May 28, 2009
Online data storage comes in one of two varieties. The first kind is ONLINE BACKUP. This service is usually designed as an automatic application - you sign up and your computer's hard drive is backed up at a remote location usually once every 24 hours. A subscription to this type of service is usually licensed to ONE computer...you can buy a license for multiple computers (mainly for business use.) The limitations of this type of service are not in the amount of storage. The limits to this type of service are that you can only access the backed-up data from the computer with the software license. This is perfect is what you are looking for is protection from computer crashes and accidental data loss. It won't help you, however, if your computer is stolen, for example.
If you need a secure, accessible storage space for specific digital files and documents, you need an ONLINE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX instead. The advantage of this type of online service is that you choose what to deposit into the box and physically upload those files only. Since the box is password protected, you can get to the contents anywhere you have an internet connection. There is no software to download - access is by password. If your computer or laptop is stolen, you can still get into your safe deposit box.
This type of storage is perfect for people who travel, have more than one home, business people who
work from many locations, or anyone for whom organized files that are accessible anywhere is important.