A1 Backup Service FAQ

What is A1 Backup Service? A1 Backup Service is online backup for your valuable computer files. Quick and easy to install and use, A1 Backup Service works in the background as you work, securing your data in a Tier 4 Data Center encrypted for 100% privacy and security.

How do my files get backed up? Once you have installed the A1 Backup Service software, A1 Backup Service will automatically back up your files every day. Just leave your computer on and connected to the Internet and A1 Backup Service will take care of the rest.

What types of computers will A1 Backup Service run on? A1 Backup Service runs on Windows and Mac computers. It runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, (including 64-bit systems) and all Mac OS X versions.

How much data can I store with A1 Backup Service? The basic plan includes 10 gigabytes, which is about enough space to back up 30,000 pictures or 2000 music files. If you want more space, you can easily buy more. We recommend backing up only irreplaceable files, and not music and video. A1 Backup Service automatically selects the best files to back up. Ten gigabytes is more than enough space for most people. You can purchase more storage space when needed.

Which files does A1 Backup Service back up? By default A1 Backup Service will back up your documents, pictures, spreadsheets, accounting files, email, databases and other "work" files on your computer. You can add and change file selections after A1 Backup Service is installed. A1 Backup Service will back up network drives and USB drives.

What files will not be backed up? A1 Backup Service was designed to ignore files that are not usually backed up, like Windows and Mac system and application files, and certain temporary files.

How do I restore my files? Restoring files is easy with A1 Backup Service. You can restore right from your desktop using the A1 Backup Service software, or from any other computer using just a web browser. You can even back up from a PC and restore to a Mac, or Mac to PC. You can select from any of multiple versions of each of your files, or simply select the latest version of everything.

How secure is A1 Backup Service? Can you read my data? Before your files are sent over the Internet, they are encrypted with military grade 448-bit technology. If you use a private encryption phrase known only to you, nobody (not even A-1 Computer Sales & Service) can read your data. You can optionally select an automated encryption method that allows A1 Backup Service to help recover your data in the event you forget your private encryption phrase. Your files are then sent to the A1 Backup Service Data Center using an additional layer of encryption called Secure Socket Layer (SSL) with the highest level of encryption and validation technology available (Extended Validation 128-256 bits). Your files are stored on the A1 Backup Service Servers in their encrypted form.

Can A1 Backup Service be used to hack into my computer or access my files? No. The A1 Backup Service application running on your computer does not accept inbound connections. It always initiates all connections, and only connects to the A1 Backup Service Servers through a connection encrypted and protected through Extended Validation (EV) SSL. This is the most secure connection available. It guarantees that your connection to A1 Backup Service cannot be used or accessed by anyone else.

What about open and locked files? A1 Backup Service will back up open and locked files on Windows except for certain operating system files that never need to be restored. The A1 Backup Service Open Files Agent does not require Windows VSS, therefore it works with both Windows NTFS and FAT32.

How long will backups take? The first backup takes the most time - sometimes days or even weeks, depending on your file sizes and bandwidth. But after that, backups take an average of about 5 minutes for a personal computer used for "normal" purposes, and 20 minutes for an office computer. (from a study of 5,000 users conducted on September 15, 2008) Of course, if you add a lot of files, A1 Backup Service will have to back those up, too. Backup speed is governed by the size of your files, the upload speed of your Internet connection, and the amount of traffic sharing your branch of the Internet.

How long will A1 Backup Service keep my files? You are in complete control over how many versions of your files A1 Backup Service stores, and for how long. You can set A1 Backup Service to store an unlimited number of versions for periods of time ranging from seven days to ten years after they have been deleted from your computer.

Does A1 Backup Service keep multiple versions of my files? Yes. A1 Backup Service keeps any number of versions of your files, allowing you to restore from any of your previous versions by date and time. The default is 3 versions.

Will A1 Backup Service interfere with my other programs? No. A1 Backup Service is designed to play nicely with other programs. It automatically throttles its resouce usage (CPU, Bandwidth, etc.) when other applications need those resources, too.

What is the Remote Security Suite? The Remote Security Suite can protect your data even if your computer is lost or stolen. It can also help recover your computer, and help the police identify the thief. The Remote Security Suite is included in A1 Backup Service. Click here for more information.

Is the A1 Backup Service User's Guide online? Yes. The user's guide is at this link.

I'm a geek. May I have more technical info? So are we. ("Never be ashamed of who you are." - J.B.E. Zorg, The Fifth Element, 1997) Here ya go...