Old paradigm: bricks-and-mortar, paper copies of everything, hardware and software immediately at hand. New paradigm: e-tailing, digital files, cloud computing, online backup.

Reasons for the change? Cheaper, faster, easier, more secure and reliable.

Every year 43% of computer users lose important data due to hard drive crashes, dropped or crushed laptops, theft, power spikes and failures, natural disasters, fires, and even accidental deletion. You will reduce the likelihood of such crises, and minimize losses in a worst-case scenario, with online backup.

Accidental data loss and emergencies have finally made us all realize that we have to back up our data if we want to stay in operation. Business continuation needs, however, can now be managed more effectively than some users are aware. If you’re one of those on the leading edge of technology you already know online backup is the smart choice for today and tomorrow. Others are probably asking you why you think so. Here’s the logic, in one easy elevator speech.

With online backup:

No longer is there a need to worry about backup tape changes on weekends, holidays and in cases of illness. Online backup is fully automatic and requires no tape or other continuous monitoring.

No longer must backup files and content integrity be painfully verified; top online backup systems automatically verify the integrity of all files being received and forward a detailed backup report to the administrator after each backup.

Backup software and hardware need not be replaced every few years and carefully maintained in the meantime.

Storage capacity can be easily increased or decreased as demand shifts, and with the best providers, you automatically receive an emailed warning when you approach your capacity limit.

One software program can handle all types of backup: operating system, open files, databases and mail servers.

When files needs to be restored, backup media no longer need to be retrieved manually, no longer require an IT expert to use. With online backup, files are securely located offsite but are nevertheless instantly accessible when needed, and no special technical expertise is required to access them.

Online backup offers security that is better than on-site backup. In the best online systems, files are stored in two geographically separate data centers, on redundant servers with a redundant storage system. Exact copies are held at each location.

The best online backup vendors equip all their data centers with three levels of physical access control, with alarms, camera surveillance, locked server cabinets, uninterruptible power supplies, diesel powered generators, redundant cooling and redundant Gigabit Internet connections.

Before files are sent to online backup, top systems require them to be secured on your own computer with an encryption key only you know. A strong encryption system, such as those relied upon by banks and other financial institutions, has at least 256 bit AES encryption.

The best online backup solutions also allow choices as to how long deleted and modified files are to be stored. Most systems keep the deleted and modified files for seven days. But users should be able to extend that parameter to up to one year. (Of course, the longer files are saved, the more storage will be needed for the archive, but top vendors will help users determine the best cost-benefit storage ratio that fits the need).

In order to deliver the fastest and most efficient backup process, the most professional providers use block backup technology. Block backup systems upload only data which has been changed.

The key to online backup success, clearly, is the choice of vendor and system. Nordic Backup, Inc. is a global leader in online backup, with customers worldwide, ranging from private users with a single computer and less than 1 GB of data to large global corporations with terabytes of data and hundreds of servers. Nordic Backup is dedicated to offering best-in-class online backup systems and services. For more information about online backup that best fits your needs, call 1.888.668.0447, email info@nordic-backup.us, or visit www.nordic-backup.us.