An online backup service is pretty much the same thing as physical backup software that you may have on your home PC. The only difference is that all your data is stored at an online data center, allowing you to access it even if you are not at home, or at your office, or wherever you would normally keep your physical backups.

There are literally dozens of options out there for online backup and storage services, but there are three that really stand head and shoulders above the crowd, in terms of both usability and price. Do some research for yourself before committing to anything here, but this quick list should at least get you started on the right foot.

1- Mozy

This is easily my favorite backup and storage service out of the few that I've tried personally. Mozy personifies all the requirements you should look for in a backup service: reliable, automatic backups, inexpensive, and exceptional ease of use.

To set up an account, just go to the Mozy website and sign up. Then you need to download the software and specify the file types that need to be backed up, and let it do its thing. MozyHome is only $4.95 a month for unlimited storage and backup space.

If you don't have much to backup, MozyHomeFree will give you 2Gb of backup storage on their servers for absolutely no charge.

2- IDrive-E

Very similar to Mozy, although the software takes a bit more getting used to. They offer a wide range of features which is why I included them in this list, including file sharing and mapped drive support. They have unlimited service for the same $4.95 per month, although here's the catch...”unlimited” in this case is limited to 150Gb.

IDrive-E Basic offers a free 2Gb of online storage.

3- Carbonite

Just like the first two, with Carbonite you simply sign up for an account and download the software from the website. Compared to the other two, Carbonite software feels a little clunky, and it doesn't offer as many features as either Mozy or IDrive-E. The reason I felt it made the top three is because of the low annual price. $49.95 per year, making this easily the best option if you need an online backup or storage service for a long time.


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