Paperless?

[Yawper]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 5:25pm

Are you paperless? Not free ticket paperless, but cluttering up the home/workspace paperless.

Are you comfortable with your backup process? Do you have an online storage service you're using? Do you backup to CD/DVD as well as store online?

I want to pursue paperlessness and have an online service in use but after the Megaupload kerfuffle am not as comfortable with the idea. I know some users lost access to legitimate data stored there when it was shut down.

Updated On: 6/23/12 at 05:25 PM

[siny]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 7:12pm

I never understood why you would need an online storage service. I have a 2 TB cloud storage from Costco that plugs into my router so I can back up data from all my desktops/laptops. I also keep a backup of all my data on a 1.5 TB portable drive at work. And that's all I need. Why pay a monthly fee for something that I can do myself for free ?

[morosco]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 7:32pm

siny... is the backup you have at your workplace a backup of your home computer?

[siny]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 8:34pm

"siny... is the backup you have at your workplace a backup of your home computer?"

Yes. I like to keep one backup copy outside of my home in case of fire or theft.

[Yawper]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 9:00pm

Cloud storage essentially is online storage, just not all in one place. It's just as susceptible to online issues as the other services are.

The online service I'm currently using provides an ample amount of space for free.

I was wondering if most people do make double backups, which is what you are doing.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 9:07pm

From a security side Cloud storage scares the crap out of me. One rogue employee with the right access/credentials at the data center hosting the data, and your info is gone.

Right now, I personally would not use cloud for anything other than non-PII. Amazon has a pretty good security policy on the cloud storage it offers, but I have not reviewed other personal use vendors (like carbonite). I personally think for persona information you should create a duplicate backup on encrypted hard drives.

I am also not clear on what exactly the government could subpoena without disclosing to the information owner. Some of the FISA warrants do not allow a 3rd party information holder to notify the owner before responding to a subpoena. Now, I know the argument... if you have nothing to hide, why should you care. Well, because to me, it scares me when the government has the power of the vast amount of digital information out there, and why make it that much easier for it.

I honestly don't have anything on my computer that is critical that is not saved in two other places (one offsite). I would not trust a could storage device as the only means of archiving my info.

But, then I deal with security breach issues, and perhaps I am more sensitive than others.

[siny]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 9:13pm

The cloud storage that I was referring to is not an online service but a network attached storage drive: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Personal-Cloud-Storage/dp/B00439GMJ2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I agree with YouWantitWhen that I would not trust the security of my data to any online service.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 10:03pm

siny, we are on the same page. I was talking about public cloud storage, like carbonite. So long as a private cloud is secure/encrypted in transmission and storage, then I would also use it at home.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/23/12 at 11:36pm

siny, are there any additional monthly costs associated with that western digital device? i ain't gonna lie...too lazy to read the amazon write up. lol

[siny]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 12:11am

morosco, no, there are no additional costs. It comes with the automatic backup software that works just like an online cloud service - it backs up a file every time you modify it.

It plugs into your router, so whatever devices you have on your network are automatically backed up (if that's how you set it up). Or you can do a manual backup if you want.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 12:17am

thanks siny, i'm seriously considering getting one! fair price i think for what you get.