• What is online data backup?

Online data backup is a service that provides users with an online system for backing up and storing computer files. These services typically have a software program that runs on a schedule for backing up your files. Once this software is downloaded it collects, compresses, encrypts and transfers the data to the remote backup service providers servers. These servers are kept in fire resistant, oxygen controlled rooms to make sure your files are kept safe.
These online data backup services tend to be much easier than purchasing your own external hard drive with their automated backup schedule and no need to plug-in or install any additional hardware to your computer.

• Is my computer able to use an online data backup service?

Majority of computer operating systems are compatible with online backup services. It is just a matter of finding the online backup service that works with your particular operating system.

• What is a GB or gigabyte?

A measure of computer memory or disk space consisting of about one thousand million bytes (a thousand megabytes). The actual value is 1,073,741,824 bytes (1,024 megabytes).

• Why use an online backup service?

There are many reasons to use an online backup service. Here are a few:
1. Continuous data backup
2. File are kept safe in their data centers
3. Do not have to purchase extra hard ware such as an external hard drive
4. Easy monthly fee

• How do they keep our files safe? Is it that secure?

Online data backup services take the same security measures as large financial firms and other large institutions. The servers they keep your files in are in temperature and oxygen controlled clean rooms. In case of fire these air tight rooms can lower oxygen levels to a point where fire cannot breath and is smothers before damage and happen to your files.

• How do online backup services work?
  An online data backup service is downloaded from one of the website and installed on the computer to be backed up. Central control is installed on a your operating system to administer the service on local and remote computers. Using the central control, the administrator selects what data to back up, the frequency of back up, the time of back up, and (depending on the service) how long the back up is retained in vaults. At the time selected, the agent compresses and encrypts the data, then transfers it to the specified website’s primary data center. The data is then backed up to a secondary remote data center. If a restore is needed, client uses the central control to select the data to be restored and the back up to the restore from and the restore process begins immediately. The encrypted data is transmitted back to the computer where the service decrypts and decomposes the data.

• Do I need to be on the internet?

Yes you need to have an internet connect for the services to transfer and backup your files online.

• Is online data backup better than an external hard drive?

Yes and No depending on what you are looking for. Online data backup services are much easier and most back up all the file in specified folders every day. This type of daily procedure is rarely followed with those working with an external hard drive. Also the hard drive could be damaged and the files lost, whereas with an online data backup service you cannot harm the data centers