Online data storage services...how safe are they?

cobb89 · 4 Mar 2011, 12:30

I've read a lot about online data storage services. Clouds as they say. Services which claim that data on their servers is the best bet. On Sunday, thousands of Gmail users have been left with empty inboxes after their accounts were accidentally wiped clean. Are online storage services like Box.net and SkyDrive still the safest when it comes to storage? Is a file written on a CD less safe than stored on such online storage services. What if such "glitch" happens??

TIG · 4 Mar 2011, 13:48

Both ?...
If the disastrous fire melts everything or the PC and your backup are both taken by the nasty burglar then a backup CD/DVD or separate HD are not much use... but 'off-site' secure storage is - e.g. a CD/DVD in a safe at home versus your PC at work etc, OR a 'digital' vault somewhere are both less prone to catastrophic data loss... do both.

tomot · 4 Mar 2011, 21:40

@cobb89 said:

I Is a file written on a CD less safe than stored on such online storage services. What if such "glitch" happens??

Short answer! nothing is safe, I have 10 year old CD's that contain mp3's that I already have trouble playing.

TIG · 4 Mar 2011, 21:51

"Spread the risk.........."

Rich O Brien · 4 Mar 2011, 22:03

I use DropBox for convenience. But backup to external HDD nightly and Back that up to second HDD weekly.

Can't afford to lose all that porn

tomot · 4 Mar 2011, 22:46

@unknownuser said:

Can't afford to lose all that porn
LOL!

If your looking for something permanent, I would start Learning how to carve in stone. Even the original tapes from the Moon landing have not survived, however the pyramids have!

mrnoonie · 5 Mar 2011, 00:34

this may of some help, a while back when i was creating a website, i stumble into an onlinefile hosting site. theres no way of anyone getting your information or it getting "accidently wiped".
i have had information/files on mine or around 2 years, and they are still there.

plus;

its free
you get a fair amount of storage - 250mb with 500mb bandwidth
you get to choose the direct lnk to your files, eg. http://www.mrnoonies-files.limewebs.com <--- NOT REAL SITE!!!
easy to access

i seriously cosider taking a look, check it out, heres the link;
http://www.limedomains.com/pick_your_web_address

cobb89 · 5 Mar 2011, 04:01

@unknownuser said:

I use DropBox for convenience. But backup to external HDD nightly and Back that up to second HDD weekly.

Can't afford to lose all that porn

pilou · 5 Mar 2011, 16:13

you can use Weebly as infinite storage of anything in free mode
if your each file is not bigger than 5 Megas
(100 megas by file in Pro version 48$ / year )

toxicvoxel · 9 Mar 2011, 16:49

You need to ask yourself some questions:
What happens to the drives (containing your data) on these servers when they are decommisioned , the service goes bankrupt or if the hardware is stolen?
Do you know the poeple who run this company? (Would you give a CD-Rom of your most sensitive data to someone you do not know to keep?)
Would your clients be happy in the knowledge that their data and designs (for example banks, prisons, private residences etc.) are being stored in this way?
If your backup contains any personal data you have obligations under the Data Protection Act (UK) in terms of how the data is encrypted and secured. You will not have a defense if these obligations are breached in the context of storage on-line.
I do not think this 'spreads' risk but rather increases it.