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#6 - iBackup Review
Features
The iBackup storage and backup service presents a fairly comprehensive range of features aimed specifically at small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Although the system itself is one of the better ones we reviewed, we felt the pricing structure was overpriced compared to some of the other options out there.
iBackup is compatible with both Windows and Mac, Linux, and several different server configurations. This places iBackup as a forerunner for many businesses looking to backup online using a Linux operating system, as there were not very many other services we reviewed which are currently setup to support this.
iBackup offers a Pro version which is specifically aimed at SMEs and has additional features, such as allowing users to restore up to 30 previous versions. Backup is also performed in real-time, which provides the maximum possible protection for data as it means that even if system failure occurs in the middle of the day, the changed files should still be available.
An extra feature which is also offered to ensure data safety is geo-redundancy, i.e., backing up to a different data centers, although this is done only periodically. So if the original data center were to experience any kind of disaster it would not be guaranteed that the latest versions of the restore would be available.
An interesting additional feature offered with the iBackup Pro plan is Rapidserve. This offers business users the ability to perform an initial backup with a device shipped out by iBackup. This can make the initial backup process much speedier if there is a very large amount of data to backup.
On all accounts it is possible to setup sub-accounts, so any number of different users can share the storage. This is also handy where lots of different users may need to access files. The lack of a real-time syncing feature does however mean that should more than one user be working on the same file changes won’t be seen by all until that file has been backed up.
Also, advanced bandwidth throttle features on the system ensures that the application does not interfere with system performance. So even though the backups are automatically scheduled to occur after hours, users should be able to conduct them while they are using their computer, without too much interference.
The iBackup system also offers a timeline restore, which makes it easy to select a date to restore your entire system to. This is very handy if you have problems with a virus, as once the virus has been removed, you can simply restore everything to before the infection.
Security - 
The standard security features are used by iBackup, including 128-bit SSL encryption for data transfer, and an optional AES 256-bit encryption for data storage.
Users have the option to setup an encryption key which also adds an additional level of security, since they will then be the only person who has access to the key and can decrypt the data. If you choose this service you should setup the encryption key so that your data is indeed encrypted on their end. Oh, and don't forget, or lose, the encryption key as it will be impossible to restore your data without it.
An extra service which is offered by iBackup which may be useful for businesses is help in proving compliance with certain industry standards (HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, SEC/NASD). This is likely to be important for businesses backing up sensitive data such as legal, financial or healthcare information.
Lots of additional information is also given about the data centers themselves, such as locations and equipment used, to reassure customers that iBackup work to the highest standards in the industry.
Price/Value - 
The plans which are offered by iBackup are pricey for the amount of storage which is offered, which is the reason which we did not rate this service as highly as many others.
Personal plans begin at $9.95 per month or $99.50 per year for only 10GB of data, and go up to $299.95 per month or $2999.50 per year for 300GB.
The Pro plans range from 15GB of storage at $14.95 per month or $149.50 per year, to 400GB of storage at a whopping $399.95 per month or $3999.50 per year. Overuse of storage is also steep at $2 per GB over the limit.
A 15-day free trial is offered, which is fully functional, and allows users to decide whether iBackup is right for them before they commit.
Ease of Use - 
The interface which is used is very simple to understand, with each of the different options clearly presented. It is quite similar to the Windows operating system itself and relies simply on ticking the boxes next to the files which users wish to backup.
On the initial startup of the application, the files which are the most popularly backed up are pre-selected, so My Documents, My Music and My Photos. Users can then simply go through and select any other folders they wish to include.
The initial settings on the application are for a once-daily scheduled back-up, and this will begin automatically on the day which users first start up the application. It is however very easy to setup a different schedule by ticking on the boxes of the days which backup is required and then setting the time for the schedule. It is also clear on every screen of the application when the next back-up is scheduled for, which is handy to know. You can also of course perform an immediate backup at the click of a button, which is also clearly marked.
iBackup also offers a Web interface which means that files can be accessed from anywhere, and this makes restoring files to a new computer easy. Simply select the files which you wish to download from the folders which you placed them in your account, or pick a point on the timeline to restore everything. There is also a search function to allow for easy file location.
Support -
The level of support offered by iBackup is that which would be expected of a service aiming itself at enterprise level.
Phone support is available from 6am to 6pm PST, and live chat is also available outside of these hours. A relatively simple e-mail support form is also provided which guides clients through the type of information which will be required by the technical support team. E-mails are generally answered within a few hours even outside of the standard telephone support hours.
The FAQ which is offered on the site is also very comprehensive and details many of the technical issues which may be experienced by users as well as pre-sales queries.
iBackup Review 2012 Conclusion
Although the range of features and services which are offered by the iBackup system are fairly comprehensive, there are other backup systems which offer similar levels of service at much lower prices. This is definitely not a great option for home users, although the fact that Linux is supported may make it a suitable option for users of that operating system.
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