Based on the software as a service (SaaS) delivery model, these services are an easy and affordable way to back up and store data on a remote server. You can rapidly retrieve data in case of a disaster.
How do online backup services help?
The consequences of losing important data files can be disastrous from both a financial and a legal standpoint. Online backup services offer the following key benefits:
- protection from theft, natural disasters and human errors
- no upfront investment in backup hardware or software
- access from anywhere in the world with Internet service
- scalability
- cost predictability and
- peace of mind.
Depending on the service provider, these services may also offer:
- file versioning, allowing you to restore previous versions of documents
- access from your mobile phone and
- automatic backup.
How do online backup services work?
Generally, you either upload files directly from your computer or install software that will automatically collect, compress, encrypt and upload your files. Service providers typically offer different service plans, depending on the amount of storage space and level of security required. Also, keep in mind that even if your data are stored on Canadian soil, if the service provider is not a Canadian company, your data may still be subject to foreign privacy laws.
There is often some confusion between cloud backup and cloud storage, although there are some noticeable differences. Cloud storage, as its name indicates, is a way of storing data in the cloud. As a result, you need to manually select the files you want to keep in the cloud. Cloud backups, on the other hand, allow you to back up all your data, except your operating system, and therefore require significant storage space. So, should the unforeseeable happen, cloud backups would fully protect you against data loss. Whereas with cloud storage, you would only be able to recover part of your data—specifically the files you had selected to store in the cloud.
With the arrival on the market of storage solutions that provide huge amounts of storage space at an affordable price, this distinction has become even more difficult. But, regardless of the storage space you need, your data is only protected if it is saved in a folder that is synced and backed up in the cloud.
Free and low-cost online backup services
There are many options, but few are available in both English and French. If you are looking for a low-cost or free solution, you may want to consider the following selected vendors. All of them back up your data directly to the cloud, but some also offer hybrid options that allow you to perform additional backups.
Revised March 2023
Acronis
Free English French English support French support: Partly Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Acronis offers a full range of cyber protection solutions to protect your business from cyberattacks to hardware failure to user error. Acronis ensures business continuity by delivering integrated components for backup/recovery and malware detection and prevention. Plans vary depending on the type of system you want to protect (workstation, server, Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace data) and backup features.
CrashPlan for Small Business
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
CrashPlan for Small Business allows you to automatically back up your computer as well as external drives to multiple destinations, such as computers belonging to friends, and not just online. It gives you a lot of flexibility to control how, where and how often your backups are done. It works on any kind of operating systems and comes with a wide array of mobile apps. Depending on the plan you choose (free or paid), you can backup an unlimited amount of data from one or more computers.
Dropbox
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Dropbox provides an online storage service You can either manually select and drag files from your computer to your Dropbox account or set it up to automatically and continuously sync files saved in folders like Desktop, Documents and Download to the cloud. Several different paid plans are available.
Google Workspace
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Google Workspace keeps all your work in one secure place with cloud storage. You can store, access and share files with teammates whenever you need them, from your computer, phone or tablet. Make sure you choose the business version of Drive to get more storage, stronger support and shared drives for your team. Every plan includes custom and secure business email, enterprise-grade video conferencing and collaborative apps.
OneDrive
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
OneDrive is Microsoft’s file storage system, which can be used as a backup solution for any files you save to OneDrive. Depending on the plan you choose, you can get more storage, advanced security options, Office apps, Microsoft Teams for remote working and much more.
Rewind
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Rewind is an online automated backup service for SaaS applications, such as e-commerce and accounting software, including Shopify, BigCommerce, and QuickBooks Online. The service allows entrepreneurs who are victims of an innocent mistake, a buggy app, or an attack to rewind individual items, multiple items, an entire file or even a store to a time when everything worked well. Rewind is a Canadian company based in Ontario.
Storagepipe
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Storagepipe offers offsite backup, online archiving, hosted disaster recovery and high availability solutions that meet the compliance requirements of Canadian businesses. While online backup helps you recover files in the event of a loss, only disaster recovery helps you protect entire systems such as servers, thus saving you the time to reinstall all applications. The company also offers small businesses cybersecurity training to help highlight the role of each employee in preventing successful attacks. Bilingual customer representatives can recommend the best solution for your needs. Storage space is unlimited, and every system in your company can be covered under a single comprehensive plan.
Sync
Free English French English support French support Data stored in Canada iOS app. Android
Sync provides secure cloud backup, file sharing and collaboration that meet all Canadian federal and provincial data privacy laws and regulations. With Sync your files are stored in Canada at all times, and built-in, end-to-end-encryption ensures that your files are safe, secure and private. Sync is easy to use and cost effective. 5GB of cloud storage is available for free.
This table lists applications alphabetically and isn’t exhaustive. Hyperlinks to external sites do not constitute endorsement by BDC of those websites or any information, opinions, products or services expressed or described on them.
Furthermore, the list is only a starting point and excludes applications that are not available either in English or in French, or that are neither low cost nor free. When assessing service providers, you will probably consider many other factors.
BDC will review and edit this list regularly. If you provide online backup solutions and would like us to consider adding yours, please contact us.
