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Protecting the data on your PC demands a two-pronged backup strategy: regular local backups plus off-site storage of a second backup copy. Affordable external hard drives have made local backups a breeze; off-site backups, though, can still be tricky and expensive. Acpana Business Systems' new Data Deposit Box service offers an easy, Web-based solution with a simple interface and pricing plan.

The problem with most Web-based backup service plans is that they typically lack flexibility, offering you large chunks of storage space and charging the full rate whether you use all of the space or not. Acpana takes a different approach, charging you a penny per megabyte each month for the storage you use.

For example, backing up 900MB of data will cost approximately $9 a month. That same data, stored using one of two major competitors--Connected Data Protector and NovaStor Online Backup Services--would cost around $15 per month (for up to 2GB) and $38 per month (for up to 1GB), respectively.

Obviously, Acpana's prorated plan doesn't always work out to be the best deal (if you have close to 2GB to back up, Connected's price is better than Data Deposit Box's). But for people who have smaller amounts of critical data--500MB or less--the Data Deposit Box model is the most affordable choice.

I found the Data Deposit Box interface easy to use, and restoring backed-up data was simple. Plus, it provides easy access to your files from any browser, and offers password-protected access you can share with family or coworkers.