Whether it’s throughout their careers or a single project, one thing’s clear: Academic researchers accumulate a metric ton of data. Each spreadsheet, Word document and image file is invaluable and represents plenty of hard work as well as limited funding, which means that you’ll want and need to keep it as safe and secure as possible.
Not sure where to begin your search for reliable online data backup? No worries, we’re more than happy to help. Find out which data backup services best meet your research-related needs after the jump.
5 Best Data Backup Services for Researchers Summary
[top5table IDrive Acronis ElephantDrive SpiderOak CrashPlan ratings=”5,4.7,4.5,4,3.7″]
Winner
IDrive
[vpnbest value=”5″] 5/5
PROS- Archiving option
- Backup from unlimited devices
- End-to-end encryption
- Low price
- Integrated file sharing
CONS- Nothing much!
We don’t think it’s bold to say that IDrive is a researcher’s dream come true. It has it all: integrated file sharing so that you can collaborate with colleagues and easily share results; end-to-end encryption to keep your research safe from prying eyes; an archiving option for storing finished projects; and the ability to backup from an unlimited number of devices.
The cherry on top? IDrive is available at a very affordable $44.62 a year for 1 TB of data, which means you don’t have to spend much of your precious research funding for peace of mind.
You can read more about IDrive in our up-to-date review or, if we already have you convinced, you can sign up now by clicking on the button below!
2nd place
Acronis
[vpnbest value=”4.7″] 4.7/5
- PROS
- Unlimited storage space
- Integrated file sharing
- End-to-end encryption
- Archiving option
- Full system versioning
- CONS
- No password protection for share files
Any academic researcher—no matter their field of study—would be satisfied with the data backup services provided by Acronis. With its wide range of excellent features, why wouldn’t they? Chief among them: Unlimited storage space, end-to-end encryption, full system versioning, and an archiving option.
So why did IDrive nab the top spot over Acronis? Unfortunately, while it offers full system versioning, Acronis only allows users to access and restore the 10 most recent system states. Also, they don’t offer any password protection for shared files, which is a major downside for the security-conscious.
That said, don’t let these minute faults keep you from giving Acronis a try. Give them a go today by signing up for their 30-day free trial below—it requires no credit card number to sign up so it’s entirely risk-free!
3rd place
ElephantDrive
[vpnbest value=”4.5″] 4.5/5
- PROS
- Unlimited version history
- Easy to access and restore versions
- Strong security
- Integrated file sharing
- CONS
- Complicated software
ElephantDrive is a great online data backup option for academic researchers who need frequent and fast access to previous versions of their work. It boasts unlimited version history from which clients can easily access and restore every single pre-existing version of their files and folders.
In addition, the provider possesses other features that would be useful to professional researchers, such as strong security, backup from multiple devices, cross-platform compatibility, and integrated file sharing—all for only $9.95 per month for 1 TB of storage space.
ElephantDrive’s main caveat? Its software can be a little tricky to use at first, which may be frustrating for researchers short on time who just want to upload and go. However, those who are willing to take the time to learn how to navigate ElephantDrive will find that it’s worth the initial trouble.
Read our ElephantDrive review for more information, or sign up today by clicking on the link below!
4th place
SpiderOak
[vpnbest value=”4″] 4/5
- PROS
- Unlimited version history
- Easy to find and restore versions
- Top-of-the-line security
- CONS
- Limited storage space
- Versions all take up storage space
- Complicated software
If the research you’re doing is highly confidential, you should look no further than SpiderOak, a Cloud provider whose top-of-the-line security and zero-knowledge policy has been lauded by none other than Edward Snowden himself.
In addition to its highly-praised security features, SpiderOak is frequently cited as one of the best overall data backup services in the business. We’re inclined to agree: It offers unlimited version history whose files and folders are easy to access and store, unlimited deleted file recovery, and multiple backup options.
Some may find SpiderOak’s software complicated to use, but those who figure it out will reap the benefits of this exceptional provider. Test it out yourself by clicking on the button below to sign up for their 60-day free trial.
5th place
CrashPlan
[vpnbest value=”3.7″] 3.7/5
- PROS
- Unlimited version history
- Unlimited storage space
- End-to-end encryption
- Software is easy to use
- CONS
- No file sharing options
CrashPlan’s one of the most well-known names in the Cloud business. Its features are a good fit for just about any audience, but academic researchers will most appreciate their unlimited version history, unlimited storage space, excellent security and easy-to-use software.
So why didn’t CrashPlan make it higher up on the list? Sadly, this great provider is not especially collaboration-friendly. Its lack of file sharing options will be a sure-fire deal breaker for anyone who needs to share data constantly with students and colleagues.
However, if you’re just looking for a personal backup solution, CrashPlan may be just the ticket. You can see for yourself by signing up for their 30-day free trial below.
Our Criteria
Here at BestBackups, we select our top providers based on their strength of security, range of features, quality of customer service, value for money, and overall performance. In the case of this five best list, we took care to pay particular attention to providers that offer plenty of storage space, file versioning, deleted file recovery, integrated file sharing, and an archiving option—all essential features for academics looking to safeguard all of their valuable research.
5 Best Data Backup Services for Researchers Conclusion
Academic researchers collect more data than possibly any other profession out there—no wonder we felt the need to put together a list of providers that meet their needs best! While the providers mentioned above are all more or less a sure thing on their own, one can never be too careful when it comes to their life’s work. As such, we’d recommend putting together bulletproof 3-2-1 backup plan to which you can add any of these stellar Cloud storage solutions.
[top5table Idrive Acronis ElephantDrive SpiderOak CrashPlan ratings=”5,4.7,4.5,4,3.7″]
