On Line Backup - An Introduction
OLB is your protection against disaster, a completely transparent process that backs up your pictures, documents and special files away from home. Fire, flood or theft can claim your computer; without OLB those precious things can never be replaced. Remember external storage, such as a hard drive which you plug in, is vulnerable even if you keep it away from your PC.
- OLB - What is it?
- OLB - Who is it for?
- What Operating Systems (OS) are supported?
- I keep hearing about the "Cloud". Will my files be safe and secure?
- Do I have to remember to back my files up?
- What happens if I delete a file on my computer by mistake?
- Does OLB affect my broadband usage?
- How do I get started?
- How much does it cost?
- I want more technical information.
OLB - What is it? (top)
It is a small piece of software you load on your computer. You tell it which folders you want it to protect and OLB then makes a copy of the files, pictures and documents on our secure servers using the Internet. What's more it keeps an eye on those items and if they change it makes another copy.
A big problem that many people face is the loss of e-mails. OLB can help with this too. If you are using Outlook or Outlook Express then OLB can be configured to keep a copy of your mailbox with just a few clicks. If you use another e-mail client such as Thunderbird or Eudora then we can help you configure OLB to work with them.
OLB - Who is it for? (top)
This service is ideal for protecting precious files in the home such as those priceless family photographs, that family tree that has taken years to compile, your bestselling book or your children’s school project or university thesis.
For sole traders and small businesses it offers the key requirement for an affordable and easily managed Disaster Recovery Plan. OLB can protect all the essential business information you keep on your computer – such as customer and supplier contact details, sales invoices, proposals and quotations, stock details, accounting and tax information, business plans and forecasts, marketing and sales information and so on.
What Operating Systems (OS) are supported? (top)
- Windows® 2000 - yes
- Windows® XP - yes
- Windows® Vista - yes
- Windows® 7 - no but this will be available soon
- Windows® 2000 Server - yes
- Windows® 2003 Server - yes
- Windows® 2008 Server - no but this will be available soon
- Linux - yes
- Apple Mac - no but this will be available soon
I keep hearing about the "Cloud", is that where the files are kept? Are they safe and secure? (top)
No they are not kept in the "Cloud" they are kept on our secure servers which are located south of Birmingham, UK. We use a highly secure hosting facility. If you want to find out more about where we keep our data and where you should keep yours then follow the link to UK Solutions. Your files will be safe with us. No-one other than an authorised member of staff can access our servers and your data is protected from access by anyone else.
Do I have to remember to back my files up? (top)
No. Once it is installed it will constantly run in the background, obviously you should check it every now and again to make sure it is still working as you want it to. Whenever your computer is connected to the Internet, OLB will copy any changes as soon as you have saved or closed a file leaving you to get on with the next job. If you are travelling and regularly work off line the changes you make are stored and OLB starts to work as soon as you are connected again. If you regularly work in locations like libraries, cafes or hotel rooms this is an ideal solution for you. You can work and keep your data safe on the move.
What happens if I delete a file on my computer by mistake? (top)
Not to worry, OLB keeps copies of deleted files. However it's even cleverer than that; it keeps 15 revisions. So, if having saved the second chapter of your book or the details of your family tree, you realise that you have overwritten something you wanted to keep, you can recover any of the last 15 copies you have worked on. What's more you can save these versions to a different location in order to avoid overwriting the most recent one if you wish.
Does OLB affect my broadband usage? (top)
Yes, OLB uses your broadband connection to upload to our server. So of course this activity will count towards your broadband use. If you have a capped service then this may take you over your limit, you will need to check this. When OLB is first installed it will need to upload all the files on the system you are protecting so at first the usage will be higher than later on.
How do I get started? (top)
Sign up now and you could be running OLB in a matter of hours. Each month it will cost you less than a meal for one in a fast food restaurant or the price of a beer. Is that good value or what?
You can get more details on pricing for this and other products and services at southcot.co.uk/Products.
For more technical details click here southcot.co.uk/Information.
