Review: Logmein Backup review

Perform simple backups by spreading your data around multiple PCs

Recovering form the consequences of not backing up your PC is never particularly pleasant.

That said, safeguarding your data by regularly burning CDs or DVDs and keeping track of them is just too much for many of us.

If you have more than one PC at your disposal, it makes sense to use them to keep copies of your most important files, many of which may be irreplaceable, such as digital photos, email and contact details.

By setting up two Windows PCs (one as a source and another as storage) Logmein Backup is a simple-to-use Windows utility that ensures selected files are copied to another PC regularly in the background without user intervention.

The PCs can either reside on the same network or reach each other via the internet.

A group of files to be copied can be labelled as a Backup Set; you can set up as many of these as you wish.

Each one can be copied immediately to storage or according to a schedule of your choosing.

Multiple versions of Backup Sets can be stored so you can easily retrieve old versions of files that may have since been changed or overwritten.

You can also connect multiple source computers to each storage PC.

If you then need to recover any files, you simply open up the Logmein Backup program and select the backup set you want to restore. It will then be returned to you from the storage PC.

If your old PC has been stolen or destroyed, or you simply want to transfer your data to a new one, restoring your data is just a matter of downloading Logmein Backup on the new PC, connecting to your storage PC and downloading the data.

Although transfers occur directly from one PC to the other, initial connection is via an internet gateway.

This means that source and storage PCs can be located anywhere in the world and firewalls and IP addresses are dealt with automatically.

However, it also means even PCs on the same Lan require access to the internet.

256bit SSL encryption protects all data transfers between PCs and the backups themselves are also encrypted and password protected.

This means even mobile users can be sure any documents they work on while out and about are safely backed up at home as long as they make regular connections to the internet.

In many ways, Logmein Backup is similar to the free Buddybackup program, but there are crucial differences.

Logmein Backup is not supported by ads and offers more sophisticated control over the data you choose to backup.

It is also designed for use on computers you use yourself, rather than relying on friends to have their PCs switched on when you need them.

Although considerably more expensive than Buddybackup's one-off £10 fee (for the paid-for version), Logmein Backup is easier to use and gives you complete control over your data.

A 30-day free trial is available on the Logmein website.