Online Data Backup FAQ

Q: What if we already have a data backup system?

We recommend using our services in addition to any local backup mechanisms you already have in place.
If you are currently using tape, zip disk, CD-RW or another form of data backup media, it's more than likely the process is not automated: an employee has to change out the media periodically and manually verify that completed backups have been successful.
On-site backup systems do not provide protection against theft, fire and other forms of local system failure.
Our online data backup system bypasses the tedious and error prone process of manual backup: it's 100% automated and reports are sent by email daily. The data is stored securely offsite and you can retrieve or verify files on our server from virtually any location in the world, giving you greater freedom and flexibility.

Nothing but an Internet connection. This eliminates the need to purchase any expensive backup hardware and/or media.

The initial backup always takes the longest, varying from minutes to hours or days depending on the volume of data being backed up. However, after the first full backup our server compares its file store with the files on your computer, backing up only those files that have been modified since the last backup. This minimizes bandwidth overhead and can take as little as 2 minutes.
Transfer speeds depend on the speed of your internet connection but we can accommodate speeds ranging from old fashioned dialup to corporate LAN connections.
You don't have to spend valuable time swapping disks or tape backups either because the process is completely automated.

Very secure. We use industry-standard military grade security that has never been compromised.

We take your data's security very seriously. Read below for a brief explaination of how we ensure no-one can access you data (also, why not take a look at our offsite backup centre for more information?)

All communications between the DNX Backup server and your computer are transported in a 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) channel. Although your backup files travel through a public network (Internet), eavesdroppers have no knowledge of what has been exchanged.

All of your files are first zipped and encrypted using your defined encrypting key before they're sent to the DNX Backup server. To all people but you, your files stored on the DNX Backup server are no more than some worthless files filled with random content.

The encryption key used to encrypt your online data backup resides only on your computer and is known only to you. It is never transmitted anywhere across the network. If this key is lost, backup files can never be recovered - therefore, although we have access to all the files stored on our backup server, we have no knowledge of the content.
Reminder: Please make sure you keep a note of your encryption key in a safe place where it will never be forgotten. Otherwise, you will not be able to recover your online data backup files.

Currently, the algorithm that we are using to encrypt your files is 128-bit Twofish. It is a block cipher designed by Counterpane Labs, one of the five Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) finalists chosen by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST). It is subject to frequent public reviews but no known attack against this algorithm has ever been reported.

A 128-bit key size has 2128 or around 3.4 x 1038 possible combinations. Even if you have the world's best super computer, ASCI White, SP Power3 375 MHz, manufactured by IBM as of November 2000, it would take 8.77 x 1017 years to test all combinations. Assuming your have the super computer, ASCI White, SP Power3 375 MHz has 8192 processors which totals a capability of 12.3 teraflops (trillions of operations/second) available to you. Also, it takes just one computer operation to test all possible combination (which is already faster than what it can do) but to use a brute force attack (checking all combinations) on this encryption algorithm, it would take:

(3.4 x 1038) / (12.3 x 1012seconds) ~ 2.76 x 1025sec

i.e. 876530835323573935 years or 8.77 x 1017 years to successfully try all combinations.

Let's not forget that ASCI White can't process as fast as the rate described here. You can be sure that your online data backup is 100% secure.

You can also restrict access to your online data backup files to a set of IP addresses defined by you. If someone tries to access your data from an IP address not on your defined list, access will automatically be denied. This additional security ensures backup files are not open to all locations, even if the username and password are known.

Encryption is a mathematical formula that scrambles a data file. The only way to decode it is using the encryption code.

The window you are trying to bring up to perform a restore function uses JavaScript and is often mistaken for an unwanted popup by most anti-popup programs. Please temporarily disable this program, or try holding 'Ctrl' while you click on the link.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 April 2009 )