The importance of backing up our data cannot be stated enough.
It is one of those things that is the most important but is always neglected. I’ve lost a lot of data in the past due to my negligence, but now I don’t let that happen anymore. I’ve made it a routine to backup my computer from time to time, and you should too.
With the help of these backup services mentioned in this article, you can avoid losing your windows or macOS important data.
BTW, backing your computer to the cloud is different than cloning the hard drives. Cloud backup gives you the flexibility to restore the data anytime, anywhere over the Internet where cloning takes a backup to another hard disk or device.
Before I go on to list those, let me tell you why you should backup your data regularly.
Instant recovery
There can be a hundred reasons for data loss, such as:
- Server crash/failure
- Human error
- Hacking
- Failed hard drive
- Natural disasters
In all of those cases, you can retrieve your entire data if you had done a backup before. Having a backup for your data is literally like pressing the “undo” button whenever something goes wrong. Just in a whisker, you can have all your important data back.
Insensitive to ransomware
If you’ve been an internet user for a long, you do know what ransomware is. It is basically nasty software that can possibly get installed on your system, and it can lock all your data until a sum of money is paid. In that case, a backup can keep you unaffected because you already have a copy of everything.
Peace of mind
Regularly backing up your data eliminates that unnecessary stress about the fear of losing data. It had happened to me, and I decided I don’t want to live in that fear anymore. Not even kidding! Backing up your data gives you a sense of relief and safety, which can give you great peace of mind.
Acronis
Combining backup and Antimalware into one powerful solution is what makes Acronis True Image truly distinctive.
It provides total digital protection via a simple interface that instantly supports photos, files, applications, and other data. Recoveries are super convenient as well, allowing you to restore data on-demand in just a few clicks.
It has an integrated real-time protection and defense system that can stop any cyber-attack from jeopardizing your data, identity, and sensitive information. The best thing is, this solution takes the saying “prevention is better than cure” quite literally, as it prevents attacks before it causes any damage.
It’ll also run regular antivirus scans on your files and the entire system to rule out any malicious infections.
Polarbackup
Super affordable yet powerful, Polarbackup features cutting-edge technology that includes set-and-forget automatic backups.
You can backup local and external drives to a safe system that’s protected with your own AES 256 encryption password. All of the files will be stored forever for as long as you want, and if in the case of similar files, you’d be able to distinguish between them with the help of file versioning.
The entire process, including the interface, is quite user-friendly and intuitive. You’ll be able to sort, manage, locate, preview, and restore your data using no more than just a few clicks.
It’s also important to mention that Polarbackup follows GDPR privacy laws and regulations to make sure your information is never manipulated.
Uranium Backup
Uranium Backup is a backup software for Windows operating systems. The free version grants full/incremental/differential files&folders backup with the opportunity to schedule backups and enable a reporting system with email notifications.
Uranium Backup can be run as a Windows service and allows backup and restore of whole systems like files/folders, system images (Drive Image backup), databases, and Virtual Machines to local and remote storage including hard disks, NAS, FTP servers, and Cloud destinations. To start using the free version just need to go to the dedicated page and simply click on Download (this doesn’t require any registration or credit card).
pCloud
pCloud is not the oldest ever cloud storage service, but it’s definitely one of the most reliable ones out there.
It makes it easy to backup your files and folders securely without any size and speed limits. You’ll also be able to recover older versions of the files even if they’re as old as 1 year. All of your files will have protection from theft, ransomware, and hard drive failure.
As per your preference, you can either choose to backup manually or let pCloud run in the background continuously to drag in any new file into their system.
Files stored in this cloud storage service can be accessed from any device at any given time.
My PC Backup
A brilliant automated backup service, My PC Backup can upload and store your files to the cloud without you even doing anything. It works in the background and gives you the ability to sync across several different devices.
The service is fully secure and encrypted, thanks to its Google powered cloud. Right from uploading to the storage, you can be assured your data is well preserved.
You can even share your data with friends and family via email and social networks. You can start with a free 1GB account and then move to a paid plan starting at just $8.19/month when billed annually.
IDrive
Works for Mac, PC, Tablet, and even mobile phones, IDrive is a very intuitive backup service that is also very affordable. You can get 5TB of cloud backup in just $6.95 for the first year. Not to forget, you also 5GB free to get started.
