One of the hottest topics in computing these days is the "cloud". The cloud refers to off-site applications and data that may be accessed from anywhere you get an internet connection. Today, I'm going to show you how to move all of your basic personal data onto the cloud for worry free, stress free backup and recovery.
Step 1: Get your data to a computer
This is very easy if you are using a smartphone such as an iPhone, Windows Phone, Android Phone, Blackberry, Nokia, Palm OS phone, or WebOS phone. The software and cables needed to move your data into a program like Microsoft Outlook usually comes with your phone. However, if you are not using a smartphone, you may need to pick up an additional cable and some software. Most manufacturer's will offer the cable on their website and some even offer some proprietary software. PC Studio seems to be the most popular but you're going to have to do some research. Once all of your data is pulled into a program like Outlook, Windows Mail, Address Book, or some other equivalent we can work on moving it to the cloud.
Step 2: Pick A Cloud Service
There are a host of different online backup options. I'll discuss a few of the most popular do give you a better idea of which solutions meets your needs. The first option is for users of Windows Mobile. Microsoft will be launching its MyPhone service around the same time as the release of WIndows Phone 6.5. This service backs up everything, from pictures to text messages to phone numbers. The downside is that this information is only available either on your Windows Mobile device, or through a special web portal. This service is accessed through the web browser on your Windows Mobile device.
The second popular service is going to be Blackberry Enterprise Server. This is a service that only works with Blackberries and comes with a few downsides. The biggest downside is that all of this information will only be available through your Blackberry device or through your company's computers. Some companies won't allow you to move any of this data over to a new server or take it with you when you end employment with them. BES may be powered by either Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes. In most cases, your comapny's IT department will help you set this up.
The third popular option is Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft Exchange is an all encompassing service that pushes email, contact information, calendar events, and tasks across any device you have connected to it within seconds of changes being made. Most companies will offer Exchange services however it may also be provided by some schools. You may also purchase your own private exchange server for around $7 a month. The benefit of this is that there is no desktop syncing required. Most smartphones offer support for Exchange with a few simple set up options. If you don't have a smartphone, but you've moved all of your data to Outlook or Entourage, you can set up exchange with the desktop clients. Emails are automatically pushed to your phone within seconds of the email being sent. Other members on the same exchange server may push calendar event invitations to you to accept or deny. Once accepted, the event is automatically pushed to your calendar across all devices and computers. This is my favorite option, and I depend on Exchange on a daily basis.
Since most of the options I've discusssed are business or corporate based, I want to talk about one really great option for everyone else called Google Sync. Google Sync is a free service provided by Google that is based on Microsoft Exchange. Best of all, it's free to all GMail users. Now, you don't get some of the benefits of a full blown Exchange server. Google Sync only syncs your Calendar and Contacts, but at least it's free. Set up is very easy. For smartphones, just set up Google sync as you would an Exchange account. If you need help, Google offers some step by step guides on the Sync website. For non-smartphones, sync all of your data to a program like Outlook or Entourage and then follow Google's instructions for setting up the Google exchange server using your desktop client. Once changes are made, either through the phone, desktop client, or Google's web portal, all three points of entry are updated instantly.
Step 3: Sync, and Sync Often
Obviously cloud backups are only really useful if they are current. So remember to follow all the steps and sync at least once a week or more. In the case of Exchange and Google Sync, the backup is done literally the second data changes which is why they are the optimum solution.
I've been a little vague in this how-to but only because there are so many different options. Try and do a little research on your particular situation. I highly recommend either Exchange or Google Sync as these are the easiest for those of us not in the corporate world. Do some searching and see what other users of your device are doing for backup. There are some third party applications that will save all PIM data to a file and you can upload that file onto and off-site backup service. This isn't true cloud backup, but it's better than losing 200 contacts over Memorial Day weekend when you drop your phone in the lake.
Step 1: Get your data to a computer
This is very easy if you are using a smartphone such as an iPhone, Windows Phone, Android Phone, Blackberry, Nokia, Palm OS phone, or WebOS phone. The software and cables needed to move your data into a program like Microsoft Outlook usually comes with your phone. However, if you are not using a smartphone, you may need to pick up an additional cable and some software. Most manufacturer's will offer the cable on their website and some even offer some proprietary software. PC Studio seems to be the most popular but you're going to have to do some research. Once all of your data is pulled into a program like Outlook, Windows Mail, Address Book, or some other equivalent we can work on moving it to the cloud.
Step 2: Pick A Cloud Service
There are a host of different online backup options. I'll discuss a few of the most popular do give you a better idea of which solutions meets your needs. The first option is for users of Windows Mobile. Microsoft will be launching its MyPhone service around the same time as the release of WIndows Phone 6.5. This service backs up everything, from pictures to text messages to phone numbers. The downside is that this information is only available either on your Windows Mobile device, or through a special web portal. This service is accessed through the web browser on your Windows Mobile device.The second popular service is going to be Blackberry Enterprise Server. This is a service that only works with Blackberries and comes with a few downsides. The biggest downside is that all of this information will only be available through your Blackberry device or through your company's computers. Some companies won't allow you to move any of this data over to a new server or take it with you when you end employment with them. BES may be powered by either Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes. In most cases, your comapny's IT department will help you set this up.
The third popular option is Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft Exchange is an all encompassing service that pushes email, contact information, calendar events, and tasks across any device you have connected to it within seconds of changes being made. Most companies will offer Exchange services however it may also be provided by some schools. You may also purchase your own private exchange server for around $7 a month. The benefit of this is that there is no desktop syncing required. Most smartphones offer support for Exchange with a few simple set up options. If you don't have a smartphone, but you've moved all of your data to Outlook or Entourage, you can set up exchange with the desktop clients. Emails are automatically pushed to your phone within seconds of the email being sent. Other members on the same exchange server may push calendar event invitations to you to accept or deny. Once accepted, the event is automatically pushed to your calendar across all devices and computers. This is my favorite option, and I depend on Exchange on a daily basis.
Since most of the options I've discusssed are business or corporate based, I want to talk about one really great option for everyone else called Google Sync. Google Sync is a free service provided by Google that is based on Microsoft Exchange. Best of all, it's free to all GMail users. Now, you don't get some of the benefits of a full blown Exchange server. Google Sync only syncs your Calendar and Contacts, but at least it's free. Set up is very easy. For smartphones, just set up Google sync as you would an Exchange account. If you need help, Google offers some step by step guides on the Sync website. For non-smartphones, sync all of your data to a program like Outlook or Entourage and then follow Google's instructions for setting up the Google exchange server using your desktop client. Once changes are made, either through the phone, desktop client, or Google's web portal, all three points of entry are updated instantly.Step 3: Sync, and Sync Often
Obviously cloud backups are only really useful if they are current. So remember to follow all the steps and sync at least once a week or more. In the case of Exchange and Google Sync, the backup is done literally the second data changes which is why they are the optimum solution.
I've been a little vague in this how-to but only because there are so many different options. Try and do a little research on your particular situation. I highly recommend either Exchange or Google Sync as these are the easiest for those of us not in the corporate world. Do some searching and see what other users of your device are doing for backup. There are some third party applications that will save all PIM data to a file and you can upload that file onto and off-site backup service. This isn't true cloud backup, but it's better than losing 200 contacts over Memorial Day weekend when you drop your phone in the lake.
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