carbonitelogoAs people look for better ways to avoid irreplaceable loss of files, the backup systems are high on demand. while searching for backup tools I came across a simple and easy to use online backup service - Carbonite. After using it for a while, I could make out certain things that I would like to share with you. Carbonite Online Backup essentially protects the files in your Computer in case of an accidental deletion, theft, catastrophe or drive failure. This online backup service helps to protect the all-important photos, music, business contacts and financial information. Carbonite is a remarkably simple and easy to use service. This online backup service can be used to backup files from a remote computer connected to Internet. The service seems be designed more for personal use than business. Carbonite charges a nominal fee to backup data that is $54.95 per year. Let's go into its details.

Carbonite provides an automatic and secure backup for irreplaceable contents in the computer. A small software program is installed in the computer that runs in the background. Whenever it finds a new or modified file in the system it keeps a backup of the file automatically.

Working

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When the software is installed a Carbonite adds another drive with lock-like icon in the My Computer Window.  This is the remote storage for all the documents. It can be integrated with the desktop to make things simpler and easier.

Security

This is an online application and this is why security is of prime concern. Carbonite encrypts the files twice before backing them up securely offsite.  It uses an encryption technique similar to what the banks use. The encrypted files are secured in the data centers which only the user can access.

Easy and Simple to Handle

Carbonite keeps backup automatically and requires no manual intervention. The backup of the new and modified files are automatically generated when the computer is idle. Carbonite goes idle when the user is working on the computer, ensuring that it doesn't slow down the internet connection.

Restoration

It is easy to restore the files with Carbonite. In case some files are lost accidentally you can restore them with a few clicks. Clicking on the drive opens a folder that contains all the backed up files. The files can be directly copied from the folder onto the computer.

Pros

There a number of positives with Carbonite

  • The backup preferences can be changed easily whenever the user wants.
  • The ease of use, price and functionality are commendable.
  • One of the main advantages with Carbonite is that it offers a sort of unlimited backup.
  • Carbonite offers full speed backup for the first 50 GB

Cons

Carbonite is far from a perfect backup tool that are available, let's get into its darker side.

  • Carbonite has major drawback and that is it cannot backup any file if its open. It cannot backup the email or financial documents, if they are open.
  • Some complexities may arise while trying to view the backup files like the blue screen of death.
  • Carbonite doesn't backup multiple versions of a document
  • It's surprising to see that Carbonite is using 15-drive RAID 5 arrays instead of RAID 1.

Although Carbonite boasts of a large customer base, the company had ink on its reputation when it failed to backup data of over 7,500 customers. Carbonite filed a lawsuit against Promise Technology, the hardware manufacturer, for the crack-up. To add to the mess the data recovery was not up to the standards. Conclusively,  I wouldn't rate Carbonite highly as a back up process.  Let me know if you have gathered something  more about it.