Cloud backup is a cloud storage service with cloud backup software. A cloud storage service provides cloud-based data storage which cloud backup software backs up your computer and mobile devices to the cloud.
As opposed to traditional local data backups that copy files on your computer, online cloud backups create an exact image of your computer or mobile device so that if anything happens you can restore the backed up image as it was at a certain point in time. Cloud backup services provide cloud based data storage which allow for more protection than just storing files on a single location, they also keep multiple copies of each file for added redundancy and security. You should use a cloud backup service because:
1) It protects from hardware failure
A hard disk drive can fail at any time without warning, as can a cloud storage service’s servers and data centers. With cloud backup software you keep an exact image of your computer or mobile device so that if anything happens you can restore it as it was in the cloud and avoid losing data completely.
2) It protects from malware and viruses
Malware and viruses are increasingly going to cloud based systems because they provide easy access for hackers. If you store files only on your local hard drive, cyber-criminals can compromise these files any time they want with little risk of discovery. This also applies to cloud based systems like Dropbox, Google Drive etc. Cloud backup services use encryption when storing your data which means that even if cloud storage is hacked there is very little chance of the cloud backup data being compromised. By storing data in an encrypted form, cloud backup service protects your data from malware and viruses.
3) It protects if there is a hardware malfunction or theft
All cloud backup services keep multiple copies of each file for added redundancy and security so that you can restore files from cloud even if one or more copies are lost or damaged due to any reason (hardware damage, natural disaster etc.)
4) It allows remote access to files anywhere through an Internet connection.
Cloud backup software includes cloud based data storage which allow for cloud backup while you are on the go with your laptop or tablet because you do not need to connect it to the cloud storage server. You can also backup files from mobile devices and restore them back when you are connected to the cloud again.
5) It is relatively inexpensive and easy to setup
Cloud backup software costs significantly less than traditional data backups since it saves money on additional hardware (external hard drives), electricity bills etc. Also cloud based services require no maintenance or cloud backup system upgrades – just set up cloud service once and forget about it!
6) It protects from natural disasters and human mistakes
Have you ever heard about someone who has lost all their computer data due to water damage? The problem with local backups is that they need to be stored in a safe location where nothing can happen to the data. Cloud backups on the other hand are cloud-based and thus do not require any specific storage location – you only need internet connection which is available almost everywhere including disaster areas.
7) It’s good for privacy
You probably don’t want everybody knowing what files you store in your cloud backup, or cloud based online document services such as Google Docs and Dropbox. However cloud backup software offers an option of encrypting your cloud backups which makes them virtually unreadable even if they fall into wrong hands because encryption keys are generated by the cloud backup software and held on your local machine.
8) It protects against loss of installed applications and operating system upgrades
You may not want to pay again for the software that you have already purchased, or for OS upgrades which require reinstalling all applications. Cloud backup service will allow you to keep your old installations as cloud images so that you can restore them easily when a new version of the application is released or when you are ready to upgrade your OS (e.g. Windows 8 -> Windows 10).
9) It protects against future data loss disasters
With cloud backup software you do not need to think about backups any more, simply set up cloud backups once and forget about it because cloud backup works automatically in the background (full automated cloud backup mode), stores multiple copies of files and allows restoring files even if cloud storage is not available for some reason.
10) It protects data from theft or loss
By storing multiple copies of your cloud backed up data, cloud backup service reduces the chance of any single copy being stolen because even if someone gets access to that specific cloud based data they are unlikely to be able to retrieve it due to encryption (see #3 above). Also cloud backups allow you to restore data from cloud even when a computer with local backups is stolen because cloud and local based backups use different encryption keys so the cloud computer does not require access to the local machine.
And more…
Cloud backup software has many other benefits such as faster performance, no need for cloud backup software upgrades, cloud backups from your tablet or phone and much more.