What is the BackupUSA Online Backup Service?
Our service is designed for the secure offsite storage and retrieval of backup data via the Internet.

What Operating Systems are supported?
Our client side software is designed to run on Windows based Operating Systems only (9x, Me, NT, 2000 and XP.)

Can data stored on other Operating Systems on my network be accessed by the Backup software?
Once our software is loaded onto a Windows based machine on your network, the software can be configured to backup data from any accessible networked drive on your LAN, even data from any non Windows drives, including UNIX, Mac OS, Linux and Novell.

Can multiple computers at different locations backup to the same account?
Our service can be configured so that multiple computers from different locations, not necessarily on the the same LAN, can backup to a single user account. As the data on our Backup Server or "E-Vault" is stored referenced to each computer's Volumes, each computer's data will be independently stored, yet still accessible by another computer configured to access the same account. For instance, this feature can be used to backup files at the office to be retrieved later at home.

Is the backup software automated?
Our client side software is completely automated, taking the guess work and the possibility for human error out of the backup process. By selecting a scheduled backup, or by selecting the backup to run at logoff or shut down, a backup will run automatically for the files you have selected. During a scheduled backup a connection to the Internet will be made, your files will be encrypted and compressed, and then transmitted automatically by our client software to our backup servers, all without the need for user prompting.

How is my data secured during transmission across the Internet?
All data is compressed and encrypted before transmission using the industry leading Secure Blowfish-448 bit encryption algorithm. All data remains in its encrypted and compressed format while it is stored on our secure servers, adding an additional level of security. Only when your data is restored back to your computer is the encryption reversed.

How is my data secured at your facility?
Your data will be stored securely in our Class A data facility with redundant Internet and power connections, on a redundant clustered array of Dell Servers using RAID5 hot swappable drives configured in a Dell PowerVault. Each day we perform a full tape backup of all data stored on our servers, and these tapes are subsequently stored at an offsite secure facility on a 30 day rotation.

Are your rates based on the native size of my files on my computer or on their compressed size on you servers?
Our rates are based on the compressed size of your data.

What compression ratios can I expect with my data?
Compression ratios vary based on file types, but most of our users are
experiencing at least a 40%, and as much as a 98% reduction in the size of their stored data compared to its un-compressed size on their servers. Additionally, as our service is designed to backup your unique data, it is not necessary for you to backup your applications, or OS as they can not be restored without an install operation.

How fast does my Internet connection need to be to use the service?
Our service is currently being used by users with a variety of connection speeds, from 28.8 through 56K modems, all the way up to to ADSL and T-1 connections. The use of lower connection speeds is made possible by the fact that your files are always sent in a compressed format, even on your first full backup. Additionally, this compression makes use of FastBIT Incremental Technology to greatly reduce the size of subsequent backups.

What is an incremental backup and how is it performed?
Compression on subsequent incremental backups is accomplished using the cutting edge, FastBIT binary incremental technology which can accurately extract the changes that you've made to a file since your last backup. This efficiency is achieved by using the powerful FastBIT difference engine to identify and extract the binary-level differences between two versions of any file. The technology works on ANY type of file operating on ANY platform. By reading only the changed binary code, universal cross platform compatibility is achieved.

How is FastBIT better than Delta Block incremental backups?
On average, FastBIT backups are more than 6 times smaller than the previous Delta Block technology used by other companies. That means BackupUSA requires 1/6 of the bandwidth and server storage than applications using Delta Block Technology, making it on average six times faster.

What does the service cost per month?
For pricing information, please refer to our site's, Services & Rates section. For backup needs above 40GB of compressed storage, a custom backup solution is required. Please call us directly for a free initial consultation.

What are the licensing fees?
A single license is need for each computer that backs up to a single account. Up to 4 PC or Server licenses are provided with each account at no added fee. Additional licenses are available as needed for an extra $4 per license, per month.

What are the installation or setup fees?
If you install the software yourself, downloaded via the Internet, there is only a one time $19.95 setup fee. If you require a professional installation, we are affiliated with several IT service companies across the country who can perform this service for you. These companies rates may vary, so for an accurate quote please call us directly for a free initial consultation and needs evaluation.

Is there a charge to restore my data?
There is no charge to restore your stored data via the Internet, and CD archived copies of your data are available for just $24.95 for every 1GB of data. Each CD copy of your data comes with a condensed restore version of our software for easy restoration of the data whenever you need, even if you have discontinued using our service.