Depositit FAQ
Depositit online backup – Frequently asked questions
Q1: Can I cancel my account?
Q2: Is Depositit easy to use?
Q3: How long will it take to back up my files?
Q4: I have several computers, do I need to set up a separate account for each one?
Q5: Can I use Depositit if I have a firewall?
Q6: How can I check the amount of data I need to back up?
Q7: Which package should I subscribe to?
Q8: What happens if I need to upgrade my account?
Q9: Why is Depositit better than using my CD, DVD or tape drive?
Q10: Can anyone else see or access my data?
Technical questions
Q1: Do I need to backup from a fixed IP address?
Q2: Can I back up Linux or MAC?
Q3: Can I back up Exchange files?
Q4: Can I back up SQL files?
Q5: Will Depositit backup open files?
Q6: Is Depositit compliant with the Data protection Act?
Q7: How secure is the Depositit service?
Q8: How is the data transferred over the Internet to the Depositit servers?
Q9: Can I use Depositit if I also have a firewall?
Q10: Can I use Depositit over a LAN?
Q11: Is it possible that a file that may contain a virus or trojan etc uploaded to the Depositit servers could infect my data on the same server?
Q12: If the correct version of the file already exists on the computer will it still be restored?
Q13: Is it possible to use Depositit to back up drives from colocated web servers hosted in a remote data centre?
Q14: Does Depositit run on Windows Server 2003? On servers, does it run as a system service?
Q1: Do I need an Internet connection to use Depositit?
Q2: Will Depositit work with any Internet connection?
Q3: What happens if my Internet connection is disconnected during a backup or restore?
Q4: What happens if I change my Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
Q5: What happens if I upgrade my Internet connection from a dial-up account to an always-on connection?
A:Depositit offer a no quibble 15-day money back guarantee. If you are not completely happy for any reason within this time, just let us know and we will cancel the account and refund your payment.
Installing the Depositit software is very simple and once you have registered and downloaded the software just follow the installation wizards, which will guide you quickly through the process.
Every customer also receives a free copy of our interactive training solution that provides clear information on how to use the software.
If you require technical support you may:
1. Take out a technical support contract at the time of subscription for just£12.50 + vat. Which offers unlimited phone calls or emails to our technical support department for the year.
The time taken to backup files is dependent on your Internet connection (i.e broadband will be quicker than 56k dial up) and the amount of data selected for backup.
The first time you backup your data will generally take considerably longer than subsequent backup times, as it is uploading all your selected information to our servers.
Once your files have been uploaded, the system knows only to transfer either new or changed files, reducing subsequent backups to just minutes in most cases.
Please bear in mind that you can pause backups at any time and also continue to work or use the Internet whilst backing up.
No, you pay for the Depositit service by how much data you store not per computer.
For example: if you have a PC and a laptop, once you have set up your account simply install the software onto the second machine, configure the account and you can back this up too. The same applies if you run a small office with 4 or 5 pc’s that are not networked, just install Depositit onto each computer, configure the software and they can all be backed up under the single account.
Yes, Depositit should work automatically through most firewalls. If port adjustments are required, it must allow outgoing TCP connections to ports in the range 44400-44408 and 44450.
In order to do check how much data you have to back up, you need to know where it is on your computer. Many people save their work to their My Documents folder.
In this example, you would:
1. Double click on the My Computer icon on your desktop
2. Double click the local disk (C Drive)
3. Select My Documents folder (this may be within the Documents & Settings folder) by moving the cursor over it
4. Right click on your mouse and go down to properties
5. Left click on properties to see how many megabytes of data are in the folder.
Notes:
a) All computers are set up differently, so you may need to search a little bit to find the folder/s you require.
b) Another tip is to open a document you have been working on, right click on File on the top left hand corner, scroll down to Properties and left click on this. In the general tab it will display the folder this document has been saved to: i.e – C:\MyDocuments\Work\Insurance Letter
This tells you the document called Insurance Letter is in a folder called Work which is contained in the My Documents directory on your C drive.
Important: Depositit compresses your files to make them smaller, so if you have 800mb of word documents and spreadsheets in your My Documents folder, this may reduce to less than half this amount. Digital images do not compress very well, so if you have 200mb of photographs, it will not reduce to much less than this.
If you are in any doubt about how much data you will be backing up, we suggest you subscribe to the Light User 500mb package. If you require additional storage your account will automatically be upgraded to accommodate this.
When your storage package reaches 80%, 90% and 95% of it’s limit, you will be sent an email advice notice notifying you of this. You can then decide if you wish to delete files from your backups (to keep within your storage band), or allow the software to automatically upgrade your account to accommodate your new storage requirements.
