Backup Direct in Software

Aimed squarely at business users, Backup Direct offers a no-nonsense approach to online backup and has the no-nonsense interface to match. To back up, you simply click the Backup Set tab, use the tree view to check or uncheck files and folders for selection as desired, then click a large Backup button. To retrieve files, you simply repeat the process using the Retrieve tab.

Backup Direct stores up to ten versions of each file with standard price plans, and you can schedule backups by hour and day of the week. However, there's no option for continuous backup, and in general features are rather short on supply, with no way of throttling bandwidth usage or doing anything beyond applying rules to filter unwanted files out of folders in the backup set. Unfortunately, using these rules requires mastering the program's jargon and that no-nonsense interface, which proves less than intuitive.

On the positive side, opting for a System level price plan adds a Heal feature to the client, which enables you to back up and restore system files and Registry settings, and Backup Direct proved to be the fastest service on test, completing both the initial backup and a full restore in record time. Both 256-bit AES encryption and 128-bit SSL encryption during transfer keep your data safe, and your files are mirrored across two secure datacenters within the UK.

However, with rates starting at £10 exc VAT per month for 1GB on a single PC, Backup Direct is an expensive service, and its rivals offer a stronger feature set and a more generous capacity for less money.

Author: Stuart Andrews