SmallBizResource Blog -- Storage

Data Backup: What Price Peace of Mind?

Posted by Gayle Kesten Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008, 11:14 AM ET

Would you say a backup copy of every piece of data residing on your computer is worth $5?

This item was just posted on sister site bMighty.com:

"EMC is targeting small businesses with a downloadable storage bundle that lets users back up data locally and over the Internet through one application.

"The offering weaves together external hard drives from EMC's Iomega division with software from its Berkeley Data Systems and Dantz divisions: the Mozy online backup service and Retrospect Express backup software, respectively. Customers get 2 GB of free storage, or can pay $4.95 per month for unlimited space. Those already using Iomega drives or a previous version of Retrospect can take advantage, as well."

Explains Jonathan Huberman, president of EMC's Consumer and Small Business Products Group, in a statement: "Computer users now have a seamless backup system for local backup of every file, as well as backup to the cloud for files that warrant another copy."

Directions about how to download the software will come with the drives (ranging in capacity from 80 GB to 320 GB) beginning this month, according to an article on Digital Trends, which nicely describes what the individual components of the bundle do on their own.

ZDnet EIC Larry Dignan, who thinks "the bundle makes sense if I were to get an external drive" and that "all things being equal the bundle may just push me toward an Iomega drive," makes this valid point: He's already a Mozy customer, so why would he need to buy an external drive?

"I need to be sold on why this bundle would entice me to buy an Iomega drive," he says.

Tell me: What have YOU proactively done about backup? "It's a lot like insurance," says Kevin Hart, CEO of Managed Systems, a New York-based provider of IT solutions for SMBs. "What level do you have for your home, your auto, etc.? What level do you want for your business?" All good questions.

Storage