Summary: Most online backup services come with a throttling feature that allows you to set the pace, but did you know that some companies actually throttle your bandwidth anyway?

In an effort to optimize their system’s performance, many companies throttle bandwidth for backup services, causing those backups to take months instead of hours.

Before you sign up with anyone, make sure you go with a company that never throttles.

Contact their support, and read their user agreement to make sure your backup will happen as fast as possible.

For tons of storage space with no throttling whatsoever, get iDrive now.

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Why Are My Files at Risk?

Most of our devices have at least some measure of defense in place to protect our files, whether it’s an antivirus program, a password screen, or a locked office door.

Of course, nothing’s indestructible though, and accidents happen.

In the blink of an eye, all of our work, all of our files and information, can disappear for good, or fall into the possession of someone that will use it to exploit us.

An online backup service is your insurance policy.

How Does Online Backup Work?

Online backup services work alot like cloud storage, only instead of a little pod of remote storage space, you get a program that automatically backs up everything on your device.

When you sign up, the software will give you some options on which files and when you would like to start the process, and then begins making copies.

These copies are uploaded to the company’s servers, where they are securely stored.

If the files get deleted on your device, or your device is unrecoverable, you just download the files again from the backup company’s servers – no harm done.

So What’s the Problem?

When you initially sign up for a backup service, you have a lot of catching up to do.

The complete backup of your system, depending on how many files you have, is likely to take at least several hours, if not a couple of days, and honestly, that’s understandable.

Most backup programs actually come with a bandwidth throttling feature built in, so you can decide how much of your internet connection this process eats up.

This feature puts the control in your hands, and allows you to still run processes efficiently while your files are being backed up.

What’s not okay is that some companies actually throttle your bandwidth for you.

In an effort to keep their services efficient for all of their customers, some companies sneak a clause into your contract that allows them to throttle your bandwidth as they see fit.

The result is that your backup process could actually take months to complete.

Top 3 Online Backup Services

This is a problem you kind of have to dig for to find out about, so I’ve saved you a little legwork.

Here are three of the top backup services on the web, and how their services compare for backup speed, features, and cost.

#1 Choice:  iDrive – 9/10 – Unlimited bandwidth at the best price

iDrive is one of the best backup services you’re going to find, and they never restrict your bandwidth usage.

Backups with iDrive are always fast and easy, thanks to their straightforward software.

If you’ve never used a backup program before, this is a great one to start with – it’s simple, with a user-friendly design that’s easy to pick up.

iDrive gives you tons of storage space too.

You get a whopping terabyte of storage space with their basic plan, and their service covers backup of everything from your mobile devices to your external hard drives.

Their plan is feature loaded, with perks like file sharing that allows you to set up shared folders with other users, and syncing so you can access any backed up file, no matter where you are.

All of this coupled with their great customer support and ultra-secure, geo redundant storage makes iDrive the best deal you’re going to find for online backup.

Your files will be backed up in no time, and you can’t beat their prices – just $45 for a year.

For the fastest backup with the best features, get iDrive today.

#2:  CrashPlan – 8/10 – Unlimited storage space, but no mobile backup

CrashPlan is another great online backup service that never throttles your bandwidth, so your files are immediately moved to their servers.

Like iDrive, they also have a bandwidth throttling feature built in, so you can back the software down a bit if you want to.

CrashPlan includes unlimited storage space, file versioning, and file recovery with their service plans, so nothing is ever truly lost when you edit or modify your files.

Plus with their file syncing, you can access everything anywhere your devices are.

Where you start running into problems with CrashPlan is the limitations of their service – it’s strictly for computer and hard drive backup.

While they do have apps for Android and Apple devices, CrashPlan won’t let you back up anything on them. Whereas, iDrive lets you backup all your devices.

In addition, it’s worth noting that though CrashPlan fully protects their customers’ files with end to end encryption, their backup is not geo redundant like iDrive’s.

If their data center goes down, your files go with it, and they’re gone for good.

CrashPlan can be found at this website.

#3: Acronis– 6/10 – No guarantees of file security

Acronis isn’t bad where storage space is concerned, and this is another company that won’t throttle your bandwidth to help their bottom line.

However, there are some major catches with this service you should probably be aware of before you sign up.

For starters, their prices are absolutely off the charts high.

For their basic package, you’ll be out $60, and to get one that includes external hard drive and mobile backup, it’s another $15 for the year.

As if that wasn’t enough, only high paying customers get access to 24/7 support – how crazy is that?

While Acronis will allow you to back up your mobile devices, you can only back up your photos and videos – contacts, settings, and apps are off the table.

It may seem like no big deal, but for the prices they charge, it’s pretty outrageous. If you’d like to backup everything on all your devices, stick with iDrive.

On top of that, their user agreement makes no promises as to the security of your files, and even goes so far as to say that there may be grounds for third parties to have access to them.

Bottom line, there are way better options out there that are just as fast as Acronis, so don’t let these guys bleed you dry – use iDrive for a more comprehensive and affordable backup service.

Acronis is here.

Conclusion: Use iDrive for Secure Backup Anytime, Anywhere

Online backup services may seem an unnecessary extra expense, but think of everything you have stored on your devices, and then think of all of the things that can happen to them:

• theft
• physical damage
• file corruption/virus
• loss

We’ve all had a device meet an early demise at least once, so is it really worth chancing losing everything you have? Don’t roll the dice.

iDrive offers fast, effective online backup, with geo redundant storage and zero bandwidth throttling – your files get moved and stored right away.

Additionally, you get military-grade encryption, file syncing, file sharing, and you can backup practically any device.

Don’t wait another day – back up your devices with iDrive now.