 |
|
#5 - iDrive Review
Features
iDrive offers a simple but effective system for backing up computers (PC & Mac), with a range of advanced features which make it equally suitable for home and business users. A major advantage of the system for businesses is the ability to set up sub-accounts.
iDrive is available on both PC and Mac, and on Windows servers (no Linux support). In addition there is also an application offered specifically for the iPhone.
Once the application has installed, it automatically selects the folders which Windows usually uses to store media and documents, and these are then backed up automatically. It is possible for users to manually alter this however, so other folders can also be added to the backup. This makes backup much simpler than if you have to move everything into one folder such as you do with some of the other systems which we reviewed.
The iDrive online backup service offers real-time and scheduled backups. By default, the system will backup your data once per day on a random after hours schedule. You can manually set the system to backup in real-time (as you work) or a scheduled backup as frequent as every 10 minutes.
The iDrive system keeps all data backed up for an unlimited amount of time, until it is manually deleted. This is extremely handy should users accidentally delete a file, because it means that even if a backup has occurred since then, they will still be able to find the deleted files. In addition, the system also keeps hold of 30 previous versions of each file so that you can go back and restore files you may have changed by accident.
To help with restoring files from a particular point in time, the iDrive system has a unique feature called the Time-Line Restore. This lets users simply pick a particular date and time and restore from one file, or their entire backup set, to this point.
iDrive users are able to access their files from any computer, so it is easy to restore files if you need to transfer data to a new computer. It is also very handy for those users who need to access files when they are away from home or away from their desk.
Security - 
Security with iDrive is exactly what would be expected from this type of service. 128-bit SSL encryption is used for all transfers, and the data is then stored using a 256-bit AES key.
What is more, Windows users can opt to keep their own private encryption key, which means that even the staff at iDrive don't have access to your data. The private encryption key is not available for Mac but your data is still stored at iDrive data centers using the system-based encryption key.
Do not lose the encryption key as your data cannot be recovered without it.
iDrive also offer additional support to businesses mandated by government regulations to ensure that they meet these in relation to data security.
Price/Value - 
For full pricing information Click Here
Users who require only a small amount of storage are able to access a fully-functional account with 2GB of storage completely free. For users who need more space than this, the iDrive Pro Personal account allows up to 5 users to share 150GB of storage space at $4.95 per month or $49.50 per year.
iDrive offers a Family Pack which provides data backup for up to five (5) computer's including 500 GB total space for $14.95 monthly, or $149.50 annually.
Business users are able to choose between 50GB of space for $9.95 per month/$99.50 per year, 100GB of space for $19.95 per month/$199.50 per year, 500GB for $49.95 per month/$499.50 per year, or 100GB for $79.95 per month/$799.50 per year.
A nice iDrive for business feature is that they allow for user accounts to be created, so the backup space can be split across the staff in any business.
In addition, if you require extra storage space to those given by any plan it is possible to add on storage at $0.50 per GB per month.
Ease of Use - 
Installation of the application which is used by iDrive is very straightforward and requires only a couple of clicks to get everything up and running.
The iDrive interface is very similar to that which is used by Windows, and allows for the same type of “drag and drop” selection process for files. This makes it very easy for users to pick up the system without having to learn a complicated new interface.
The automated nature of the system also means that after the initial setup users don’t need to worry about doing anything else, so long as files to backup are always saved in the folders marked for backup.
Restoring files with the iDrive system is one of the easiest we have seen in any system. This is due to the search feature which is included on both the desktop application and the Web application, which makes it very easy for users to find the specific files which they are looking for.
Support -
The support offered by iDrive is good. Telephone support is offered, and over quite a long set of hours, but unfortunately only on a US number and during hours which may not be very accessible for those outside of the US. Live chat is available outside of the scheduled phone support hours.
In addition to this there is also a support contact form. Although no e-mail address is given, the support team generally responds rapidly to requests for help.
iDrive Review 2012 Conclustion
Although the system offered by iDrive is quite feature-rich, the system still lacks some of the functionality which is offered by systems which we rated higher. iDrive is most suited to home users or professionals who need to be able to backup a significant amount of data with maximum protection in the event of a system failure. iDrive is a quality solution, but it's pricey for the amount of space you will get. There are better options for the average user.
For more information on iDrive, or to signup Go Here
 |
Got Questions? Our certified computer consultants are happy to help answer any questions you might have about our iDrive review, or how to safeguard your data.
You can reach us anytime between 9am and 5pm, Pacific Standard Time. |
Community Poll
I want...
