Carbonite Online Backup Review - why 3.5 stars?

Shlomi Lavi / updated: Mar 13, 2022

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What is Carbonite Online Backup?

Carbonite online backup is a fog-based data protection system that helps customers protect their data against theft, hardware crashes, deletion, and other mishaps. It is an industry-leading online protection system that aids businesses of all sizes in data encryption, file management, and cloud backup. Carbonite online backup has various features such as automatic update, password protection, backup history, duplication, de-duplication, file sharing, live backup, authentication, media server encryption, quick restore, scheduling, and CD/DVD burning.

It allows the users to store data in various forms including, files, video and audio movies, images in different formats, databases, applications, and accounts. Carbonite provides comprehensive protection and long-term data storage. Each file is compressed and encrypted using 128-bit Blowfish encryption. The target users are small and medium-sized organizations. Carbonite online backup was developed in 2006 by Carbonite Inc., a California-based firm.

The company was later acquired by OpenText, a Canadian software firm, in 2019. During that time, many companies were offering cloud backup but were charging based on storage (gigabytes). Carbonite Inc. was the first to offer unlimited backup space for a fixed price. It is accessible to Windows and macOS users and only available on Android.

Who is it best for?

Carbonite is suitable for all business sizes as well as personal users. This is because the software is available in different versions designed for different kind of users. Whether you are a home user or running a company, you can use the software for the backup of important data in the form of documents, images, music and video files etc.

Any organization would like to outsource the data backup services and concentrate on the more important operational respects. Carbonite can provide safety for any kind of data over any duration of time. The software has thousands of clients all over the world, including individual home users as well as large organizations. Some noteworthy corporate clients include Falcon Construction, Lesron Insurance, and Foundation Real Estate etc.

Main features and functionalities

The software provides both online and network based storage options and uses various backup media for storage. Data repository models that the software follows are differential backup, full system backup, reverse delta, and continuous data protection.

The software allows you to store data in a variety of forms including files, video and audio movies, images in different formats, database, applications and accounts. Data can be stored for a long time without being compromised, thanks to the multi-layered security provided by the software. Important security features include encryption, password protection, authentication, and media server encryption.

Core software features of Carbonite include automatic update, backup history, duplication, de-duplication, file sharing, live backups, quick restore, scheduling, and CD/DVD burning.

What is the actual cost?

Carbonite online backup has a subscription-based pricing plan, and the customer is billed annually. To best meet the demands of its customers, it offers three distinct subscription programs. The cheapest package is $6 per month, which provides cloud backup to 1 - 3 computers and remote file access to computer files.

Their second package allows up to 25 computers, allowing FERBA, GLBA & HIPPA support, and centralized management and admin control for $25/month. However, their most expensive package is $50 per month, allowing computers plus servers to backup data and image backup & Bare metal restore and backup for databases & applications.

ITQlick pricing score is 6.2 out of 10 (10 is most expensive). Access ITQlick pricing guide for Carbonite Online Backup. You can also find here pricing information from Carbonite Online Backup's website.

Pros

• Client program of the software automatically backs up the new and changes files on your system.
• Before storing the data, it is compressed and encrypted using 128-bit Blowfish encryption for added protection.
• Secure SSL link is provided for the transmission of data to ensure its safety and integrity.
• De-duplication at bit level results in new files being backed up twice.
• With the remote access facility, you can download your files and data from any location using the secure account.

Cons

• Data repository models of the software do not include incremental backup option.
• Core software features of Carbonite do not include archiving, prioritization, and refactoring.
• Security features of the software lack centralized management of the data.
• There is no app of Carbonite for mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android.
• While the software provides various kinds of backup media, it does not offer FTP backup system.

How it stacks up?

Access a head to head analysis of Carbonite Online Backup vs alternative software solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Carbonite Online Backup right for you or your business?

Carbonite is suitable for both individual users and enterprises of all sizes. It comes in two variants, one for individuals and for businesses. Carbonite helps the company with FERPA, GLBA, HIPAA support, centralized admin controls, application backups, and reporting storage. It also saves time and effort by offering automated data backup services. As a result, Carbonite has grown its clientele over the years, consisting of many notable corporate clients such as Falcon Construction.