Downloads

Note: This review addresses v3.2 of the software.

KeepVault from Proxure is a largely easy-to-install and easy-to--configure service that backs up your data both online and to a local destination. You may have noticed that I said "data" and not "PC." That's because, unlike services such as Mozy and Fabrik, KeepVault allows you to back up data from multiple PCs. As long as you don't exceed the limit of your account, you're good to go. Another key feature of the service is that you may opt to use Continual Data Protection, in which mode the program backs up your data in near real time as it changes, in lieu of scheduled backups.

By and large, installing KeepVault went smoothly. The only glitch was an option missing in the setup wizard, Back up all files in the selected folder, the importance of which will soon be evident. (The option is available from the settings page, but it did confuse the issue initially.) The four options offered in the initial wizard are Photo, Music, Home Movies and Video, and Documents. Unless you choose specific folders to protect, the basic categories of files you select are protected systemwide. If you do choose a specific folder, only those file types you chose are protected unless you subsequently choose the, you guessed it, Back up all files in the selected folder. My only other complaint is that the drop-down menu that allows you to select the drive desired for local backups didn't provide any information about the amount of space available or the space required.

Version 3.16 of the KeepVault client worked quite well. As a matter of fact, the program backed up the 200MB of data so quickly online that I turned away for a minute or two and missed it. Until I checked the status, I thought the backup had failed--my bad. That said, the program sometimes seemed to bog down my system for few seconds after I had tweaked a setting. I won't say the same for the CDP, which performed without any sign of slowing down my PC.

KeepVault's rates for backup plans hover around the $1 per gigabyte per year mark, starting with 40GB for $48 and topping out with 5TB for $4460. Since few people will need more than 40GB, that makes the service a bit cheaper than Mozy, Fabrik, and others (excepting those services' free 2GB plans), for the average user.

The CDP alone is a reason to consider using KeepVault, but I'm also betting you'll like the features and speed. And, if your backup needs exceed 2GB, you'll like the price.

Note: This service is offered in different plans. The $46 price quoted here is for one year of the 40GB plan. This link takes you to the vendor's site, where you must register to download the software.

--Jon L. Jacobi