14 DAY TRIAL // Space...the final frontier. This used to apply to computers as well. But now, with this continuous price drop for data storage devices, users have nothing to complain about. An 8GB memory stick with high speed interface and a 10 years warranty is about $100 and, with a little effort, you can find cheaper ones, as well. Hard disk prices are also dropping so there is really no worry about disk space nowadays.
If backing up important data used to be a problem, it is all in the past. If a local backup of your files doesn't suit your needs, try an online solution. There are plenty of companies providing this kind of services, for a monthly or annual subscription fee. Generally, all backup transactions used to employ web based applications, but for some time now, you get to download a software that'll show everything you need to know about your backed up files.
SOS Online Backup comes with a very attractive offer: $0.45/month or $4.50/year for 500MB. This is almost for free. Of course there are accounts for more space, but this is the lowest in this case. Though it may not seem a lot of space, it can definitely store a great number of documents and databases.
The trial version of the application offers 200MB of online storage for a period of 30 days. You can test the software with absolutely no restrictions. The simple to use interface allows quick connecting the online server giving access to backed up data in seconds. Working with the program is broken into three steps which contain all the options available. Users can view the status of the account (free space, percentage of space used, number of computers using the account) right from the main application window.
Uploading your files to SOS servers does not require any computer skills and application window provides drag and drop support for adding your files as well as integration in Windows Explorer for easy grabbing. The moment you add your files to the backup window of the application, their size is immediately calculated.
The application provides various methods for protecting your files by backing them up. SOS Online Backup can automatically take care of common system folders (My Pictures, Desktop, My Documents or Favorites) you can use drag and drop for a fast and painless operation, explore your computer in search of the desired data or simply using Windows Explorer context menu (the program integrates perfectly).
Files are being uploaded on SOS servers securely by using an encrypted connection. The application will first compress the data, then it will encrypt it. The moment the files reach SOS servers it is decompressed to reflect the same size it has on your computer. SOS performs a full backup of the files followed by a differential backup. This way you will have all the files that have changed since the last full backup (unlimited number of daily versions is stored on the server).
The flexibility of SOS Online Backup extends to making the backups completely automatic. Users can specify a frequency as low as every hour and the software will perform accordingly. Backup frequency goes as far as being performed once a month and you get to specify the time of the day it should take place.
Recovering your files from the servers is a snap. During our testing the application took little time to synchronize with the remote server and provide us the online view of the files. You get to set the location where the files should be recovered (the original location can also be preserved). Backed up files can be deleted from the remote storage location with a click of the mouse (it will take a while for the process to complete).
A very interesting feature of the application is search function. It can be used with several criteria like the time the file has been protected by the software, its size and you can also specify the file type for a more accurate result. It is a simple function but it comes in great when all that online space is filled up.
In case of a poor Internet connection, SOS can make a CD/DVD with all your files and mail it to you. Delivery is made anywhere in the world and it is recommended for recovering data amounting more than 500MB or more than 2000 files. However, you have to know that this service is limited to users with accounts over 500MB in size. According to their website, the disk is delivered within 24 to 48 hours from request, depending on the selected service level.
Though the application may seem feeble on the outside, Settings area reveals the power available. Users can skip the manual login and set it to auto-pilot as well as enable backing up of opened files (even if the files are open, SOS Online Backup will still create a copy on their server).
Some documents can be automatically included in the protective backup plan offered by the software. These include Word, Excel files, Access databases, TIF and JPG images and Outlook emails. Suffice to check the appropriate boxes and the application will comply to your willing.
If you worry about the fact that your login details may leak to an unauthorized person, don't. The application offers you the possibility of changing user name and password whenever you feel like it. There is no restriction in this sense and your account's protection will grow stronger with each modification you make to login details.
A very useful feature of the application is online access to your backed up data by using a browser only. This ensures access to your files from absolutely any computer. All you need are the login details and an Internet connected computer. All the files can be saved via your browser's download manager. The downside is that all you can do is access and save them. Adding more backups is not available and unlike the desktop application you cannot delete anything from the server. Plus the application offers all the details about all the versions of a document (time, date, size).
The Good
The application is an open door to a very good service. It eases the transition of the files on the remote server and gives the user full control over documents.
The number of versions to a document is unlimited and the size is ridiculously small.
Backup jobs can be scheduled to take place hourly, daily, weekly or monthly and users have access to all files on the server from any Internet connected computer.
Customer support features live chat and your answers are given on the spot, no matter how stupid they are and even if the answer can be found in the Support section of the website.
The Bad
Online storage size is quite small as there are services on the Internet providing much more space (up to two gigs) for free. There were some problems running the application on Vista.
The Truth
Good price, easy to install and handle, supports scheduling of the files, resumes backup operation if connection is interrupted, provides access to the files on the server using only your web browser. What more can you ask? Oh, a better interface (maximize it and you'll catch my drift) and a functional Backup Now button.
There is still work to be done but the application is definitely heading the right way. I've had a few problems with installing it on Vista, but after running the installer as administrator, everything went OK.
Online chat gives you the possibility of inquiring every aspect about the software and the way it works. There will always be someone at the other end.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
