Online storage sites have become more and more popular as we have more of our important personal, work and financial documents on our personal computers. The invention and popularity of digital cameras has also meant that we often have a large amount of unprinted digital photos on our hard drive that can be devastating to lose. Having such data backed up at an external site that is completely safe in case the worst were to happen and we lost all computer data has become very important. Online storage sites do just that, they provide a totally secure site for all your electronic files, so even if your home is completely destroyed, you will still have access to those precious documents.

Much competition has sprung up in terms of online storage sites, however there are several which have definitely risen to the forefront as being amongst the best. Each offers something different and is worth checking out.

Mozy: This site offers an impressive 2MB of secure encrypted free online storage to home users. Unlimited storage is also available for a small monthly fee. Mozy also offers a Pro version for businesses. Mozy is such a great program because you can preset backup times and dates and all the work will be done for you. It does require downloading the Mozy software onto your computer.

Carbonite: This website is completely free of charge for the first 15 days and offers unlimited free storage. However, there are limitations on the size of files you can store there. It continuously backs up new data on your PC. The data is then encrypted and stored at their remote backup center. Others can also access your files if you give them this option and allow them to share your files. There are more enhanced versions that have fees for use, but the basic Carbonite service is an uncharted diamond in terms of useful websites.

Box: Box.net is an online storage site that specializes in offering freedom of access and easy manipulation of files from anywhere. Only 1 MB of information can be stored free of charge and after that there are multiple levels of pricing. The flexibility in the use and manipulation of your online documents is what makes Box stand out amongst other companies of its type.

Dropbox: This storage site has a unique feature that other similar services do not. You can use your account on multiple computers and they update simultaneously. Whenever you use the downloaded dropbox to update a file all the other dropboxes on your account automatically update because they are in sync. This is one of the easiest online storage services to use

In a world where years of work can be wiped out by a hard drive crashing or a virus infecting your computer, online backup can mean the difference between disaster and slight delay. Take the time to research the options available for online storage and save yourself lots of potential headaches.