Backup, Sync, Storage: Cloud Solutions Meet Customer Needs

By Carbonite Guest Blog

Cloud solutions can be a confusing maze of technical solutions and jargon for many consumers and small businesses alike. Despite market confusion, the solutions that exist can provide incredible value to you and your customers.

To determine what solution makes the most sense, it is critical to truly understand the needs of your customers. Online backup, file synchronization and storage are three cloud solutions most often confused by the public. So, what are the differences?

Syncing vs. Backup vs. Storage Solutions

Syncing solutions require customers to manually copy specific files or folders to the cloud from one device and/or person to others (i.e., from a work computer to a home computer). Typically, syncing solutions provide very limited storage amounts and have higher storage fees.

Online backup solutions keep your files protected, by automatically and continually creating copies of your files.   Online backup provides your customers with a carbon copy of all files that are on their desktop and servers for disaster recovery purposes, while providing access to all of the data files through Smartphone apps and computers that have internet access. Typically, online backup solutions allow more storage amounts and have lower storage fees.

Storage solutions give space in the cloud for users to manually select files to save in the cloud, essentially extending your computer storage vs. a second copy. Generally, storage solutions provide limited amounts of storage and charge higher storage fees.

Rising demand for cloud solutions will continue to create more opportunities for channel partners. And with so many cloud solutions in the market, it is important to make sure that the cloud solution fits to the customer's needs. Cloud solutions allow you to easily manage your customers’ accounts and gives you greater freedom to build your book of business.

At Carbonite, we offer online backup and recently announced a syncing and sharing solution. If you’re interested in learning more about Carbonite’s Reseller Program, please email or call us at (877) 391-4759.

David Hauser is Channel Director at Carbonite, a leading cloud backup service provider. Monthly guest blogs such as this one are part of The VAR Guy’s annual platinum sponsorship program. Read all of Carbonite's guest blogs here.