Preferred Automated Back-up Software for Clients?

[GreenMan]

I back-up all my personal data manually, by the click, copy and paste. Have my entire life, not ready to use something automated yet.

But what about your average home user? What is a good free option to install for them when making a new machine? Something to click/plug and go, such as Apple's Time Machine (not my preference, but consumers seems to like it)?

I've heard some things and researched a little, thought I'd ask here.

Thanks

 

[atlanticjim]

My recommendation for home users is CrashPlan.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I used to use Cobian. Nice and easy for them to use.

 

[Moltuae]

My own personal preference is Macrium Reflect. Been using it for probably 8 years or more; never let me down.

For business users I install Reflect Professional --Not free, but very inexpensive at 50 quid; even less if you're a reseller. It has every conceivable backup automation option you could think of, and then some.

I don't do a lot of residential work, but for those that I do, I install Reflect Free (unless they're willing to pay for Pro) and I use scripts to automate the backup process instead. I usually either schedule regular backups or give them a desktop icon that will automatically run a backup before shutting down (depending on which method they prefer).

 

[Krilus]

I've been using iDrive and recommend it to all my customer's. $45 /yr for 1 TB of personal backup is a pretty easy sell. The re-seller commission isn't bad either.

 

[ccritchie]

I'm offering Rebit backup to my home customers. It's a hybrid local/cloud backup that I can monitor remotely. It creates a complete system image as well as file level backups. Impervious to the likes of Cryptolocker. Folks can back up multiple computers on the same account.

 

[cypress]

I recommend CrashPlan for Online Cloud Backup and also Local Backup. For imaging I recommend Easeus ToDo Backup.

 

[nlinecomputers]

My own personal preference is Macrium Reflect. Been using it for probably 8 years or more; never let me down.

For business users I install Reflect Professional --Not free, but very inexpensive at 50 quid; even less if you're a reseller. It has every conceivable backup automation option you could think of, and then some.

I don't do a lot of residential work, but for those that I do, I install Reflect Free (unless they're willing to pay for Pro) and I use scripts to automate the backup process instead. I usually either schedule regular backups or give them a desktop icon that will automatically run a backup before shutting down (depending on which method they prefer).

Care to share your script?

 

[Eagle21]

I back-up all my personal data manually, by the click, copy and paste. Have my entire life, not ready to use something automated yet.

Copy and paste.
I assume you do not have much data to backup.
Give yourself a treat and learn about file synchronization.
I use FreeFileSync.

But what about your average home user? What is a good free option to install for them when making a new machine? Something to click/plug and go, such as Apple's Time Machine (not my preference, but consumers seems to like it)?

I've heard some things and researched a little, thought I'd ask here.

Thanks

A good free option is the built in backup for Windows.
Windows 8 has File History. It is, I believe, one of the few genuine improvements that Window 8 has over Windows 7.

 

[Moltuae]

Care to share your script?

Hey, I did offer a while back. You missed your chance





j/k

I'd be happy to, if you want it.

Probably a little long and off-topic to post here, so probably best if I either PM it to you or add it to the aforementioned thread.

 

[SpaceSquad]

I've been using iDrive and recommend it to all my customer's. $45 /yr for 1 TB of personal backup is a pretty easy sell. The re-seller commission isn't bad either.

Heard about this a couple times. Love that it supports all the OS' (*nix too!).

My question is on speed...how is it for you? Been doing some Carbonite setups and they are painful. I know it depends heavily on upload speed...but even in an environment with high upload it still sucks.

 

[Krilus]

Hey Mike,

It's pretty painful aswell. They do have the express option but for most of my clients it hasn't caused any issues.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I sell iBackup not sure how that differs from iDrive as it is the same company. Uploads are very slow. But they do have a seed program where they will send you an external drive for free to backup and ship to them. Then all you have to backup is new/changed files. Works out pretty good.

 

[Krilus]

iDrive has this as an "Express option" I'm not sure if there is a difference, both programs sounds the same to me.

K.

I sell iBackup not sure how that differs from iDrive as it is the same company. Uploads are very slow. But they do have a seed program where they will send you an external drive for free to backup and ship to them. Then all you have to backup is new/changed files. Works out pretty good.

 

[GreenMan]

Copy and paste.
I assume you do not have much data to backup.

I have 2TB worth of personal data. My back up is really easy, I have folders located at the top of the drive with the likes of E:\Pictures, Music, Movies, Business...then the unusual profile folders at Users\Documents, Desktop, etc.

