Review of SpiderOak ONE: A leading online data backup solution
Are you looking for an efficient online data backup solution that features both personal and business plans? If so, read this in-depth review about SpiderOak ONE, which is a leading online data backup service now available on the market. It is also one of the data backup services using Zero Knowledge System.
Security has become an important issue for people who use computers, as there are numerous potential threats to their files and documents these days. From Malwares to unscrupulous monitoring, there are several troubles that lurk around and it is essential that the top range of security measures must taken to keep your important data safe and sound. In order to keep your data intact, without any threats, online backup services like SpiderOak may come handy.
SpiderOak ONE is an online backup service established in 2007, and is one of the recommended backup storage options for someone who is searching for a safe and efficient way to protect data from loss. The company provides both free and premium backup solutions. It is a convenient data backup, storage and sharing service that supports Mac, Windows and Linux machines. Here users get file syncing, remote access, file sharing, automatic backup and a lot more features they would love. Most of all, it provides support for unlimited computers with a single account, which would be very helpful for those who intend to make a default backup across many computers.
It provides backup solution for both personal and business users, with various plans. Users will instantly get free access to 2GB of storage space when they sign up for a SpiderOak account. Even though 2GB doesn't provide enough room to store a lot, but it is good enough to evaluate the services they offers. If you need additional storage, then you can go for basic SpiderOak Personal plan that gives you 30GB of online data storage at $7/month. Still, you need more storage, there is a 1TB plan that provides same features as other plans except that it allows you to use up to 1TB of storage space, and it more than enough for personal use, available at $12/month. And there is a 5TB plan, which is particularly good for business users.Features of SpiderOak ONE Online Backup
Installation of the SpiderOak software on the computer is really easy and probably you would need only a couple of minutes to complete the installation. To start, all you need to provide is a username, email address and password, and you are ready to go. Once you have successfully created an account, you can upgrade your plan right from there. The dashboard is loaded with a lot of options to play with, but the whole UI looks a tad cluttered, and it might be a little difficult for novice users. From there you can select your preferred directories for backup. Some online backup service providers only allow you to backup data from internal storage but this one allows you to backup data from external and network drives as well. It does work across all devices, and even there is a dedicated app for Apple iOS, Android and Windows phones to access your data on the go.
Once you have configured the drives and folders you want to be backed up, all of your data in them will be backed up instantly after you make changes to them. However, it offers several different scheduling features so you can backup your data precisely when you'd like to. It also lets you to add in and leave out specific kinds of files or files of a specific size in backups, which may be helpful for users who need to filter out certain files but don't want to browse through entire system. And there is a 'hive' folder, where you can keep files synced between multiple machines. Based on the software platform you are using on your system, it could be found in various locations. Another feature I loved about SpiderOak is its ability to stay away from duplicate files. While it is not a groundbreaking feature in online backup space, it's nice to see in here. This simply means duplicate data will not be saved in your storage, and you could save some room for your data.
Restoring is another area where SpiderOak truly shines. The process is really easy and fast, and even batch restores are also possible. Like many other online backup services, it also supports file versioning (unlimited). With this feature, you can explore the history and restore a certain version of a file. Instead of using SpiderOak application, you can use the web browser as well to browse through files. Even though, I did find web interface is a tad slower to use but it can come useful at times when you don't have your device with you. There is a sharing feature called ShareRooms, which allows users to share files with their friends or employees by creating a ShareID and RoomKey. Once you have created a share room, you can then put in things you want to share. With the key and ID any user can download shared files by clicking on the download link comes via an email or text message. When you update data that is being shared, it automatically refreshes the ShareRoom with the latest version of the file.
Security is another big plus of SpiderOak. Every data you store in SpiderOak servers will be encrypted with the top levels of protection. The key selling point of SpiderOak is their zero-knowledge privacy policy, which outlines only users will have access to their own files, not even SpiderOak employees. Encryption keys will never be kept on the SpiderOak servers and the truth is, the actual key to decode the encrypted documents is also encrypted, which means if you lose your private key, your precious files gone as well.
Finally, when it comes to support, SpiderOak provides a good and helpful FAQ section, Video Tutorials and Guides that will let you pass through each step of the process. You can also contact the support team via an email, but sadly, the company doesn't have phone or Live chat support, and it's a shame considering the fact that most companies in this space do provide these supports for customers. Conclusion
SpiderOak ONE is one of the strongest online data sharing, syncing and backup solution that comes with a lot useful options to both home and business users. The application is packed with a lot of options to play with but requires some time for getting used to. The design of the application could be even better. I like that it does have mobile app to browse and download your files while you are on the run, but it's a shame that app doesn't let users actually backup anything on their mobile phones. Considering other popular online backup services, like BackBlaze, SpiderOak is a tad expensive. Some companies even provide unlimited plan at even cheaper price than SpiderOak's basic 30GB plan. However, you may consider SpiderOak as an online backup option if you are really concerned about your data privacy.
