Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Protect your business data and give employees greater access with an online hard drive

Businesses use virtual disk drives for safe and secure backup of their data. Also use online hard drives so you and your employees can use work documents from home or on the road.

I recommend: Share your files, collaborate, access and edit your files from a remote computer or your mobile device with a business account at Box.net. Back up your whole hard drive or even your network server at Mozy, Inc. Automatically and easily keep your documents backed up in an unlimited, secure online file storage area at Carbonite, Inc. Prevent loss of your computer data by signing up for an online backup plan at Hostway Corporation.

Sync your data across all of your devices with web file storage

These websites provide services that are much more efficient than emailing files to your home computer or copying a file to a USB thumb drive. Edit a file on your smart phone while you are out of the office, and the copy you print later at the office will automatically contain those changes.

I recommend: Access your files from any computer or mobile device with SugarSync by Sharpcast, Inc., which provides a tutorial video and offers several price options. Share and sync your data and keep informed about updates made by colleagues with Live Mesh by Microsoft. Access your files from anywhere, back up your files to online storage or support remote computers or mobile devices over the web with LogMeIn, Inc.

Send large files to customers or colleagues using electronic document storage

Some email companies restrict the file size. If you put the large files on your company website, an unauthorized person could download them. Electronic document storage websites solve both problems and give you a secure online space for sending files.

I recommend: Email large files easily, even to multiple recipients, with Docstoc, where you can watch an online tutorial video. Share large files online with Driveway from Pro Softnet Corporation., which offers a plug-in and a web widget to help you.

Use free Internet file storage to save money

Many Internet file storage companies provide a low-storage level for free. You can upgrade your account to a higher-storage option for a fee, if you outgrow the free option.

I recommend: Share or link to your stored files at MyOtherDrive.com by ByteRocket.com, Inc., where they have a free level and several pro levels for low monthly fees. Store your files for free at Xdrive LLC., where they also have a desktop application you can download so you can easily drag and drop you files to your Xdrive storage area.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't use web file storage as your only backup. Back up a network server at least a couple of times a week, if not daily. Make a backup of your hard drive often to ensure your important data stays safe.