So my copy and paste backup requires me to copy around 10 folders all up, takes a few minutes to start, then a few hours to actually finish. My home PC is really organized liked this, so I don't have to dive deep into subfolders and pick and choose. All the Operating System files are on a solid state drive with nothing personal, so each year when I format & reinstall I simply unplug the 2TB drive and wipe the solid state. Backing up like this is easy when personal files are on one big drive and system files are on a smaller solid state (combined with a tidy folder structure and organizing files as you get them)

I've always done it like this, I don't like the idea of automated backing up for myself yet...I like to see the folder structure first hand and do it manually. Some clients though...boy they have files everywhere, it can be a mess.

Next question, whats do you thinks better for a client:
Back up of personal files
or
Image of entire drive.

I'll check out all suggestions. I think I would like something they can click on to start a back-up and walk away from...if the main drive fails, the back-up drive will have what's needed.

 

[16k_zx81]

For home users, google drive.

For businesses, depends on specifics.

 

[GreenMan]

I should have put that I'm not interested in Cloud Storage. Testing out Windows Backup now. Nice and simple, don't need to download and install it, could be good for average user. Thanks people.

 

[TAPtech]

Windows backup if their existing hardware will work for it. Most of them will have an external hard drive kicking around somewhere. It works great.

I use the Server 2012 connector in the office to backup systems to the server. Not really necessary as the data is on the server already (which uses Windows Server Backup to an external) but it does make the restore time waaaayyy easier and you don't need to deal with software installation and licenses and yada yada. This is what makes images so great.

 

[frederick]

For consumers of the home, I break them up in to two categories: those with a desktop and those without a desktop. I find it important to know what they are using because it helps me find the solution perfect for what they need. With residential customers, I'm not worried about whole image backups, ever. Neither are they, they just want to make sure their funny cat videos and pictures are saved.

ClickFree - Simple to use, extremely simple. The setup is quick, and perfect for the laptop and tablet-PC consumers. Some of my clients are good about when they get home after going all over with their laptop or tablet-PC and plugging in their ClickFree drive. It has been wonderous for them. Worth the money, and the ClickFree stays at home. They don't have to worry about slow internet connections at Starbucks or where ever hogging up the bandwidth to perform a backup. Granted, this solution is strictly a local backup.

Windows Backup - I prefer to use this for my desktop folks. I try to set them up with their total hard drive x2. If I can sell them on it, we get them a WD personal cloud system with 2 drives in RAID 1, or if they have multiple computers in the home a 4-bay personal cloud from WD in a RAID 5. Set the desktops on a schedule to backup to the device, all others use the WD backup software to the device. Otherwise, I get the customer to get a single external hard drive and use that. You'd be surprised how many are willing to pay the price for a serious backup solution for the home. And because it doubles as storage, they are twice as happy.

CrashPlan - As many have already mentioned, this is another we promote. Strictly for the cloud side of backup, we use this mostly for our laptop and tablet-PC users. Occasionally a desktop user will request to have a cloud based backup.

 

[cypress]

I have 2TB worth of personal data. My back up is really easy, I have folders located at the top of the drive with the likes of E:\Pictures, Music, Movies, Business...then the unusual profile folders at Users\Documents, Desktop, etc.

So my copy and paste backup requires me to copy around 10 folders all up, takes a few minutes to start, then a few hours to actually finish. My home PC is really organized liked this, so I don't have to dive deep into subfolders and pick and choose. All the Operating System files are on a solid state drive with nothing personal, so each year when I format & reinstall I simply unplug the 2TB drive and wipe the solid state. Backing up like this is easy when personal files are on one big drive and system files are on a smaller solid state (combined with a tidy folder structure and organizing files as you get them)

I've always done it like this, I don't like the idea of automated backing up for myself yet...I like to see the folder structure first hand and do it manually. Some clients though...boy they have files everywhere, it can be a mess.

Next question, whats do you thinks better for a client:
Back up of personal files
or
Image of entire drive.

I'll check out all suggestions. I think I would like something they can click on to start a back-up and walk away from...if the main drive fails, the back-up drive will have what's needed.

I have my folders and files set up the same way on my personal desktop. I like to be orangized and name everything so I can easily find it. I also have CrashPlan setup and Easeus to Do for imaging that runs every night. That alone has saved me from some headaches. I haven't gotten an SSD for myself though. That should change soon.

For clients, I liked to use Crasphlan for the home users. When it comes to imaging I do recommend it when they are using Home based businesses as a couple of mine are. Some have done it and others say that don't need it. Oh well, we shall see. I at the least recommend an external hard drive and setup Windows Backup and they usually do that.

The previous poster was asbolutely correct though, they mostly care about their pictures and documents here and there.