Data Backup

Reviewing the Top Backup Programs for 2024

February 21, 2024

Introduction

Data backup is one of the most important things you can do to protect your files and information. As we head into 2024, there are many great backup software options to consider. In this article, I will review some of the top backup programs available and explain their key features, pros and cons to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Comparison of Top Backup Software

Here is an overview of 5 top-rated backup programs for personal and business use in 2024:

Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image is a long-time leader in the backup software space. Here are some of its notable features:

Offers full image backups to capture your entire system or disk drives.
Has both local and cloud backup capabilities.
Provides good mobile app access to backups.
Includes ransomware protection and blockchain-based file certification.
Supports incremental backups to save time and storage space.

Pros: Very full-featured with imaging and cloud capabilities. Good security features.

Cons: Can be complex for novice users. Cloud storage costs extra.

Carbonite

Carbonite focuses primarily on cloud backup solutions. Key features include:

Backs up your files automatically to Carbonite’s cloud servers.
Offers unlimited cloud backup capacity for a flat fee.
Good choice for small business and personal backups.
Supports mobile apps on iOS and Android.
Provides ransomware monitoring and recovery tools.

Pros: Unlimited cloud backup capacity. Easy to set and forget.

Cons: Limited local backup capabilities. Must pay annually.

IDrive

IDrive provides continuous cloud backup along with local backup options:

Backs up to IDrive cloud servers and local drives/devices.
Schedule automated backups or back up manually.
Supports full disk image backup capability.
Offers block-level incremental backups after initial seed backup.
Provides good cross-platform support including Linux.

Pros: Hybrid cloud and local backup. Good features for power users.

Cons: Initial backup can be slow. Interface is busy.

Backblaze

Backblaze focuses exclusively on cloud backup:

Backs up your data continuously to the Backblaze cloud.
Provides unlimited storage capacity for one flat fee.
Backs up external USB drives in addition to internal system drives.
Good option for Mac users with native Mac app.
Offers iOS and Android mobile apps to access cloud backups.

Pros: Unlimited cloud backup storage. Native Mac support.

Cons: No local backups. Limited interface and controls.

Veeam Agent

Veeam Agent is targeted at IT professionals and businesses:

Provides image-based full system backups.
Backs up locally and to cloud repositories.
Built-in compression and deduplication save storage space.
Advanced networking features for remote locations.
Offers extensive scheduling and retention policies.

Pros: Robust feature set focused on IT professionals.

Cons: Fairly complex and expensive for home users.

Key Backup Software Features to Consider

When selecting a backup program, here are some of the most important features to consider:

Local vs. cloud backups – Do you need both or only one? Cloud requires internet connection.
Image vs. file backups – Images capture entire drives/systems. File backups are more selective.
Backup scheduling – Automated backups provide hands-free convenience.
Mobile access – Remote access to backups provides more flexibility.
OS and platform support – Make sure it works on your devices.
Incremental backups – Saves time and storage versus full backups each time.
Compression and deduplication – Saves significant storage space.
Security features – Encryption and ransomware protection keep data safe.
Cost – Upfront purchase price and ongoing cloud storage fees.

Recommendations for Personal and Business Use

For home users, I recommend Backblaze or Carbonite for their simplicity and unlimited cloud backup capacity. Acronis True Image is also a good option if you want local and cloud backup capabilities.

For small businesses, Carbonite, IDrive, or Acronis are good choices that offer multiple backup destinations, recovery tools, and security features.

For IT professionals and larger businesses, Veeam Agent is an enterprise-grade option with extensive features and capabilities. Acronis also works well for larger organizations.

Conclusion

Regular automated backups are essential to protect your important data and systems. There are excellent backup software options in 2024 that fit a variety of needs. I recommend considering cloud-based backups for their convenience and unlimited capacity. Look for client apps, security protections, and features that best fit your specific requirements. Taking the time to properly implement backup software will give you invaluable peace of mind. Let me know if you have any other questions!