With the advent of high-speed Internet, backing up data online has become an affordable and effective backup solution for many businesses and home users. CDs, DVDs and tapes are all susceptible to human error and often kept in the same vicinity as the originals, making them vulnerable to the same risks (think theft or natural disaster).

Internet storage eliminates (or in the very least minimizes) most of those risks since backups are done automatically and housed on a remote, secure server. Thinking of making the switch? Here are seven tips for backing up your data online:

1. Automate your Backups – The bread and butter of online backup is automation. Most providers give you complete control and flexibility to determine a backup schedule suited to meet your needs. This means irreplaceable and business-critical data can be backed up weekly, daily, or even hourly without any manual prompts.

2. Choose a Unique Encryption Key – Another important feature Internet storage offers is encryption, which ensures sensitive data is kept confidential. Choose a unique encryption key which makes certain only you (or another authorized user) can access your data and not an employee of your backup service.

3. Redundancy is Desired – Internet storage providers who keep their data in just one location should be a red flag to you. Also, make sure you can access multiple versions (archives) of the same document. When it comes to internet storage, the more redundant, the better. 3. Redundancy is Desired – Internet storage providers who keep their data in just one location should be a red flag to you. Also, make sure you can access multiple versions (archives) of the same document. When it comes to internet storage, the more redundant, the better.

4. Data Centers Should be Spread Out – In a similar vein, well-established, reputable backup providers have multiple data centers that are at least 200 miles apart. This way, in the event of a natural disaster, only one data center is affected.

5. Utilize Customer Support – Be wary of any provider that only offers customer support via email. Whether or not you have an in-house IT department, you want to have a backup provider who can immediately assist you over the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

6. Be Wary of Free Services – While there are a handful of free backup services, you likely won’t have the security and encryption that come with a paid service.

7. Think of Online Backup as Insurance – When shopping prospective backup services, don’t get too hung up on cost and don’t let price be your sole deciding factor. Think of online backup as an insurance policy that in the event of catastrophic data loss, is well worth the cost.