Here's a few questions you might want to ask as you shop around for online backup services, and our answers...

• How much data can I store?
  We still offer a truly unlimited storage solution, though there are other plans for light users and server backup.
• How can you promise unlimited - is it really?
  Absolutely!  Our system uses global block-level deduplication to save space on the backup servers.  Put simply it means if several people all have the same file backed up we just store the raw data once, but in reality it's a much more complex system than that!  With that and unlimited scalability at th Data Centre we remain confident that there are no limits to the data storage.
• Will multiple versions of files be kept?
  If you've made changes to a document we'll still keep the old copy for you.  Not everyone else does that.  If you've got 10 different revisions of a document, we'll still store them all for you. Wait, what's that?  Carbonite stores up to 12 versions?  OK, we'll store unlimted revisions then - you can't get better than that! So now if you decide you preferred a document the way it was in the beginning we can get it back for you.
• How long are files kept for?
  Some providers have this strange idea that if you delete a file accidentally you'll realise your mistake within 30 days, and so they then delete the data from your backup also.  Realise after 31 days that you've lost something and it's gone forever. Not only do we think that's a little harsh, we have lost data ourselves from such a daft rule in the past. Not anymore though, PCSLiveBackup has an unlimited retention policy, so even if you change your mind after two years adn want it back, we'll have it for you.
• Will files be backed up even if they are currently open on my PC?
  If that's the way you want it, then you've got it. The posh term for it is "VSS Supoort" and the good news is that we have it, though you can turn it off if you want. Carbonite don't offer this at all by the way.
• What about encryption?
  We take the safety and security of your data very seriously.  As a small company most of our clients know us and trust us, but that shouldn't mean we don't keep things private. When you setup PCSLiveBackup you set your very own personal (or corporate) encryption key.  Your data is then enctypted (jumbled up) before being stored on our system, and no one can see any of it without that key word or phrase. Not us, not our partners, developers - no one but you.  Keep it safe though - if you lose it we can't remind you what it is!
• Can the files be accessed via a web browser too?
  You can restore your files to your computer via a web browser, but you can't flick through them and view them like you can with some services. I mean, where's the security in that?  If you can open all your files to look through them on a website, then so could your neighbour... you might as well just leave your hard-drive on a bus for someone to take home and open all your files.
• I have a lot of data to backup, how long will it take?
  It depends on the data and your internet connection.  The initial backup can take some time though.  For some people we're talking a few hours, for some we're talking a few days.  It's much the same story with all the online backup services.  You might like to know, though, that in tests our software has consistently performed faster than the competition.  3x faster than Mozy, 5x faster than Carbonite, and 10x faster than Dell.  Once the initial backup is complete only changes or new files are uploaded, which is much quicker and barely noticeable.
• Can the initial backup be sped up in any way?
  If you prefer the initial data can be loaded directly.  We'll arrange a courier to collect the data on an external drive adn upload it all to the Data Centre.  Unlike other providers we won't charge for doing this, other than the courier costs.
• What if I need help?  Who do I contact, and how?
  We're here for you.  We're still a very small company compared to some of the other international names in online backup, but we have the support of the Nine Technology development, marketing and support experts over in the US too.  It means we know how your customers are when they call us, but also means we have a whole load of other folk in the background to address any concerns.... not that we really expect there to be many! We're available by email or online chat, or can be contacted via a standard landline-rate phone number in the UK (or a US number if you really want it), and are generally available from 8am to 8pm.  No call queues, no call centres, and no automated unhelpful responses.
• What's it gonna cost me?
  You may wonder why we didn't put this question first. The problem is, we can be too quick to make decisions based on price, without making sure that a service really will meet all our needs. That's why we left it 'til last. We're not ashamed of our pricing at all though, in fact we're fiercly proud of our great value offering.  The standard price of the service is £4.95 a month, or £54.45 a year.  We're one of only two 'powered by Nine' partners in the UK, but as we're a non-profit company we're charging half the price of the other partner, putting us on a similar price as our 'competitors'. We often have promotional prices and offers too.

If you want to know more please contact us.  If our service isn't right for you for any reason then we genuinely wish you the very best of luck with whoever you decide upon, but would really appreciate you letting us know what swung your decision.