The dashboard allows you to change backup sets and other settings in real-time across all devices. It does a fantastic job of backing up your data and also protects against ransomware.
BackBlaze
Recommended by Macworld and The New York Times, BackBlaze is another great backup service that is pretty easy to use as well. It can automatically backup your files at super-fast speed and also notifies you instantly.
Some other features include:
- Restore deleted file versions within 30 days
- Ability to order a USB drive of all your data in it
- High-speed uploads
- Smart file sharing via BackBlaze B2
- Backup external drives
- Backup both Mac and PC
Out of all the features, here’s the most impressive one – With the use of their “Locate my computer,” you can instantly find out your stolen/lost computer and get it back. How cool is that!
BackBlaze costs $6/month, but you can try it for free.
Carbonite
With 24/7 support and advanced encryption, Carbonite can keep your data in safe hands. It can backup a bunch of stuff, including:
- Music
- Documents
- Photos
- Videos
- Settings
Once you install the software on your computer, it’ll automatically suggest files to backup, or you can even make a manual selection. After that, it works seamlessly in the background, automatically storing your data into their secure cloud storage. You can quickly recover your data from it whenever the need arises.
Pricing plans start from $6/month, but you can make use of their free trial for the start.
Livedrive
Livedrive offers unlimited storage and automatic backup cycles, starting at just £5.00 /month. It takes a very short time to install and start using this software that is available for both Windows and Mac.
One thing that I like about this service is, they keep up to 30 different previous versions of your files. This means, even if you accidentally delete one, you still can go back and retrieve it. This takes data loss prevention to a whole new level.
It also comes with an app from which you can access your files and do almost everything possible on a computer.
Norton Cloud Backup
No matter if you have a ransomware attack or a hard drive failure, you can count on Norton Cloud Backup to save you from the mess. It’ll automatically backup your files into a safe and secure cloud drive, from which you can recover them at any moment.
Norton has been in the business since 1990, so you can wholeheartedly rely on their service. They’re responsible for recovering data and giving protection against nasty viruses for millions of users.
Their pricing plans start from just $11.21/year.
Arq Backup
With a 30-day free trial, Arq Backup is worth giving a shot mostly because of their super speed. You can get backups going in under a minute, thanks to their in-built compression and de-duplication, which reduces the massive amount of time.
This service is well encrypted with a key of your choice. Also, you can recover deleted files and even backup external drives.
Arq Backup costs just $49.99/user.
Google Drive
I am sure most of you are already familiar with Google Drive, as it’s one of the most popular ones out there. You can store any files, be it photos, videos, music, designs, or just about anything. All long as your storage is under 15GB, you’re good to go. If you surpass that limit, you can pick one of their paid plans, starting at just $1.99/month.
Besides that, you can access and share files from any device as it syncs with all of your Google accounts.
Zoolz
Zoolz automatically backs up your data and stores it in a safe place that you can easily access. Its artificial intelligence makes it easy to discover, access, and backup your data.
Here are some other great features:
- Stream audio/video from the cloud with no buffering
- Facial recognition that automatically creates thumbnails for photos
- AI-powered photodetection that can help you find photos even by typing the contents of the photo, for example, cup, tree or pen
- Military-grade encryption
- Smart filters to find files faster
Besides, you can also download their excellent mobile app. You can sign up and get your 1GB free.
Cloudbacko
With Cloudbacko, you can run manual and as well as automatic backups on specific times. Just set it once, and it’ll do its thing without you lifting a finger. All of your data are encrypted with AES 256-bit randomized key that is near possible to break-through.
You can grab the 30-day free trial to get started!
iCloud
Another service that is popular, especially amongst IOS users. iCloud is a product of Apple that does wonders for IOS users but is also a good option if you’re using a Windows PC. It’s not my personal favorite from the list because of the limitations, but the security and interface are great.
You get 5GB for free to start with and then move to a paid plan starting at $0.99/month if you exhaust the limit.
What’s next?
Choose what works for you. Most of them offer a FREE trial or money-back, so don’t hesitate to try a few to see what works for you. If you are using MAC, then you may also consider using performance and security software.