Most online backup services allow for your data to be continuously backed up as it changes, 24 hours a day, so it's always protected. A historical archive is a feature usually available to clients. The archive allows you to access the most recent copy from a few minutes ago or a copy from weeks ago. The appropriate copy will be available with a few clicks on the web.

Online backup solutions help you to recover from disaster. Your data is automatically stored offsite at a secure data center through state-of-the-art security technology. Offsite storage provides you with disaster recovery with critical data should your office be damaged or destroyed.

Fast recovery from data loss or downtime is an obvious benefit of online backup solutions. Instantly recover your data to the point of failure. For added convenience and speed, most providers supply a unique web interface that allows you to initiate restores from any web browser anywhere.

Online backup solutions can offer all the following services:

PC Data - The online data backup solution for key business documents such as those typically stored in "My Documents" with a daily backup. Recover documents from any location using an internet connection and web browser interface. This will generally be the least expensive option as only important data is saved.

PC System and Data - The online backup solution for data AND system files. Most backup solutions providers will offer a unique "Heal" feature which means if you computer crashes because of operating system error, virus, crashes or lost laptops. You can recover your important data but also the software that runs the computer.

File Server - if you are running a client-server environment, then backup solutions providers will also offer online storage for the data on you servers for example normal 'flat-file' data on a Windows Server, Novell, and Linux "network shares".

Product Specific Backup Solutions - Some solutions providers will offer storage and backup solutions for specific products for example Small Business Server Dedicated backup for your Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 and 2003. They can offer daily scheduled backups of Exchange, SQL and file data. Remote control panel and active monitoring by the backup solutions software will ensure your business is protecting its critical data.

Application Server Complete solution - For servers with in-built protection of Exchange, SQL and file data on Windows, UNIX and Linux servers. Option for real-time replication, long term archiving and on-site disk caching for fast restores. Regardless of your provider, this is likely to be the most expensive yet most complete backup solution to protecting your data.

Tape Backup Solutions

Of course, you can try to take on the task of managing your backup and storage considerations yourself - most people who do utilize tape backups. You can backup all your data to tape, and take these tapes home with you at the end of the day. This puts the responsibility on you to manage the tape backups - this can be costly: hiring staff to manage the process, buying and paying for the technology to run the solution.

In all online backup solutions are hassle free by comparison. With no tapes to buy, automatic continuous backup available, and no wait recovery, lower your costs and ease your backup headaches with an offsite backup provider.