I have a small gift shop in Elkhorn, Neb. I just bought a new computer and am interested in knowing how to back it up off site.

Q: I have a small gift shop in Elkhorn, Neb. I just bought a new computer and am interested in knowing how to back it up off site.

A: If you are only looking to back up one computer, then Carbonite is the best value for you. The service offers unlimited storage on one computer for $53.10/year, which is cheaper than most other reputable services that have a storage cap. And the service is easy to use, supports both PCs and Macs, and gives you more options than other services. This is the best value for any one-computer home or business.

If you are looking for a service for more than one computer, or think you might expand at some point, then Mozy offers the best value. While the standard service is slightly more expensive than Carbonite and has a 50 GB data cap, adding additional computers only costs you $2 more a month, as opposed to Carbonite which requires a new plan for each additional computer. Mozy also supports both PCs and Macs.

If your main concern is not value or you are looking for other specific options, you can use our Online Backup Chooser to help choose the best backup service for you. Answer a few questions about your needs and the Chooser will select the best plans to fit your needs.

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I need info for backing up my computers. I have 5 offices and 6 computers to backup. We have about 300 GB of storage currently, with about a GB coming and going each day for 5 days a week. Can you help me out?

Q: I need info for backing up my computers. I have 5 offices and 6 computers to backup. We have about 300 GB of storage currently, with about a GB coming and going each day for 5 days a week. Can you help me out?

A: Well, you have a couple of options. Carbonite offers both individual plans and small business plans, both that could work for you. They end up being around the same price, so it depends on what works best for your business needs.

With the individual plan, you can buy a year subscription for each computer at $53.10, with the NextAdvisor discount, which would total $318.60, and comes with unlimited storage. If you buy the 2- or 3-year plan, it will save you more. (2-year plan = $310.65/yr; 3-year plan = $278/yr)

With the small business plan, you can cover an unlimited amount of computers for the same $318, but you are limited to 350 GB of storage. (This combines the standard 250 GB plan for $229/yr with the 100 GB add-on for $89/yr.) So it basically comes down to whether you want unlimited storage or unlimited computer coverage. If you are unsure, Carbonite offers a free 30-day trial that will help you determine how much storage space your business will need.

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15% off SugarSync this Labor Day Weekend

SugarSync is offering NextAdvisor visitors a special 15% discount on their annual plans for a limited time only.  Today through September 4th if you sign up for a SugarSync personal plan via the NextAdvisor site you'll automatically get 15% off.  Plus, this offer includes a 30-day free trial.  Get it now while it's hot!

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Do I need cloud backup AND an external hard drive for my new computer, or will I be OK with just cloud back up or just an external hard drive back up?

Q:  Do I need cloud backup AND an external hard drive for my new computer, or will I be OK with just cloud back up or just an external hard drive back up? I have an iMac.

A:  Cloud backup is the best choice.  The difference between cloud backup and external hard drive backup is the difference between the virtual and the physical. With a cloud backup, your important files, music and images will be backed up via the Internet at a secure offsite location—safe from fire, viruses, hard drive failures and other potential issues. Although an external hard drive is a nice way to backup your files onsite, if something were to happen to your hard drive…say you dropped it, it stopped working or there was a flood or fire, your files would be lost. Because of this we recommend cloud backup (or "online backup") to protect your files. You could use both online backup AND an external hard drive, but we don't feel it's necessary as online back is safe and secure.

There are some great online backup solutions for the Mac available, including Carbonite and Mozy.  Or if you're not sure exactly what you need, try out our Online Backup Chooser, which will make recommendations based on your requirements.

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If my computer crashes, does an online backup service restore my iTunes music as well?

Q:  If my computer crashes, does an online backup service restore my iTunes music as well?

A: If you have your computer set to back up your iTunes music, you will get your music library back when you restore your data. You just need to make sure you are backing up your music files when you set up the online backup configuration. Most online backup services have some sort of program that automatically selects critical data to backup, but you should always double check to ensure it's capturing everything you want saved.

We really like Carbonite and Mozy as online backup services, and they both support PCs and Macs.  You can also look at all our online backup reviews to choose the one that's best for your situation.

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I want to purchase Carbonite. What is the coupon code for the 10% discount?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. I want to purchase Carbonite. What is the coupon code for the 10% discount?

A. You don't need one! All you have to do is follow any link from NextAdvisor to Carbonite, and the 10% discount will be applied automatically.

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Can I store more files on cloud storage than on my computer?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. Can I store more files on cloud storage than on my computer? I would like to delete several files from my Mac that take up a lot of space but would like them to be available as online storage. Can this be done, or does it only store the same info as the Mac? Also, my husband has different files on his PC; do we have to have identical files?

A. Cloud storage, or online backup, can sync with your computer. But you can also upload files that you don't want to be on your local hard drive. When you want to access them, you will usually have to download them again from your online backup service's client portal. For this kind of usage, we recommend a service like SugarSync, which is easy to back up manually rather than automatically, so you can have more control over what goes to your cloud.

With SugarSync, you can also back up an unlimited number of hard drives, so your two computers don't have to share the same files. Delightful bonus: When you follow a link from our site to SugarSync, you'll get a 15% discount for an annual plan on top of the already-discounted annual plan price (total discount: 29% off the monthly price), and you'll still get a 30-day free trial.

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How secure is sensitive information with Carbonite?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. How secure is sensitive information with Carbonite?

A. Carbonite online backup uses the same encryption technology as online banking and e-commerce transactions. The service encrypts your files with 128-bit Blowfish encryption before copying them off your computer. The next layer of security uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to transmit your files to Carbonite's data centers, and they stay encrypted on those servers; Carbonite tightly controls personnel access to your files with biometric scanners and electronic key cards with PINs. Plus access to your backup is protected by your encryption key, which Carbonite (and you, presumably) keeps strictly confidential. Finally, Carbonite hires a professional security firm to test the security to make sure you're the only one who can access your files. Rest assured that your data is secure with Carbonite.

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Can I back up two different types of computers on the same Mozy plan?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. I will be backing up three computers. I have two Dells using Windows Vista and one Mac using OSX. Can I back up two different types of computers on the same Mozy (125 GB) plan?

A. Yes. We like Mozy: It's reliable and inexpensive (especially with our exclusive discount), and it can back up both Macs and PCs. It's a great solution for online backup. The 125GB plan offers backup for three computers. When we asked Mozy if you can back up the different types of computers, they said that it was possible; you just need to make sure to download Mozy on each machine from the Mozy website. So on your Dells, download Mozy for Windows, and on your Mac, download Mozy for Mac.

You can add even more computers or devices of any kind, but it costs $2 more per computer per month.

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I currently use an external hard drive and would also like to keep that backed up automatically. Is this possible?

The following is an actual user-submitted question:

Q. I currently use an external hard drive and would also like to keep that backed up automatically. Is this possible?

A. You bet it's possible! Not all online backup companies back up external hard drives, but many do. Mozy is a great choice if you're new to online backup, but if you're an advanced user, we recommend SpiderOak. iDrive is an excellent solution for the budget-conscious. Other options include ElephantDrive, SOS Online Backup, and iBackup (which is basically the business version of iDrive). All of these online backup companies have the ability to back up external devices automatically. Just follow the directions after you sign up!

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