best backup for my architectural office

[platinumaa]

i have google business apps for my email.. windows 7 (64bit), using outlook.. all my email is on googles servers (gmail), and an always sync'ed copy is on outlook.. if i reformat i dont have to backup my pst file, i just download from google apps

question is, what software does that for standard files? we're an architectural office so we have a lot of drawings, but no offline backup.. i was wondering is there an app/online storage that works just the same as my gmail app.. first time i signup the data is uploaded, than a mirrored "copy" is on my computer.. its syncs every so often or constantly

is there a software backup program that does that? or another alternative that someone may have that gives me the result?

thanks for the help!

 

[MustISO]

If you're looking for cloud storage, I would suggest Mozy, Carbonite or Crash Plan.

 

[Cerb]

Any of the above, or even Dropbox, plus physical local backups.

You might want to buy a Qnap, Synology, or Drobo NAS, FI (basically, a file server that doesn't need a *n*x wiz to administer). That would give you an extra local copy on a network share, and place to source those backups from. Some such cloud backup services also offer apps/plugins for said NASes, you can centralize those copies for backup from the NAS. If you go that way, there's more than a little research to do for what services support what NASes and what they offer on top of that, or even if you want to do abckup that way, v. every PC doing it separately--an embarrassment of riches problem, clouded by marketing-speak .

 

[Doppel]

i have google business apps for my email.. windows 7 (64bit), using outlook.. all my email is on googles servers (gmail), and an always sync'ed copy is on outlook.. if i reformat i dont have to backup my pst file, i just download from google apps

question is, what software does that for standard files? we're an architectural office so we have a lot of drawings, but no offline backup.. i was wondering is there an app/online storage that works just the same as my gmail app.. first time i signup the data is uploaded, than a mirrored "copy" is on my computer.. its syncs every so often or constantly

is there a software backup program that does that? or another alternative that someone may have that gives me the result?

thanks for the help!

Carbonite works exactly as you describe. You can download the demo to see how you like it. I've never paid much attention to how quickly it mirrors. I know it's at least a couple of minutes, but worse case may be hours unless you force a backup. I just don't recall.

I use carbonite at home but one thing you may want to be aware of is IIRC when you delete a file on your machine--inadvertently--it only hangs around carbonite for a certain period of time and eventually is purged, so if you accidentally kill a bunch of stuff locally you may not know about it.

 

[Gintaras]

If you're looking for cloud storage, I would suggest Mozy, Carbonite or Crash Plan.

Just wonder...what you would do, if any or all of these "storage services" will go out of business?

What will happen to your "backup"?

 

[platinumaa]

I may entertain Carbonite.. that looks similiar to what i may be looking for

Gintaras.. if theres a copy/mirror on my local hard drive.. wouldnt i still have an image if the company went out of business.. essentially the local hard drive is a backup of whats online, and visa versa.. i think anyways..?

 

[ggadrian]

I think that it's OK to have online backups, but they are slow if you work with big files and in case that you need to recover something you have to wait for the files to download through internet or for the company to send you an HDD with the files, and I suppose that being a business time is money.

If you're going the online route, at least I would have local copies in a separate HDD, it's really cheap and fast. I use EaseUS Todo Backup Workstation and it's cheap and useful.

 

[Doppel]

Just wonder...what you would do, if any or all of these "storage services" will go out of business?

What will happen to your "backup"?

This is only relevant if it goes out of business while you are recovering. These businesses are not to be used for archiving so really it is no concern.

Having a local backup on HD is okay but all hard drives eventually die. I don't even trust external HD for family pics at least not unless I have a minimum of two of them, staggering the dates of backups. On site backup has to be kept in a water and fireproof container as well.

Every business should be able to quickly recover any of its systems including its data when--not if--it has a failure.

Cloud based solutions obviously solve a lot of this though introduce other problems too.

 

[Gintaras]

This is only relevant if it goes out of business while you are recovering. These businesses are not to be used for archiving so really it is no concern.

Having a local backup on HD is okay but all hard drives eventually die. I don't even trust external HD for family pics at least not unless I have a minimum of two of them, staggering the dates of backups. On site backup has to be kept in a water and fireproof container as well.

Every business should be able to quickly recover any of its systems including its data when--not if--it has a failure.

Cloud based solutions obviously solve a lot of this though introduce other problems too.

Those "services" aren't using HHDs(you don't trust) that can die while you do a recovery? "Must be kept in a water in a fireproof container?" Why not on the Moon or Mars - I would feel more comfy, if my data was stored there...On Earth could happen earthquakes, hurricanes...etc that could destroy your data, even if it stored in a water, in fireproof containers...

I don't blame those services...why not to make money out of millions of paranoid people who can't think...

In case some natural disaster would happen - there would be no Carbonite, no data owner no one can use that data...
But Carbonite and such can use data owners money TODAY - that's what they care about...

 

[smitbret]

Those "services" aren't using HHDs(you don't trust) that can die while you do a recovery? "Must be kept in a water in a fireproof container?" Why not on the Moon or Mars - I would feel more comfy, if my data was stored there...On Earth could happen earthquakes, hurricanes...etc that could destroy your data, even if it stored in a water, in fireproof containers...

I don't blame those services...why not to make money out of millions of paranoid people who can't think...

In case some natural disaster would happen - there would be no Carbonite, no data owner no one can use that data...
But Carbonite and such can use data owners money TODAY - that's what they care about...

Hey nutsack, did you miss the part of Online Backup that is spelled b-a-c-k-u-p? If your online backup company goes out of business there is still the local copy(s) and you simply change providers.

You're concerned about security of a company that could go out of business but then have the nuts to mock someone that likes the security of staggered backups kept in element proof boxes? Yep, you're a really consistent guy.

I suppose you backup your cherished FLAC files to your precious HiFi Man 300 and then just carry it with you everywhere, right?

 

[debian0001]

I'd recommend have a centralized Windows Fileserver to store files, and then doing a local backup everynight to something local + offsite with maybe Crashplan.

 

[platinumaa]

ok, called carbonite.. they do exactly what i need.. but theres a catch, its $600 a year, then next one below it is $300/year, which is fine.. but if its installed on a "windows server" computer, it wont work, have to goto the premium level.. which is $600.. thats crazy.. i dont make big money like techie people! :0)

im backing up now hourly/daily.. but its to an external hard drive.. would be nice to take offsite though.. i guess if theres no other program than $600 must be it.. keeps data safe in case office burns down, or someone breaks in and steals it

thanks fellas!

 

[Emulex]

3 Letters : S L A

no good if your place goes up in flames and it takes days if ever to recover.

Use a combo of external $130 4TB drives , some PAR2.. rotate several of those drives.

If your online backup company goes out of business you might be exposed to data loss.