I have a small practice which I run from home. I was using adrive to back up my files automatically, but am having problems with it now, synching and losing files etc. what do other people use?
Replies (12)
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SugarSync
I used it free initially, but now pay a small subscription. It saved me when I had a hard drive crash. Haven't had issues such as lost files. Live syncing. It's also really impressed clients when I've been out of office but still able to send a document saved to desktop, at their urgent request, from my phone.
Alternative back up options
There are several free cloud back up services (eg. Nero) but quite often they're too limited in capacity (eg. 5GB) to of practical use to myself.
Therefore I use paid for alternatives such as SugarSync - 500gb at a cost of about £150 a year.
For on site back ups I use WD external password protected hard drives where automatic back ups can be enabled.
Syncplicity or Cubby
I used Sugarsync for about a year but I didn't like the revamped interface so I looked for alternatives and came across Syncplicity and Cubby. They offer 10GB and 5GB free storage respectively if you want to try them out, and so far I'm leaning towards Syncplicity as it's has a much simpler interface.
(both are Windows/Android compatible which works for my purposes)
Dropbox
I use Dropbox for everything, that includes all my practice data (I scan most paperwork), personal stuff, music, photo's etc. Initially started with the free trial just for work stuff, then upgraded to 100gb, they then upgraded me to 2TB. I pay around £14 per month for this.
I find it fantastic, it's quick, I can access it on clients and other people's PC's, I access it on my phone, photo's from my camera upload to it automatically, have had no problem with it at all. I don't have any employees so I guess that limits the chances of a syncing clash.
For files that are too big to email, for example I often prepare reports that are 50-100mb, I simply email a link to that file and the specified users can download/view it. Absolutely all my data is stored in the Dropbox folder, that includes data files for BTC, Moneysoft, Outlook etc so they're always automatically backed up.
I also have automatic backups scheduled to an external hard-drive, just in case.
Another Vote for Sugarsync
The killer feature for me is that you nominate your choice of existing folders which become backed up in the Cloud and/or synchronised.
This means you don't have to make any 'special' folders for the purpose.
So for example, you could Nominate
"My Documents" or
MyDocuments\Clients\
or any really.
FYI they have recently re-vamped the amount of storage you get for your subscription price making the service cheaper.
I would recommend this service.
Captain
Carbonite
Everything's automatically backed up in the background. They're priced in dollars but it cost me £36 for one year (probably a little more now with the pound collapsing against the dollar).
Yes exactly
You nominate the required folders in an Explorer like form and these folders will be backed up to Suagsync whenever a change is made in the nominated folders. You don't have to do anything to make that happen. The backup will take new or changed files.
Captain
Revision
Just checked and although there's some BBC folders and database backups in my Dropbox folder, it looks like they haven't been accessed recently so it looks like I don't in fact!
BTC
They strongly advise not using Dropbox to store which is why I was quite shocked when you mentioned it.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's successfully doing so?