Are you happy with your Internet service?
About the author
Rosslyn Elliott
Rosslyn Elliott has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and in-house journalist. She earned a B.A. in English from Yale University and has written professionally in many fields including technology and IT. She has won kudos for her work helping tech startups establish their brands. Having lived all over the USA, Rosslyn has first-hand knowledge of the strengths and quirks of top internet service providers. She now writes on all things internet, including Wi-Fi technology, fiber infrastructure, satellite internet, and the digital divide. As a TV fan, she also enjoys reviewing channel choices and cool gadgets for satellite TV and streaming services. Her personal experience as a researcher, career changer, and remote worker inspires her to guide others to their own online opportunities. After work, she likes to kick back with a good craft beer and speculate about A.I. with friends.
Which speed do I need?
Tell us what you use Internet for
How many users?
Online Gaming
Smart Home Devices
Streaming Video
Browsing & Email
Target speed: 50 Mbps
With multiple users in the house, you need a little wiggle room in your bandwidth. 50 Mbps will support all your web browsing and social media.
Your current Internet speed:
Find 50 Mbps Internet speed near you
Best Cloud Backups for Personal Use in 2024
Ever had that heart-stopping moment when all your laptop will show you is the “Blue Screen of Death?”
Yes, that’s the screen that means everything on your hard drive may be gone, never to return.
With so much technology around, we’re building up huge collections of photos, videos, documents, and other digital content that we can’t replace.
And the Blue Screen is not the only threat. Your computer could get lost or stolen. You could accidentally delete something important. Hackers could even lock up your information and demand money to give it back.
Having a solid backup plan is essential if you want to keep your digital life safe.
This guide will explain the basics of cloud backup services and help you pick the right one for your needs in 2024. We’ll look at how cloud backups are different from plain old cloud storage, why you really ought to back your stuff up, how these services work, when automatic backup is best, and how to know if a service is secure. By the end, you’ll understand this critical tool for protecting your personal data.
Cloud Storage Compared to Cloud Backup
So, how is a cloud backup different from basic cloud storage?
Cloud storage platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud are designed to keep your files available online. You can upload stuff to the cloud and then access it from anywhere, or share it with other people easily. The focus is on accessibility and collaboration.
Cloud backup is about truly securing your information. Backup platforms regularly copy your entire digital setup and store it safely offline.
If your computer dies, or your data disappears for any other reason, you have a backup to restore from. Your laptop could even fall overboard in the Mariana Trench and be lost and waterlogged forever. It could be eaten by an orca. No problem. Because you don’t need the laptop itself to restore the data: everything is retrievable from the cloud. Cloud backup will give you true peace of mind.
Save your data
Why You Should Back Up Your Stuff
With so much personal info now going digital, losing data has become a real danger. Computers inevitably break down over time. Even a power loss or dropped internet connection can cause data loss. And cyberattacks like ransomware have made backups more necessary than ever.
Personal cloud backup services give you a critical safety net against these threats. By automatically copying everything on your devices and storing it remotely, your data is protected in ways that on-device storage just can’t match.
How Cloud Backup Software Works
Cloud backup uses specialized software and internet connections to give you automated, complete data protection. The software works with your devices to identify and copy important files and information on a regular schedule.
Backup copies of your data are encrypted to stop unauthorized access. The software then sends the copies over the internet to remote servers maintained by the backup company.
The servers are in secure data centers with redundancies and protections that individuals usually can’t install in their homes.
When you need your data back, you can restore it directly from these remote servers. Quality software makes this fast and seamless.
Top providers offer mobile apps so you can access your backups anywhere with an internet connection.
Cloud backup automates offsite archiving and protection of your data. It defends against human forgetfulness and removes the complexity of manual backups.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Backup Services
Pros:
Access anywhere: Backed up data can be accessed from any device with internet using provider apps and software. Very convenient.
Automatic backups: Set it and forget it. Good providers do continuous or scheduled backups without you having to do anything. This beats human forgetfulness.
Enhanced security: Reputable services use sophisticated encryption like 256-bit AES to secure data. Their server setups also have redundancies and distributed infrastructure that individuals usually lack.
Cons:
Relies on internet speed: Backups and restores depend on your internet bandwidth and speed. Those with poor connections may have delays.
Subscription fees may apply: While costs are dropping, paid plans often provide the best features and support. Free or cheap options usually involve tradeoffs.
When Should You Backup: Manual or Automatic?
