About 90% of users and intending users of online backups are worried about the security of their data. It’s indeed scary to just hand over valuable data to a third party for safekeeping. While there are reports of data mismanagement, it’s also possible to avoid such incidences by following the following tips.

Use a Reputable Service Provider: This is the most important tip of all. High end providers have a reputation for keeping data safe, providing constant support and 99% uptime and have been consistently doing this for years. Using such providers greatly minimizes the chances of data mismanagement.

Some of the features of a reputable service include high level data encryption, multiple storage locations, secure data transfer, provision of open file and block level incremental backups, IP address restrictions and flexible backup plans. A good place to start is by checking out professional and user reviews.

Keep your Encryption Key Safe: Most service providers don’t even have access to the customer’s encryption key. What this means is that even if you forget the key, it’s impossible to retrieve the data. Thus, never give out your key to an authorized person – and keep it safe!