Online Storage?

[Virgorising]

Hi,

Hope this belongs here and not in Storage.

In the past, I have had negative feelings about my Apple besotted friends whose everything is in The Cloud, and have chosen internal backup in my desktops.

Yesterday, I received an email from my broadband provider (excellent), RCN, saying they were now offering online backup for like $4.99 a month. That's no money, so, for the first time, I am wondering what the advantages/disadvantages might be versus the way I've always done it.

Thanks in advance for feedback!

 

[smakme7757]

The cheapest and most reliable way is a disk at home and a disk at work (somewhere you visit often enough to keep rolling over the disks which isn't a PITA). That gives both offsite and onsite backups. A big bonus is that backing up large amounts of data is fast. Restoring large amounts of data is fast. It's also cheaper when you start hitting 1TB+

Then we have "The cloud". Cloud storage is convenient. You don't have to worry about your data. It's uploaded and it sits on someone else server somewhere in the world for when you need to retrieve it.

The drawback is that you don't own your data anymore. You have given it to someone else to look after however they can do what ever they want with it. It is however in their best interest to keep your data safe.

I encrypt anything i store in the cloud. I'm a bit of a freak, but just keep in mind that you are effectively giving ownership of your data to the company hosting your files. If you don't accept that and still want to use cloud services encrypt your data. Otherwise keep it simple and do home backups.

There is no reason to move to the "Cloud". Only do it if you're comfortable with it and it will actually serve a purpose.

 

[Virgorising]

The cheapest and most reliable way is a disk at home and a disk at work (somewhere you visit often enough to keep rolling over the disks which isn't a PITA). That gives both offsite and onsite backups. A big bonus is that backing up large amounts of data is fast. Restoring large amounts of data is fast. It's also cheaper when you start hitting 1TB+

Then we have "The cloud". Cloud storage is convenient. You don't have to worry about your data. It's uploaded and it sits on someone else server somewhere in the world for when you need to retrieve it.

The drawback is that you don't own your data anymore. You have given it to someone else to look after however they can do what ever they want with it. It is however in their best interest to keep your data safe.

I encrypt anything i store in the cloud. I'm a bit of a freak, but just keep in mind that you are effectively giving ownership of your data to the company hosting your files. If you don't accept that and still want to use cloud services encrypt your data. Otherwise keep it simple and do home backups.

There is no reason to move to the "Cloud". Only do it if you're comfortable with it and it will actually serve a purpose.

I have to say happily, I can't imagine a more intelligent, thorough response covering every single base, including some of my concerns re security, tho, I also thought, given how many people I know go in this direction, apparently, without a single concern, I might be paranoid. (Posting here, asking how to physically destroy my old drives to prevent anyone being able to access the data on them caused some here to say I am that....paranoid.)

I think your being moved to encrypt is just plain smart. Esp in this world with all we've learned of late.

And, given, having to encrypt would be a deal breaker for me, I think I will just stick with my old school internal backup strategy.

But, OMG, I do luv bargains.:whiste:

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!:wub::biggrin::thumbsup:
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Addenda: I also, earlier saw two spots on cable for this new RCN offering. It also struck me, that the no money price quoted is, as per commerce in general in this arena....introductory.
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Edit: I have to say, in the short time I've been active on this site, I have learned a STAGGERING amount....not just by posting when I needed info or help, but by reading threads.

There is, here, on this site, what I have to think is an atypical concentration of truly sharp, experienced, generous, even brilliant humans.....forget, many with remarkable perspective and erudition, as per the above.

I am deeply grateful.

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.crashplan.com/consumer/compare.html

 

[Virgorising]

http://www.crashplan.com/consumer/compare.html

Hi,

Thanks for the link, but, the first thing I did after receiving the email, was my usual delving, i.e,. top 10 such services, etc., and learned about them, this one included.

My dilemma was, should I go in this direction altogether? And, after the initial response post in this thread, I feel I should stick with my usual, internal backup.

But, I called RCN.....they are open 24/7, all brilliant reps, all here in America, and the lady told me, no, that is not an introductory price. and yes, unlimited storage. Amazing, but true.

So, while it's tempting......for now, I think I will stay with my Old School strategy.

 

[FoxFifth]

You have used the term "internal backup" and I think that means you are backing up to a second internal drive in your desktop. If that is correct and if that is your only backup and if you have any data of value (family pictures, business records, tax information, school work, etc.) you may want to consider the possibility of things such as theft, fire, flood which could destroy both the original and the backup in one event. A backup to one or more external drives kept offsite or a local backup plus a backup to a cloud service may be something to consider. I backup to a local USB external drive and I also use a cloud service because it is much more convenient for me than rotating a drive offsite. Many of the cloud services automatically encrypt the backup on your computer before it is sent to their site.

 

[Pardus]

As smakme7757 said, any online/cloud based storage such as carbonite gives up your rights for privacy and allows them to look at your files/data at any time they wish. Most people don't encrypt what they store in the cloud, sad, but true.

The other downside is backing up and restoring your data, can take a lot of time if you don't have the bandwidth.

