Backup SW /w Encryption and Remote Storage

[hufaunder]

I want to backup my data in a remote location. The total size of the
data is about 500GB but the incremental data is comparably small. A
commercial online backup service is one option but I much prefer a
backup on a family's computer on a different continent. In any case,
here are the requirements:

1) Data must be strongly encrypted before sending it over the wire.
2) When a connection breaks the backup process has to pick up where it
stopped, i.e. without data corruption or having to resend the data.
3) Incremental backup is a MUST.
4) It must be possible to automatically backup data from different
locations within an internal network.
5) The solution should be inexpensive (<$200).

Is there anything out there that can handle this? Any input is
appreciated.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I want to backup my data in a remote location. The total size of the
data is about 500GB but the incremental data is comparably small. A
commercial online backup service is one option but I much prefer a
backup on a family's computer on a different continent. In any case,
here are the requirements:

Backing up in a location off site from the machine being backed up is a
sound principle. But isn't backing up to a different continent going just a
bit too far? Where were you proposing to put you second backup*, the moon?

Seriously though, with the price of hard disk drives these days being so
cheap, why not backup to a pair of hard disk drives and just store them in
another building when not actually being backed up to. If your that worried
about security of the data, stick 'em in a fire safe. The more complicated
you make your backup regime, the more likely you are to be disappointed when
you come to restore it under circumstances that you can't make another.

*A backup is not a backup unless it's backed up.

 

[hufaunder]

Backing up in a location off site from the machine being backed up is a
sound principle. But isn't backing up to a different continent going just a
bit too far? Where were you proposing to put you second backup*, the moon?

Seriously though, with the price of hard disk drives these days being so
cheap, why not backup to a pair of hard disk drives and just store them in
another building when not actually being backed up to. If your that worried
about security of the data, stick 'em in a fire safe. The more complicated
you make your backup regime, the more likely you are to be disappointed when
you come to restore it under circumstances that you can't make another.

*A backup is not a backup unless it's backed up.

Hm, none of this is actually answering any of my questions. As for the
location of the backup what does it matter if I store the backup at an
online service next town or on a different continent? I have good
reason for the location mentioned that go beyond security. As for
storing it on another HD and leave that at work or a safe it's a major
hassle. I want the backup process to be automated and not having to
carry a HD around for doing backups.

Any input on the original question?

 

[John Wunderlich]

I want to backup my data in a remote location. The total size of
the data is about 500GB but the incremental data is comparably
small. A commercial online backup service is one option but I much
prefer a backup on a family's computer on a different continent.
In any case, here are the requirements:

1) Data must be strongly encrypted before sending it over the
wire. 2) When a connection breaks the backup process has to pick
up where it stopped, i.e. without data corruption or having to
resend the data. 3) Incremental backup is a MUST.
4) It must be possible to automatically backup data from different
locations within an internal network.
5) The solution should be inexpensive (<$200).

Is there anything out there that can handle this? Any input is
appreciated.

Assuming you connect to your remote server using a VPN connection, and
can connect to the backup medium using Windows Networking (NetBT), then
to handle the strong security/encryption part, try Freeware Truecrypt

<http://www.truecrypt.org>

As for the Backup program, you might want to try the built-in Windows
Backup program. I'm not sure how it fares with your requirements,
though...
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Backup.

It doesn't get much cheaper.

-- John

 

[Only Sysadmin]

Seems to me that you are up to something illegal if you want to back up your
computer to another computer across to another country. If this were to be
done you would spend a lot of time and money getting enough bandwidth to
transfer this data across the internet like that. As far as I know there is
no software available for a price of <$200.00 that has the capabilities that
you are looking for. It is better to go with an offsite company to do this
as they are insured and if there was an issue with you getting the data they
are responsible for it.

 

[hufaunder]

How is backing up data and storing the backup in a different country
illegal? What law is saying that?

You mentioned that too much time and money would be required for such
a setup. How does using an online service fix that? The data still has
to be transfered. As a matter of fact, my setup can be easier as I
might be able to send an initial back to that other place and then
only do incremental backups over the internet. I doubt an online
service would give me that option. Plus they would charge me an arm
and a leg for 500GB whereas in my scenario it's pretty much only the
cost of the HD.

 

[norman_news]

If your that worried
about security of the data, stick 'em in a fire safe.

Be careful about that. A typical document safe is designed to keep
paper from burning, which happens at either 300 or 500 degrees
(Celsius I think....memory isn't working right now). Either way, I
don't believe a CD or HD would survive such temperatures.

 

[norman_news]

I want to backup my data in a remote location. The total size of the
data is about 500GB but the incremental data is comparably small. A

Your ISP may not appreciate you sending 500G a few times a month. Even
unlimited accounts have limits.

1) Data must be strongly encrypted before sending it over the wire.
2) When a connection breaks the backup process has to pick up where it
stopped, i.e. without data corruption or having to resend the data.
3) Incremental backup is a MUST.
4) It must be possible to automatically backup data from different
locations within an internal network.
5) The solution should be inexpensive (<$200).

I'm using PGP 6.5.8 (freeware), and have had some success using it on
a LAN. I wonder if it would work over the internet. It should be
secure enough that you could use pretty much anything to do your
transfer.

 

[M.I.5¾]

If your that worried
about security of the data, stick 'em in a fire safe.

Be careful about that. A typical document safe is designed to keep
paper from burning, which happens at either 300 or 500 degrees
(Celsius I think....memory isn't working right now). Either way, I
don't believe a CD or HD would survive such temperatures.

 

[Rick Thomas]

Have you looked at rsync?

It can transport over ssh encrypted channels and moves only the changed
data. It's optimized for slow (as in WAN) links.