When I'm on the road, I can view my backups using their Web-Manager page from any browser. I could also add files to my backup from another computer. This is handy if you work in several locations or forget some critical presentation file.

Moreover, I can share files with others. The service has a nice feature where you tag a file or folder to be shared. The service will send an email to the recipient with the URL. The recipient only sees their shared files. You can set various attributes such as SSL, password, download counts, and upload privileges.

The service allows two other methods of transferring files. One way is by a FTP client. IBackup provides a FTP site that allows FTP-to-FTP transfers. This can be a handy feature if you wish to backup a website. Although IBackup has made their service FTP-ready, you will have to setup your FTP client. You don't have the benefit of any wizards so you may need to consult your FTP program documentation.

The other method of transferring files is with email. If you get an email with an attachment, you can forward it to IBackup. You simply use your account name @ibackup.com. Based on your email preferences, each mail will create a subfolder with the text contents and attached file. One caveat, if the email has an embedded picture, it will not appear. The picture needs to be an attached file.

As with any product, there are drawbacks. For instance, we wished we could maximize the IBackup for Windows client. Instead, the program opens in a fixed size and you need to scroll a bit to see the file details. We would also like to see a Send to IBackup or Add to backup option if we right-clicked on a file or folder.

The service has many other features such as a client for Pocket PCs and an application called IDrive that makes your IBackup account look like a networked drive. To get a better idea of the entire service, we suggest you sign up for a trial account. The company offers a 30-day trial for 50Mbs. While this isn't much space, it gives you an opportunity to see how the service works and if it will suit your needs.