The Best Online Data Storage Services
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. CREDIT: Mobile data protection image via Shutterstock |
As the cloud becomes increasingly popular and necessary, business owners are realizing online storage services are a luxury they can't live without. Online storage services give business owners peace of mind in knowing their most critical files are saved elsewhere and can easily be accessed should their computer go on the fritz. Online storage services also allow business owners the freedom to access important data from any location, including via smartphones.
However as the cloudcontinues to evolve, the industry is becoming saturated with competitors, making it tough to determine which option is best.
Our sister site, TopTenREVIEWS, does extensive in-depth reviews of online storage services. Here are the Top 3 recommendations for online storage services.
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With unlimited storage and no annual contracts, JustCloud earned this year's TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award. JustCloud is an easy-to-use service that seamlessly integrates traditional online backup with cloud storage. Users can back up local files and access them via any internet-connected device. The highlight of the JustCloud service is that it doesn’t cap the amount of data that can be stored. Users can store as many photos, videos and text documents as they like, without ever having to upgrade to a more expensive plan. The service is also recognized for its flexible payment plans, giving users the option to pay month-to-month. There are also discounted rates available for six-month, one-year and two-year contracts.
Features: The top feature is its backup options, which users can set to occur on a specific schedule, such as daily, weekly or monthly. Users can also initiate automatic backups, which automatically save any changes to backed-up files and new files added to any folder that is already being backed-up. There are a number of file sharing options for users, making it easy to share files by email and social media, as well as custom, private links for specific files to send to recipients. Another top feature is file versioning, which allows users to restore previous versions of their files should they accidentally delete the latest version.
Security: All data transfers are encrypted using SSL encryption, and logging into your account requires a valid username and password. File sharing security measures allow users to determine what recipients can do with the files they share, such as simply view them or have the ability to edit documents. Users can also set expiration dates on any custom links they create.
Costs: To compare costs, visit TopTenREVIEWS' best online data storage services.
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SugarSync earned its high marks for being effective, secure and easy to use. The service delivers robust file synchronization in tandem with comprehensive file support that allows users to securely access their data on a wide range of devices. SugarSync offers specially designed apps for every major smartphone. The service provides several storage plans, ranging from 30GB – enough space to hold 3,000 documents, 6,000 photos and 6,000 songs – to 250GB. SugarSync also offers business plansdesigned for multi-user accounts. To accommodate growing businesses, the service allows for the addition of more storage and lets users add an account as needed, ensuring business owners never pay for more storage than they are using.
Features: SugarSync lets users specify which existing desktop folders they want synced across their various computers and devices. Users can create public links for files to share on Facebook, Twitter and blogs, or in emails. Provides a gallery section specifically for storing and sharing photos. Also offers file versioning, unlimited file size upload and automatic backup to ensure synced files are always up to date.
Security: All files are encrypted when they are transferred to and from Sugarsync's servers using Transport Layer Security. The files are then stored in encrypted format using 128-bit AES, the same level of encryption employed by government and financial institutions. The service also allows users to set folder permissions that dictate what recipients can do with files.
Costs: To compare costs, visit TopTenREVIEWS' best online data storage services.
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Egnyte HybridCloud earned its top ranking for its unique and innovative approach to file storage. The service integrates its file server with a user's existing network-attached storage device to provide both cloudand local storage. Users can continuously back up, store and share all their data. Egnyte offers a base plan that provides 150GB of total online storage with multiple user licenses. For larger companies, up to 3TB of storage is also available.
Features: Versatile backup options allow users to continuously back up and sync files on multiple computers within a network. Egnyte also provides file sharing for collaboration purposes, allowing users to create both public and restricted private folders with permissions set for specific users. The service seamlessly integrates with other widely used cloud-basedbusiness applications, including Google Docs and Salesforce. The online storage service provides a private-label branding feature that allows users to customize the interface and access URL.
Security: Uses a best-in-class firewall and 256-bit AES encryption over a secure socket layer during data transmission. Account administrators can create password protections, implement user identity authentications and set user access permissions. Egnyte's servers are run on redundant grids and backup generators in a facility that is manned by security around the clock.
Costs: To compare costs, visit TopTenREVIEWS' best online data storage services.
See full online storage service reviews on the top 10 products at TopTenREVIEWS. See BusinessNewsDaily’s Small Business Resource Center for more business product reviews.
Chad Brooks is a Chicago-based freelance business and technology writer who has worked in public relations and spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter. You can reach him at chadgbrooks@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @cbrooks76.