c. scott andreas

Mozy is a web-based backup tool that does the job right. For five bucks a month, you get unlimited data storage and a handy desktop client that sits in the background helping all of your stuff “mozy” up toward their servers.

Mozy isn’t the only web-based storage provider on the block. What makes them stand out?

They effing get it.

• First, you don’t have to think about it. Mozy just sits there and backs stuff up. A lot.
• Second, it’s all super-duper encrypted – both during transmission and in storage. As your hard drive snakes its way across the internets, you can rest assured that nobody’s reading your stuff.
• Third, it actually works. I’ve tried to create a roll-your-own solution using rsync, SSH/SFTP or WebDAV and had nothing but trouble. Mozy’s main window has just one button: “Start Backup.” Brilliant.
• Third-and-a-half: It’s incremental. Mozy only backs up what changes.
• Fourth - data loss? Save over something? Just click restore. You can actually get your files back (so many think about “backup,” but so few about “restore”).
• Fifth, it’s unlimited and it’s off-site. No reason for your backup not to be.
• Sixth, Sim City 2000 jokes:
  
• And finally, their marketing rules. Check out the “alternatives” they suggest:

Of course, Mozy isn’t perfect. At times, the Mozy (Mac) client will start eating up a ton of system resources. This would be a minor annoyance for me if it weren’t for the fact that I use Skype as my primary phone – unkind CPU usage drives calls into the ground post haste.

Unlike the PC client, the Mac version is incapable of backing up files that are currently open. I expect that this will be resolved in time.

Finally, though Mozy offers a simple restore, it’s not as easy as it could be. Their client mimics Finder well enough to appear similar, but is quirky enough to remind you that you’re working with a server that’s far, far away and kinda slow.

But for the price, Mozy can’t be beat.

Regardless of how you get the job done, just make sure that you’re doing it. Go make a backup. Right now.