Online Backups

Online Backups

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I have been using Ibackup Professional for about 4 years. It has been interfering with Sage programs for the past year despite my attempts to stipulate just one backup a day and after a lot of thought I have cancelled the program. Another problem undoubtedly is that my computer is 5 years old. I have ordered a new computer and am mulling over whether I really need an online backup at all.

I already have a second hard disc that can be removed from my computer that I back up onto every night, and a third hard disc that I back up onto and hide when I go away. I also use memory sticks to back up individual versions of Sage and VT accounts in addition.

Looking at the software that others have recommended here in the past, Carbonite seems to be a favourite. PC magazine recently rated SOS Online backup even higher than that. Many observers seem to think that background backups are the way to go. If you use a lot of Sage accounts/payroll programs you don't want anything beavering away in the background because of the interference. If I could find something that only obediently backed up at a scheduled time I would be interested to know what this should be. I am not clear that either Carbonite or SOS Online would do that without the always on feature.

What is your advice?

Replies (10)

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By ShirleyM
10th Apr 2012 11:36

How about a compromise?

How about dedicating one folder, or one drive, for online backups that run constantly, thereby giving you maximum protection and latest versions of files, but keep your Sage files elsewhere, and have a little routine or piece of software that copies them over to the backed up folder/drive once per day. There is quite a lot of cheap/free software that would do your copying at a set time. I haven't tried them all but I used 'Second Copy' for years and it was trouble free.

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By k3accounting
10th Apr 2012 12:09

 

 

Belt and braces - what about fire.....flood.....age deprivation to hard drives....?

I use Dropbox (free version) as my primary 'backup' which instantly uploads the file when you save (or even better just updates the change when you update a file, so much faster).

I'm a dropbox evangalist as I also use it to sync all the devices I use to access data so I always have the most recent files at my fingertips - no more transferring of files using memory sticks etc. I have two desktop PC's (home & office), laptop, Ipad and smartphone - all fully sync'ed whenever switched on. I also use certain dropbox folders to share with clients, so no emailing of data. It is fantastically easy to use and I really should upgrade to a 'pro' account and give them some of my hard earned cash as I love it so much, but haven't got round to it yet.

I then use 'Mozy Online' which backs up everything in my client and practice folders - again I use the free account as more than enough allowance to cover the data I have. It only runs once per day at a set time and obly when the pc is inactive, so does not affect processing.

So that's two seperate online back ups for free, and with no manual intervention on my part - all done in the background.

Online back up only becomes onerous when trying to store pictures and video in my opinion so I use old fashioned removable hard drives for those. I do a full system mirror download to a removable device every month as a third option, but would never expect to have to rely on it.

I use the normal suite of prosucts - Sage 50, VT, Moneysoft etc plus Kaspersky anti-virus and have not had any interference  / slow down / adverse effects at all.

People backing up to just one removable device and leaving it somewhere else in the house reminds me of an old joke up here where John went to park his car next to the NUFC ground to which a young ruffian commented "nice car mate, wouldn't leave that here on a match day...." John replied "I'm not worried my Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrior Hound will stop anyone breaking in"....."Aye", said young ruffian "but does it put fires out?"

Hope that helps,

 

Ken

 

 

 

 

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By zebaa
10th Apr 2012 15:52

Simple

You need an off-site backup. Simple as. What is more complicated is how you do it, but Ken gave some good advice. Don't put it off...and off...

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By Tonykelly
10th Apr 2012 16:12

use Carbonite

as you say it is recommended. I have used it for 6 or 7 years now and never had any problems with it interfering with programs.

If this was an issue you can always click a button to pause Carbonite temporalement.

 

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By kiwilondon99
10th Apr 2012 16:28

backup or copy

are we talking backup [ and restore ] or simply copy files software

 

i am now starting to look a bit more into this - ie the ability to restore corrupted  dll  file or a sage prog file or excel or anyother application file - without having to find the cds or heaven forbid it was a download software purchase with NO cd.  A lot of what is being talked about re backup is really only a copy of the workfile [ xcel s/sheet or word doc] nothing else.

so full restore of say sage app to yday [ loose the days trans] when the sage bup does not work to correct something.. certainly beats sending everything to sage with cost + delays

 

so proper backup and restore ie acronis [ starting to look into - help/comments appreciated ] or the like, but trying to incorporate this into a cloud environment  rather than the tape offsite scenario would be ideal

any other thoughts appreciated

but review of copy v backup is important and what is covered

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By User deleted
10th Apr 2012 16:43

Dropbox - security

For all those using Dropbox - have you actually done your own risk assessment on the product or if not, have you worked out your excuses if something did go wrong and leaves client data exposed?

In June 2011 they had a rather unfortunate security hiccup which manifest itself as

'.. bug in the service’s authentication software effectively made passwords optional for around four hours over the weekend — meaning that you could log into anyone’s account simply by entering their user name ..'

Obviously, we are nearly a year on from that episode and only a few accounts were affected at the time. Nevertheless, if you were one of those affected, being informed that you were only in the minority would not really help

At a personal level allowing others to see a few pictures is no big deal but on a professional level with client data it is an entirely different matter!

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/sorry-dropbox-i-still-dont-trust-you/4173

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Replying to johngroganjga:
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By k3accounting
10th Apr 2012 19:04

 

 

@JC

Useful point for those deciding whether to go down this path however my view (rightly or wrongly, don't mind...it's just my view) is that security issues are way overblown by media, techies and joe public - aka the types that all panic bought fuel last month........

My assessment of the risk in using Dropbox to store my data compares favourable and is infinitely safer than the following:

1. Leaving you laptop on the train.

2. Having your house / office broken in to and your PC / data storage solution stolen

3. Losing your pen drive down the back of your sofa and someone in the future buying said sofa on Ebay then finding it.

4. Your computer being infected by malware / virus and data thereon being downloaded without your knowledge

5. Email being tracked by MI6 / Government agents and your attachments studied for National Security

..........

I think my point is that nothing in this brave new world we live in now will ever be 100% safe. Just as I could have never smoked, drank, eaten red meat, exercised every day then been hit by a bus yesterday (luckily I haven't, don't and didn't).

Of course you could keep manual ledgers on paper - oh, see points 1 and 2 above......

 

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By User deleted
11th Apr 2012 07:47

Totally agree ....

@k3accounting - but

All the events outlined your previous post are either an oversight/mistake by the user or interference from an outside party - which are out of ones control

The critical aspect of this matter is the fact that using a product such as Dropbox is a actual decision by the user to positively affirm the product rather than using it by accident - choice rather than circumstances

On this basis it could be very tricky to justify loss of data having made a decision knowing full well that there had been historic issues on this front with the product

With insurance companies & health - try making a claim based on an existing undisclosed condition and see what happens

In this respect there is a world of difference between deliberately crashing ones car into an obstrucion and having an unforseen accident.

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By Cardigan
11th Apr 2012 10:12

TruCrypt

I also use Dropbox and Mozy and find them super easy to use.

For storing client data on Dropbox I was thinking of using something like TruCrypt. Has anyone tried this?

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By AccountingShield
14th May 2012 14:49

Possible solution

I'd just like to introduce you to Accounting Shield, as it might be of interest to you.  It's a non-invasive, automatic (on a schedule) backup designed specifically for Sage Instant and Sage 50.  We developed it for about a year with Sage (we're Sage developers) and we think it's a great product for the money. 

I'll post the link to the site so you can evaluate and see if it is right for you.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to ask at [email protected]

Many Thanks,

Andy

http://accountingshield.com

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