Please note that all upgrade charges are pro rata, hence if you upgrade halfway through your annual contract at month 6, you will pay just 50% of the upgrade fee (the cost is worked out in relation to whichever point you are within your contract).
You will also be kept up to date of your storage balance via the confirmation emails you receive after every backup, so you will always know how much storage you are using of your selected package
Many computers come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, which can be used to make backup copies of your data. These are manual processes and as such involve time and effort; and as a consequence it may often be neglected!
a) Someone has to remember to carry out the backup, check that it did so successfully and then store the media safely off-site.
How often do you do this?
b) Most store around 650 mb of data, so if you have 4000mb to save, you will require over 6mb every time – imagine how long this might take?
c) Tape and disk drives can give a false sense of security, as the media they use are prone to wear and tear (tapes warp, cd’s get scratched), so even following the necessary procedures does not guarantee that your files will be retrievable when the critical time comes to restore them.
d) If the hardware device you use becomes faulty, you will incur either repair costs or need to purchase a new device.
Online data backup solutions will save you time, effort and money. Depositit provides the easiest, fastest and most secure method for you to safeguard your critical information on a daily basis. Just set it and forget it – we do the rest
No. Your data can not be seen or accessed by anyone else. The highest security is used, which ensures that prior to upload all your files are encrypted for secure transit, and once they arrive on our servers they are further encrypted using 448-bit Blowfish technology. This is one of the most sophisticated algorithms available and endorsed by the military.
A: There is no requirement for backing up from a fixed IP address.
A: Yes, Depositit will work with Microsoft, Mac (OSX upwards) and Linux. Please ensure you download the correct software for the relevant platform
A: This option is not available at the moment but is currently in development and will be coming soon so please revisit the website for updates. If this facility is important to you please register your interest at enquiries@Depositit.com and you will be notified when it is available.
A: Yes, please click here to download the SQL Backup Wizard. By following the instructions in this document you will be able to backup your SQL files using Depositit.
A: Yes, please login here to your account to download the SQL Backup Wizard. By following the instructions in this document you will be able to backup your SQL files using Depositit.
A: The Depositit application cannot backup locked open files such as Exchange Servers or SQL/Oracle databases etc. Open files within programs such as Word, Excel etc. can be backed up, however the latest version may not be backed up if it has not been saved to the file.
A: Depositit is registered with the Data Protection Registrar No. Z5282039.
A: Depositit is designed to be compliant with ISO17799.
A: Data is encrypted and compressed at the client side prior to being uploaded to the secure Depositit servers. When the data is safely stored on the Depositit servers it is further encrypted to 448 bit level.
A: If a firewall is present it must allow outgoing TCP connections to ports in the range 44400-44408 and 44450 plus HTTPS access for registration with WorldPay (this is port 443, but might go through a proxy, depending on local configuration).
A: Yes. You may need to reset certain permission or access rights, depending on how the network is configured.
A: The client application reads all the files, which are to be backed up, and calculates a hash for each. If the hash does not match the hash of the same file from the previous backup, the file is uploaded. The client application only reads the data to calculate the hash and upload the file. It never executes the file or any macros contained within and stores it encrypted. The server also does not execute any of the backed up files or macros. If a file to be backed up contains a virus or trojan, the backup on the server will still contain the virus or trojan, and the restored file will also still contain the virus or trojan.
A: No, Depositit will recognise that the file is the same so there will be no need to restore it. An email will be sent to you confirming this unless you have deactivated this facility.
A: The client application (software) is developed for Windows platforms, if you install Depositit on a computer running Windows that has network access to colocated space then you will be able to back up those files.
A: Depositit hasn’t yet been tested on Windows Server 2003. The client application (software) runs as a service on Windows NT based systems (NT 4.0, 2000 and XP). If Depositit works on 2003, it will run as a service there.
A: Yes, Depositit uses your Internet connection to securely transfer files to and from our remote server locations.
A: Yes, you can use any Internet connection with Depositit. This can be a standard dial up account via a modem, ISDN, cable, DSL, ADSL, LAN or T1 connection, using TCP/IP.
A: The Depositit application will remember exactly where in the transfer process it was prior to the disconnection and will automatically attempt to redial and resume the transfer.
A: To do this you will need to select Programs > Depositit > Change My Account Details and select the new ISP from the Select Dialup Account pick list.
Note: You must ensure that you have created an account for your new ISP before attempting to do the above.
A: To do this you will need to select Programs > Depositit > Change My Account Details and untick the Use Existing Dialup Account box.
I’ll reserve my judgement on this matter.