Keepit Review
Hearing about the importance of creating regular backups can be repetitive and even annoying, but it only takes one major loss of data to teach individuals and companies a very tough lesson. Losing data to any number of unforeseen catastrophes can potentially result in significant losses of time, money, and future efficiency; simply put, backing up is worth it.
But what is “it,” exactly? There are many ways to back up data, each of which comes with is pros and cons –and in some cases, those cons can make backup feel like a serious chore. An interesting backup option currently gaining popularity is that of backup in the cloud, a type of service that eliminates the need for external drives, copious disks, and other physical devices. Though some computer users may be hesitant to keep their precious backups in a remote location accessed over the internet, it’s possible to find services with sophisticated security –and Keepit claims to be just such a service.
A fair solution for some types of users, Keepit isn’t for everyone. A smooth and simple setup process paired with practically hands-free operation gets the service a few points, as does the hard focus on security. Dubious pricing plans and limited flexibility, however, stand in the way of a blue ribbon.
Back-Up Priceless Files with KeepIt.com
Keeping it Simple
From the sparse technical data on the provider’s website to the plain and easy setup process of the program itself, Keepit is obvious in its simple approach to SaaS storage. Users that aren’t familiar with the concepts of storage and data retrieval online may appreciate Keepit’s fast lane to performance, but anyone with more experience may find the service somewhat “dumbed down.” Nevertheless, Keepit manages to offer an attractive and easy-to-use interface that doesn’t introduce extraneous features or visual elements, something that sets it apart from others in the field. To get started with Keepit, users need only install the client and follow an handful of steps to create an account (including a secure key) and set default folders. “We’ll take care of the rest,” proclaims Keepit, and the promise is, well, kept.
Once local folders are defined, users can count on their data being uploaded on a daily basis, with version histories for up to thirty days stored on Keepit’s servers. While the service claims that it will offer longer version history windows in the future, both the “unlimited” and “pro” membership levels are currently cut off at thirty days’ worth of versions. Helping to offset this limitation to a degree, the ease of retrieving stored files is sure to be a pleasure for anyone using the service, and Keepit’s dual physical addresses, which the company lists as being close to internet infrastructure, allow for relatively quick downloading speeds. Truly created for the type of user that wants to make a few clicks and forget about storage or backup duties, Keepit has a handle on simplicity –though such a handle isn’t without its disadvantages.
A Stiff Service
As an increasing amount of users are geared towards services and applications that allow for a high degree of customization, Keepit’s tendency towards standardization may feel out of place to most. There’s not much room to integrate the service with other SaaS offerings, and plug-in lovers will surely be left disappointed with the lack of a connectivity goodie-bag.
Perhaps most inconvenient among Keepit’s laundry list of standardizations, however, is the inability to schedule uploads. Users are limited to basic options such as specifying which folders should be backed up –but they’re not given a choice as to how often that should occur, nor when. As Keepit runs in the background, a scenario in which the program begins backing up as part of its default schedule in the middle of a processor-critical operation is easy to envision. What’s more, Keepit detects loss of power to users’ computers, and will automatically start and restore data once a machine has been turned back on after an interval of a day or more. This attribute goes a long way towards winning the service a sense of simplicity that’s gone too far –after all, if users can’t control what’s going on with their data, it’s somewhat difficult to argue that they’re benefiting from a data management service in the first place.
Saved by Security
While lacking in neat features and decidedly far from being scalable and customizable, Keepit doesn’t drop the ball on security. Industry-standard encryption is used for Keepit’s operations, and users can rely on 256-bit encryption for files along with a 128-bit encrypted transfer. A personalized key is created along with each new account; while this provides an extra layer of security, it also requires users to be responsible with the data. A loss of the key will result in a delay of ten working days, including various offline security checks, before a user can regain access to their files. Keepit’s stance on security should be more than enough to put typical users’ minds at ease, and many companies may also be drawn to the looks of Keepit’s virtual vault.
A Call on Keepit
Keepit offers only two types of membership, both of which share many of the same options. The more expensive “pro” version is aimed at companies and individuals with high data volumes. As many features and options for the “pro” membership level are either in development or unspecified, potential users with serious storage and backup needs may be better off waiting for future releases or searching for more established services. For smaller amounts of data, such as picture collections or old files, however, some users will likely enjoy Keepit for its quick and easy appeal that’s backed by tight security. Providing a level of convenience that’s just right for some and terribly inflexible for others, Keepit is a service that does get the job done –but whether the job’s the right one is a matter that’s up for debate.
Back-Up Priceless Files with KeepIt.com
Category: Initial Reviews, Online Storage & backup
