Top 10: Cloud backup services

Updated: August 01, 2023

Cloud backup services are digital solutions that offer a secure and convenient way to back up and store data in the cloud. These services automatically and regularly backup files and data from computers, servers, or mobile devices to remote servers hosted by the service provider. Cloud backup services utilize encryption and other security measures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data during transmission and storage. By storing data offsite, cloud backup services protect against data loss due to hardware failures, theft, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events. Additionally, these services often provide versioning, allowing users to restore previous versions of files, providing an added layer of data protection. Cloud backup services are suitable for individuals and businesses of all sizes, providing a reliable and scalable solution for data backup and recovery, contributing to peace of mind and business continuity. Some of the most popular cloud backup services are listed below.

See also: Top 10 Online Backup services

2019. AWS launches fully-managed backup service for business


Amazon's cloud platform, AWS, has introduced a new service called Backup, allowing companies to securely back up their data from various AWS services as well as their on-premises applications. For on-premises data backup, businesses can utilize the AWS Storage Gateway. This service enables users to define backup policies and retention periods according to their specific requirements. It includes options such as transferring backups to cold storage for EFS data or deleting them entirely after a specified duration. By default, the data is stored in Amazon S3 buckets. While most of the supported services already offer snapshot creation capabilities (except for EFS file systems), Backup automates this process and adds customizable rules to enhance data protection. Notably, the pricing for Backup aligns with the costs associated with using the snapshot features (except for file system backup, which incurs a per-GB charge).


2017. CrashPlan shuts down its consumer cloud backup service to focus on business version



Popular cloud backup service CrashPlan has announced its decision to discontinue home subscriptions and shift its focus towards its business version, Code42. This move provides customers with a little over a year to find an alternative solution. Services like CrashPlan, Backblaze, and Carbonite have simplified the process of online backup, allowing users to subscribe and install a background app that automatically handles the backup process. CrashPlan has been a leading player in this market. However, the company has realized the potential for greater profitability by catering to larger enterprise customers. Hence, Code42 is providing ample time for its customers to transition away from CrashPlan, recognizing that uploading an entire hard drive can be a time-consuming process.


2015. Backblaze offers low-cost Amazon S3 rival



Backblaze, known for its consumer and enterprise backup service, has announced Backblaze B2, a competitively priced cloud storage service that rivals Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, and Google’s Cloud Platform. Backblaze's service is half the price of Amazon Glacier, an extremely slow cold storage service, and costs only about a fourth of Amazon’s regular S3 service. By opting for Backblaze's low-priced service, you can store an additional copy of your data for approximately 15 percent of the cost compared to Amazon's cloud storage service. Backblaze expects users to utilize B2 for storing images, videos, data sets, and more. The service includes a free tier, offering up to 10GB storage, 1GB/day of outbound traffic, and unlimited inbound bandwidth. Developers can access it through an API and command-line interface, while a web interface is also available for non-technical users.


2014. Datto buys cloud backup service Backupify



In a move to expand its data recovery services, Datto is acquiring Backupify to provide a comprehensive range of solutions for data retrieval, regardless of its location. Both companies specialize in data backup and recovery, with Backupify excelling in safeguarding SaaS objects such as data in Google Docs or Salesforce.com, while Datto focuses on protecting Windows and Linux applications deployed on physical servers, on-premises, or in local/private clouds. Backupify has secured nearly $20 million in funding from investors including Avalon Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, First Round Capital, Lowercase Capital, and Symantec, among others. On the other hand, Datto has raised $25 million in funding, led by shared investor General Catalyst, marking former VMware CTO Steve Herrod's inaugural funding deal since joining the venture capital firm.


2014. Bitcasa ends unlimited storage plan



Cloud storage and backup service Bitcasa has made the decision to eliminate its low-cost unlimited storage option. The company claims that the option was not utilized enough to justify the high costs associated with managing a small group of users who violated the Terms of Service. As a result, unlimited users of Bitcasa are left with two choices if they wish to continue using the service. They can either switch to a 1TB premium plan, priced at approximately $99 per year, or opt for the 10TB pro plan, which costs $999. In response to accommodating users transitioning from the unlimited storage option, Bitcasa has expanded the storage capacity of its pro plan from 5TB to 10TB. Consequently, the company has also raised the prices for the pro plan. Previously, new subscribers paid $49 per month, but the price has now increased to $99.


2012. Amazon Glacier: Cloud storage service using Humanoid robots



When observing the new service Amazon Glacier, the notion of humanoid robots might naturally come to mind, although it remains just an assumption. This service caters to the long-term storage requirements of archives and backups that businesses may seldom or perhaps never use, but still need to maintain due to specific regulations or corporate guidelines. The key highlight is the remarkably affordable cost of storing data in Amazon Glacier, priced at just 1 cent per month for 1 GB, which is ten times less than Amazon S3. However, accessing files from Glacier necessitates an initial ordering process, followed by a wait time of 3-5 hours before the files become available. During this duration, one might imagine a robotic scenario wherein the hard drive is located in the data center and transported to the control panel. Furthermore, Amazon Glacier customers are limited to downloading only 5% of their data per month, with a charge of $0.12 per GB for data transfers surpassing 1 GB per month.