I need some recommendations, please, for backing up and storing my images on an EXternal , safe, online source.
I have 3 backups at home, but they are at HOME and Now, Brookings is surrounded by out-of-control fires. We are on the farthest west edge of town, and the fire would have to burn thru the whole town to get to us, and that is highly unlikely.
Now, if we need to leave, I can take the external hard-drives - but thinking about a time when we may NOT be here.
Thanks for any replies -
Sandy
I have used Carbonite for years, have used it to recover all my files once and individual files several times, can view my backed up files from the Carbonite app on my phone, including thumbnail images, and download one or more onto my phone if I want to, without ever having a problem. If you delete a file from your computer, Carbonite DOES delete that same file from your backup after 30 days, or at least it did last time I checked.
My son-in-law uses CrashPlan and recommends it, but I have no personal experience with it, don't know whether it has a mobile app, etc., but you could check it out.
There is a nice article at Ars Technica about alternatives for cloud backup. Here
CrashPlan is getting out of the consumer market for cloud backup, so, unless you want to pay for one of their 'business' plans, Carbonite looks to be one of the better alternatives.
--P
Posted by Keith Bauer on August 29, 2017 at 10:57 AM
Sandy:
I'm not a fan of cloud based backups. I've had more than one client who needed to restore large amounts of data and it took weeks. One finally gave up and had to have the company cut CD's to send to do the restore. Unless you have a blazing fast upload speed, it will also take weeks to get your data up to the server.
Another good alternative is to take one (or more) of your backup drives and put them in a safe deposit box. Easy enough to swap them out and keep an updated copy at home and in the safe deposit box.
Posted by Max Waugh on August 29, 2017 at 11:17 AM
My father gave up on Carbonite after dealing with the slow times Keith mentions.
I keep a set of drives off-site, bringing them in to back up new content after a new trip or shoot is concluded. Haven't found an online solution yet, but I'm certainly curious about what others have to say.
Max
Posted by Greg Vaughn on August 29, 2017 at 12:45 PM
I think it's a good idea to have a cloud-based backup in addition to multiple external hard drives. I have used BackBlaze for years for my cloud backup. Yes, it takes a long time for the initial upload but after that it is done automatically in the background whenever your computer is on and connected to the internet.
Twice I have restored files from BackBlaze while I was traveling and away from my home backups. In both cases it was quick and easy.
I now have backups for almost all my files on four small portable drives (Seagate and WD MyPassport). These go with me when I travel.
Greg, BackBlaze looks intriguing. Do you just use the Personal package? Seems like the base business package is a little cheaper (if just backing up one computer), but I don't know if there is any other notable difference between the two.
I just started with backblaze. The first backup is slow but they invite you to pick a file to restore for free during the 15 day trial. If your hard drive fails they will send you a hard drive with all your files on it to use to start over with. Not sure anyone else does that. A little cheaper than Carbonite. I have the personal package. Good luck.
Backblaze is one of the best, according to reading i have done. Additionally, Backblaze has gathered extensive data on hard drive failure rates over very large samples.
Personally, I have never been a believer of cloud-based backup. One vendor I tried years ago went belly-up. Fortunately, I had enough notice to download my files before the site went dark. Therefore, it is agood idea keep up with the ever-changing cloud storage space.
I store my backups on extrenal drives that I can esaily disconnect when not in use. That way if, heaven forbid, I get nailed by ransomware, my backups will survive.
I do need to come up with a plan for off-site storage of a backup drive, though.
--P
Discussion
8 repliesI have 3 backups at home, but they are at HOME and Now, Brookings is surrounded by out-of-control fires. We are on the farthest west edge of town, and the fire would have to burn thru the whole town to get to us, and that is highly unlikely.
Now, if we need to leave, I can take the external hard-drives - but thinking about a time when we may NOT be here.
Thanks for any replies -
Sandy
My son-in-law uses CrashPlan and recommends it, but I have no personal experience with it, don't know whether it has a mobile app, etc., but you could check it out.
CrashPlan is getting out of the consumer market for cloud backup, so, unless you want to pay for one of their 'business' plans, Carbonite looks to be one of the better alternatives.
--P
I'm not a fan of cloud based backups. I've had more than one client who needed to restore large amounts of data and it took weeks. One finally gave up and had to have the company cut CD's to send to do the restore. Unless you have a blazing fast upload speed, it will also take weeks to get your data up to the server.
Another good alternative is to take one (or more) of your backup drives and put them in a safe deposit box. Easy enough to swap them out and keep an updated copy at home and in the safe deposit box.
I keep a set of drives off-site, bringing them in to back up new content after a new trip or shoot is concluded. Haven't found an online solution yet, but I'm certainly curious about what others have to say.
Max
Twice I have restored files from BackBlaze while I was traveling and away from my home backups. In both cases it was quick and easy.
I now have backups for almost all my files on four small portable drives (Seagate and WD MyPassport). These go with me when I travel.
- Greg
Max
Personally, I have never been a believer of cloud-based backup. One vendor I tried years ago went belly-up. Fortunately, I had enough notice to download my files before the site went dark. Therefore, it is agood idea keep up with the ever-changing cloud storage space.
I store my backups on extrenal drives that I can esaily disconnect when not in use. That way if, heaven forbid, I get nailed by ransomware, my backups will survive.
I do need to come up with a plan for off-site storage of a backup drive, though.
--P