A safety deposit box at your local bank is not that expensive. You can make images of your system and data to an external hard drive and store if there in case of fire, flood or Godzilla.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Well there is also Spideroak, which lets you store your own encryption key so they do not have access to look at your files.

 

[postmark]

Best bet is to setup a raspberry pi at your house and a friends house and rsync data between them. Then you have offsite backup but you own it.

 

[Virgorising]

You have used the term "internal backup" and I think that means you are backing up to a second internal drive in your desktop. If that is correct and if that is your only backup and if you have any data of value (family pictures, business records, tax information, school work, etc.) you may want to consider the possibility of things such as theft, fire, flood which could destroy both the original and the backup in one event. A backup to one or more external drives kept offsite or a local backup plus a backup to a cloud service may be something to consider. I backup to a local USB external drive and I also use a cloud service because it is much more convenient for me than rotating a drive offsite. Many of the cloud services automatically encrypt the backup on your computer before it is sent to their site.

Yes, "internal backup" as the crow flies, Old School, put the spare drive into the bay, hook it up, clone yr go to drive to it, finis.

I have factor in your worst case scenarios, and in this building, thankfully, most are moot. But seeing this ginormous bargain via RCN, I thought about them yet again. I din ask the lady if they encrypt, tho.

 

[Virgorising]

As smakme7757 said, any online/cloud based storage such as carbonite gives up your rights for privacy and allows them to look at your files/data at any time they wish. Most people don't encrypt what they store in the cloud, sad, but true.

The other downside is backing up and restoring your data, can take a lot of time if you don't have the bandwidth.

A safety deposit box at your local bank is not that expensive. You can make images of your system and data to an external hard drive and store if there in case of fire, flood or Godzilla.

I GOT THIS reading the post, right off! The privacy issue. ALSO, THE TIME ISSUE! When I think it's time for a new clone to my backup drive, that takes under 30 mins as it is right now.

The lock box thingy.....for me, a bit over the top, tho.

Thanks for helping!

 

[Virgorising]

Well there is also Spideroak, which lets you store your own encryption key so they do not have access to look at your files.

Just checked re Spideroak, FYI:

• PROSUnlimited computers covered. Syncing and shared online file repositories as well as backup. Versions saved in perpetuity. Backs up external and network drives. Strong mobile app. Linux, Mac and Windows versions. Share any file via direct download link. Merge multiple folders into one target. Free account.
• CONSNo OS folder integration. Slow uploads. Less hand-holding than other services—no wizard to choose backup set or restore.
• BOTTOM LINEOnline backup service SpiderOak is mostly about syncing online storage. A 2GB account is free, and its anywhere-access to files on an unlimited number of computers will appeal to many. SpiderOak never deletes previous file versions, and only you have the encryption key to your data. A strong mobile client is yet another plus.

 

[Virgorising]

Best bet is to setup a raspberry pi at your house and a friends house and rsync data between them. Then you have offsite backup but you own it.

Again, the above little over the top for me. Forget, among those I know personally.....mostly very smart humans, most know ugatz about the systems they use every minute, and guess who they text/cal/email when their PCs get messed up?

And, I used to fire up happily and try to teach them things to foster the adventure and more autonomy in them when I would start troubleshooting.... but I finally gave up, cause they just do not wanna know, they are just like "Please, just fix it!!!"

Very depressing, but also true.

So, while yr idea is objectively a smart one, for me, it's also not a real option.
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WAIT! I just now did search, "RCN online storage" and came upon THIS:

https://www.rcn.com/j/carbonite

See, when I asked her, the lady, Sandy, at RCN, said no, not introductory price, and she never said anything about Carbonite! It also seems, most providers are offerinng this, I guess they hook up with existing companies who have been doing this for a while.

 

[Virgorising]

K, just this second found response from RCN to my original email in my spam folder. I called, cause I got tired of waiting:

Thank you for contacting RCN's Email Support Team!

RCN Backup offers unlimited storage on up to three computers! Let us know if you would like to add this service to your account.

If you need further assistance, our online chat team provides the convenience and efficiency you have been looking for! Chat with our experienced agents at your convenience. We’re available to help M-F 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm. http://www.rcn.com/about-rcn/contact-us

Thank you for being a valued RCN customer!

Sincerely,
Jackie
https://rcn.com/about-rcn/contact-us
Twitter: @RCNconnects
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RCN
Toll Free: 1800-RING-RCN (1800-746-4726)

Cept, now, I know they are hooked up with an outside co, and, as per above, I discovered, the no money price is, in fact, introductory. Premise is, subscribers get things, become addicted, and hang in forever. And a year sounds like forever.
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If I din respect RCN as much as I do, I would not have even considered this. I learned from Sandy at RCN, via phone, they now have 87 accounts in this building. With 131 residential units (leaving out the commercial/professional offices), means Time-Warner (the first to hard wire us way back, not sure when) is being trumped big time! And that change, over time, was earned real deal by RCN. And that, is what Capitalism is posed to be about.

But have now decided via this thread, no, this cloud thingy, not for me.