Online backup systems

Back up your data. Documentation and backup are essential. Hurricanes happen. Fire and earthquakes do, too. Software and hard drives fail for mysterious reasons. To have years of work gone with the wind is not a good feeling.

Online backup is using someone else’s computer to hold your data files. You may consider one of several free online backup systems.

Online backup systems are a convenient way to store offsite backup copies of critical information. Some services that are free until you reach some level of use are Xdrive,box.net, mozy, dropboks, iBackup, eSnips, MediaMax, OmniDrive, openomy and many more. If you need more than the basic free space, they all offer additional storage , costing from $5 to $30 a month, depending on how much room you need. Several of these services will let you make some files available to other people while keeping  other files secret and secure. Although all of them will work with both  Macintosh and PC computers, some of them are picky about the Web browser you use. Experiment with several of these online backup systems and find the right fit fir you. Then use it often!