For most personal users, automatic cloud backup is by far the best choice for consistency. Setting up scheduled backup tasks makes sure your devices are continuously backed up without any work on your end. This protects you against forgetfulness.
Manual backups are only advisable for advanced users with specialized backup needs. For typical users, automatic daily or weekly backups are best for fully securing your data.
Manual backup is riskier
How Safe Are Cloud Backups? Can You Trust Online Providers?
Data security is a big concern for online backup users. But trusted, reputable providers use sophisticated encryption and security measures that keep your data as safe in the cloud as it is on your personal devices.
Encryption is the key to securing cloud backups.
Advanced algorithms like 256-bit AES encrypt your data before it’s transmitted or stored. This makes it unreadable without your private decryption key. Unencrypted data is never exposed.
On top of this, good backup providers use secure data centers with redundancy, routine integrity checks, strict access controls, and disaster recovery tools that most people lack.
Independent security audits and certifications like ISO 27001 validate the safety of providers’ infrastructure. We’ve done our homework to choose trusted providers with a solid security reputation.
How to Pick the Best Cloud Backup Service for Your Needs
Let’s look at key factors to consider when choosing a cloud backup provider:
Security measures:
Encryption strength, redundancies, and security certifications.
Backup scope:
Ability to back up full systems, including operating system and software.
Restore flexibility:
Varied restore options (individual files, full system, etc.) and speed.
Ease of use:
Simple setup, intuitive interfaces, and automation.
Storage space:
Room to back up data adequately now, with ability to grow over time.
Check storage capacity
Support and reliability:
Strong customer service and proven dependability.
Bandwidth usage:
Reasonable bandwidth needs that work with your internet speeds.
Pricing:
Competitive pricing and value given the features. Avoid confusing pricing schemes.
Using these evaluation factors, here are our recommendations for very strong, reliable providers of cloud backup.
Best Cloud Backup Software 2024
1. Backblaze
| Devices: | Only one device supported per plan |
| Data caps: | Unlimited data |
| Versioning: | Keeps version for 30 days on basic plan, upgrades available |
| Disk Imaging: | No |
| Speed: | Reliable performance |
| Mobile backup: | Compatible with mobile devices |
| Pricing: | $99/year |
User-friendly backups
2. IDrive Personal
| Devices: | Supports multiple devices |
| Data caps: | 5 terabytes (5 TB) |
| Versioning: | Keeps up to 30 versions (max determined by data cap) |
| Disk Imaging: | Windows only |
| Speed: | Efficient upload and download |
| Mobile backup: | Supported |
| Pricing: | $80/year, free version offered but with only 10 GB storage |
3. Carbonite
| Devices: | Only one device supported per plan |
| Data caps: | Unlimited data |
| Versioning: | File versioning available |
| Disk Imaging: | No |
| Speed: | Efficient data transfer |
| Mobile backup: | Supported |
| Pricing: | $95/year for Basic, $130/year for Plus |
Strong encryption
What’s the Ideal Internet Speed for Cloud Backup?
To effectively use cloud backup, you will want an internet connection that is fast enough to upload your files and photos quickly.
Usually, a 200 Mbps download connection with at least 12 -20 Mbps upload speed will work just fine.
You can check your current internet speed here.
If you would like to see a detailed list of plans and providers customized for your area, just enter your zip code.
Do you want to leave a review for AT&T Internet?
About the author
Rosslyn Elliott
Rosslyn Elliott has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and in-house journalist. She earned a B.A. in English from Yale University and has written professionally in many fields including technology and IT. She has won kudos for her work helping tech startups establish their brands. Having lived all over the USA, Rosslyn has first-hand knowledge of the strengths and quirks of top internet service providers. She now writes on all things internet, including Wi-Fi technology, fiber infrastructure, satellite internet, and the digital divide. As a TV fan, she also enjoys reviewing channel choices and cool gadgets for satellite TV and streaming services. Her personal experience as a researcher, career changer, and remote worker inspires her to guide others to their own online opportunities. After work, she likes to kick back with a good craft beer and speculate about A.I. with friends.
Which speed do I need?
Tell us what you use Internet for
How many users?
Online Gaming
Smart Home Devices
Streaming Video
Browsing & Email
Target speed: 50 Mbps
With multiple users in the house, you need a little wiggle room in your bandwidth. 50 Mbps will support all your web browsing and social media.
Your current Internet speed:
Find 50 Mbps Internet speed near you
