Carbonite Cloud Backup Review
Carbonite is an online backup solution that works to securely store your photos and files in the cloud. Unlike brands such as Google Drive and Dropbox, Carbonite is more of a computer backup solution than a typical cloud storage application.
Carbonite is one of the easiest and most straightforward applications on the market. To get started, all you have to do is (1) Install the program, (2) Choose what files to backup (3) Configure backup scheduling.
Key Features:
- Backs up all your important files and photos automatically
- Login to your account from any device to access your files from anywhere
- Simple setup and recovery with just a few clicks
- 128-bit military-grade encryption, plus advanced Transport Layer Security (TLS/SSL)
Who Should Use It?
There was a time when Carbonite provided the same plans for both personal and business use but all that has changed now. For personal usage, you get all the essential features you would need, including automatic cloud backup, external hard drive backup, and courier recovery service. If you are just looking for a backup service to store all your laptop’s data online, then this is an excellent choice.
Carbonite is compliant with:
- HIPAA
- GLBA
- FERPA
- SOC 2, TYPE 2
- PCI
Carbonite also provides some exceptional features for business users. It supports remote file access, granular backup, hyper-v and live applications. The service lets you backup data from unlimited SAN, NAS, and EHD servers. As a business user, you would be happy to know that Carbonite follows most of the necessary guidelines
Backup and Restoration
All the main operations on Carbonite are done through its desktop app only, so to get started, you have to download the app from its website. There isn’t a direct link to it; you first have to sign up for a free trial and then you get a download link.
After the desktop app is installed, you can either manually select all the folders for backup, or you can let Carbonite pick it for you. If you do select automatic backup, then Carbonite will upload all the documents, images, music and emails on the system.
But, it does not just backup data according to the folders they are in; it scans and selects data according to file extensions. So if you do choose to backup all your images, then Carbonite will not just look in the main Photos folder, but it will search all the image files present on the disc.
After the first backup, there is no way to directly back up subsequent files through the desktop app. If you have a folder that needs to be uploaded, you need to right-click it and select Carbonite from all the options. While it can be a little confusing for some, we find this option extremely helpful since this means that you wouldn’t have to go back to its app every time you want to upload a file.
It also has a color-coded system to keep you updated on the status of the files. A green dot means the file has been backed up; yellow dot means the file is yet to be backed up, and no color means the file hasn’t been selected for backup.
Carbonite creates its network drive on your hard disk when it's installed which makes it easier to access all your data in one single place. Restoration is easy whether you want to restore a single file or your entire backup. The time will obviously depend on your internet speed. Since Carbonite has bandwidth throttling, you can be assured that it is using your full internet speed. There is also an option to restore your backup to a different computer.
Coming to the settings, Carbonite does not bother its users with too many complicated settings. You can decide what to backup and when to backup, and that’s it. There is only one more option which lets you choose if you want to reduce the internet speed consumed by Carbonite, which could come handy if you are working on something simultaneously.
Privacy and Security
Right when you are installing the software, Carbonite will ask you if you want to manage your encryption key or not. If you do choose to enter your key, you should remember that it is never saved on Carbonite’s server and if in case you forget or lose your password, you will lose your data too.
It has a 256-bit encryption both on the local side and the server side. While the encryption is strong and managing your key is a great plus, Carbonite has its servers in the US. According to the guidelines, the NSA can go through the backed data whenever they want.
If you are using this, we would recommend always setting an encryption key so that even if the government is snooping through your data, they only get the encrypted version of it.
Web and Mobile App
Even if you have signed up through the desktop app, when you log into the web app you have to fill your entire account information and without that, you just cannot move forward. And we have to mention this, the web app is very limited. It does not have all the features the desktop app has. You can access your data, restore backup or download the desktop app back again. Apart from that, the only extra option is to buy a subscription.
The mobile app has been specially created to make it easier for the users to back up their phone pictures. When we tested the app on an Android phone, we found out that the backed up pictures can also be previewed and shared on social media. But, if you have used a private encryption then the previewing option won’t be available. The app can also backup other files on the phone and SD card.
Pricing and Plans
The plans for Carbonite are divided into two categories – personal plans and business plans.
Basic personal plans start at $59.99 per year. The Plus plan for $99.99 provides an option of mirror image backup while the Prime plan has an option of couriering an external hard drive with all your backup data. Though we did notice that for Mac users, only the basic plan is available.
Coming to the business plans, it's disappointing to see that Carbonite only allows 500 GB of data to be backed up. Though, the features are commendable which include bare metal recovery, backup from servers and unlimited machines. If Carbonite decides to increase the limit, we are sure more businesses would be interested.
What's It Missing?
While Carbonite does provide unlimited storage, it only allows backup from one machine. That means you would have to get more Carbonite accounts if you work on more than one computers. Apart from that, there is also no file sharing or syncing. Though you do get sharing options on the mobile app for pictures, it would have been much better if documents could be shared through links. There is also no option for network drive backup. Surprisingly, it does not allow video backup unless you get a top tier plan. And of course, it only gives a 14-day free trial.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Carbonite Work?
Once you install Carbonite on your computer, the program runs quietly in the background to upload your files to its secure servers for easy access at any time. To restore your files to a new computer, just simply install Carbonite on the new device. After installation, just follow the prompts on the screen to restore the files that you need.
How Long Will Carbonite Keep My Files?
Once files are deleted from your computer, Carbonite will keep them on their cloud servers for 30 days. During the duration of your subscription, they will keep your files backed up on their servers as long as the files remain present on your computer.
How Much Is Carbonite Per Month?
For the Basic Plan, the price is $59.99 per year and includes unlimited cloud storage for 1 computer, automatic backups, and remote file access. The Plus Plan is $74.99 per year and also includes external hard drive backup and mirror image backup. The Prime Plan is $149.99 per year and also includes automatic video backup and courier recovery service.
What Is A Mirror Image Backup?
A mirror image backup uses an external hard drive that you provide to create an exact copy of your computer, adding an extra layer of protection.
How Do I Restore Files From Carbonite?
- Install Carbonite if not already installed on new computer.
- Inside of the Carbonite application, click on "Get My Files Back"
- Select which hardrive to get files back from
- Select restore location
- Click "Start Getting Files Back" to begin the process of restoration.
Tech Specs:
Specifications
- Free Storage: Unlimited storage
- Free Trial: 15 days
- System: Windows and Mac
- Price: Starting at $5/month
Mobile
- Mobile Apps: iOS, Android, Windows
Backup Features
- Synchronization: No
- Free External HD Backup: No
- Continuous Backup: Yes
- Incremental Backup: Yes
- Backup Scheduling: Yes
- Bare Metal Backup: Yes
- Exclude File Extensions for Backup: Yes
- Network Drives: Yes
- Bandwidth Throttling: Yes
- Web Access: Yes
- HIPAA Compliant: Yes, but only Carbonite for business
- File Size Limit: No limited
- Included Machines: 1
Security
- Local Encryption: 256-bit
- Server Side Encryption: 256-bit
- Keeps deleted files: 30 days
- File Versioning: 90 versions
Sharing/Collaboration
- File Sharing: Yes
- Multiple Accounts: No
- Share Photo Albums: Yes
- Music Streaming: No
- Folder Collaboration: No
- Outlook Backup: Yes
