How to choose backup software

Considering the importance of your digital life these days, it’s wise to use cloud-based backup software to ensure the security of data on your home computer. 

 

Imagine what you could lose if a hardware failure, weather event or cyber attack wipes out a computer hard drive and you have no backup. Tax returns, family recipes, school work, photos of the kids, class reunion videos — all gone. Instantly.  

 

Backup software can give you peace of mind, but with so many products available,  which plan is right for you? 

 

Start by answering some basic questions: How many computers or storage devices do you need to back up? What types of files do you have? How much backup storage do you need? 

 

Perhaps most important, how tech-savvy are you? Do you prefer an automated, set-it-and-forget-it approach with your backups, or are you the hands-on type? 

 

Also keep in mind the differences between cloud storage and cloud backup. Cloud storage options, such as Google Drive, are often free but have storage limits and require you to upload your files manually. Cloud backup products, such as Carbonite, will upload your files automatically, and this software typically comes with a fee. 

 

Once you have a better picture of your needs, zero in on product-specific questions. 

Pricing for backup software for home computers can vary widely depending on features, devices covered, storage limits, and promotional discounts. You should expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $200 annually, or about $4 to $16 monthly. 

 

The challenge is weighing each product’s features against your budget to decide what you must have versus what you can live without. The software should, at minimum, offer a comparison of pricing and features to help you evaluate options. Even more helpful are ones that provide a self-guided product-selection tool tailoring their product recommendations to specific criteria that you input. 

 

Keep in mind that some manufacturers offer deals on product bundles, such as file backup paired with antivirus protection. 

The best backup software in the world can’t help you if its interface is so off-putting that you avoid using it. If you don’t consider yourself a tech whiz, look for a product with these helpful features: 

 

• Simple user interface with clear menus and elements 

• Easy setup, including automatic settings that enable the software to intelligently target the most common data locations on your computer 

• Deep integration with File Explorer, if you’re a Windows user 

• A set-it-and-forget-it backup schedule that doesn’t hamper computer performance when you’re logged in  

• Mac compatibility

Storage is a key consideration, especially if you have many files to back up or if they are large ones, such as photos, videos and music. 

 

If you’re wondering how much cloud backup storage you need, here’s how to get a quick snapshot of the space your files currently use: 

 

• On a Windows computer, right-click on the “Users” folder and select “Properties.” 

• On a Mac, right-click on the “Users” folder and select “Get Info.” 
  
  

Keep in mind that you will be adding data over time, so add 20-50% to the space your files already use as you price storage limits among products.  

If you don’t want to risk bumping up against storage limits, look at a product that offers unlimited storage. 

Some backup products even save multiple versions of files as you edit and save them, which comes in handy if you accidentally delete something important between versions. 

Pay attention to how secure your files will be once they are backed up in the cloud. Here are some questions to ask: 

 

• Does the product employ measures such as file encryption to shield your data from prying eyes? 

• How secure is the product’s data center? Look for facilities guarded by security staff 24 hours that have on-site emergency backup generators in case of power outages. 

• Can you set up extra safeguards such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent bad actors from hacking into your account and stealing your data? 

If the worst happens and you need to restore your backed-up files, you want software that does this as painlessly as possible. Look for these features: 

 

• User-friendly interface that guides you through restoration 

• Options for restoring previous versions of a backup 

• Ability to select only the files you want to restore 

• Ability to select file locations for data during the restoration process 

 

For extra peace of mind, consider a product like Carbonite that offers courier recovery service, in which the company ships you a copy of your data on an external drive. This can be useful if your hard drive was destroyed or if you don't have the time or bandwidth to download hundreds of gigabytes of restored files.

Getting help when you need it is critical. So before making a final decision, find out what customers say about a product’s customer support. Look for these features: 

 

• Help pages that are clear and relevant 

• Knowledge base that is easy to search 

• Video walkthroughs for key procedures 

• Customer care agents available by phone