Product Overview

The initial software for Data Deposit Box was created by Tim Jewell and Rob Schenkel. In 2002, Tim and Rob joined with Jamie Brenzel to form Acpana Business Systems Inc. In 2003, they launched Data Deposit Box to the public. They are headquartered in Toronto, Canada and have a US office in New York.

They offer a single plan which gives simple, low pricing and makes them very attractive to both individuals and companies in search of a simple, smart backup solution. Currently they are in the process of changing there name to KineticD.

Feature Set

Security

Data Deposit Box have the best security we have seen. Your data is encrypted with Blowfish 448bit encryption both during transport and while held on their servers - That is bank and military grade protection! On top of that, your files are transferred using a special protocol designed specifically for internet backup.

On top of that you have your own username and password which form a unique encryption key and ensure that no one - not even the administrators at Data Deposit Box - can access your data.

Physically, your data is stored in a carrier grade (that's the highest grade) data center with redundant hardware at every level, fire suppression systems and 24x7 human guards.

Backup Features

Data Deposit Box hold a patent on their Continuous Backup System which waits for files to be changed, extracts the changes, compresses them , encrypts them and securely transfers the to their data centers. This ensures faster backups and allows open files such as Outlook to be backed up without having to be closed.

File versioning is available. By default 3 copies of all files will be kept, but this can be upped to a maximum of 28 if so desired. However, each version - which only contains the differences from the previous version - does count towards your storage allowance.

When first installed, Data Deposit Box automatically selects several folders in your local profile: My Documents, Desktop, Favorites, and whichever email program you are using. You can easily amend, add or delete folders from the backup list by using the client software.

Restore Features

Restores are a snap, simply right-click the Data Deposit Box icon in the system tray and select Restore. Then navigate to the file you want to retrieve, right-click and select restore.

Previous versions of files can be retrieved via the web portal.

Control and Analysis

There is a great feature called: 'Backup and Resume': Backups automically suspend when the keyboard or mouse is used to allow you more processor speed and internet bandwidth. When the keyboard and mouse have been idle for a while, the backup will continue from where it left off.

Interface

The client software interface is a bit dated - almost to the point of retro - and looks very corporate. However, it works well, is low on resource usage and gives you all the information you need.

The web portal is a bit prettier but still looks very corporate. That said, it does provide you with a wealth of information and configuration options. There is even a Corporate Administration section where you can setup all the people you wish to use the service.

The reporting section shows exactly what has been backed up and when. And the My Data area provides a simple tree navigation system to find any of your backed up data along with a search function in case you can't remember where a particular file is hiding.

Device Support

MAC and PC via client software. Any internet enabled device can access the backed up files but such devices are not able to be backed up themselves.

Limitations

The more you backup, the more it costs you.

File Sharing and Collaboration

Private file sharing is available from the web portal and can be set on individual files or entire folders. Each share can be assigned a unique password and this can be emailed out along with a unique web address to allow access to the specific files and folders you wish shared. There is also an online photo album feature that can be shared in the same way. In both cases, files can be viewed and downloaded but not amended.

Public file sharing and file collaboration is not available.

Synchronisation

Only to web portal. Not between devices.

Web 2.0 Integration

None.

Pricing

Data Deposit Box - or KineticD as they are now known, offer a single package as shown below:

Plan	The Plan
Initial setup	free
Cost – Monthly	$2 / Gb / mth
Cost – Yearly	n/a
Initial allowed storage amount	unlimited
Cost of additional storage	$2 / Gb / Mth
Cost of additional devices / PCs / users	unlimited
Referral Program
E-billing facility

hidden cost: File versions add towards your storage usage, so only set versioning to the amount you actually need.

Ease Of Use

Both the web and client interfaces are easy to navigate around and use. Once setup, you really don't notice the program working apart from the icon in the system tray gently blinking to let you know a backup is in progress. There are a lot of options available, however, everything is well laid out and looks good - if a bit retro.

Screenshots

Customer Support

Telehone support is available during business hours. There is no live chat or forum or blog, however, you can contact support via email or by filling in the online form.

They seem very keen on self-help and provide a detailed knowledgebase / FAQs section. There are also testimonials, tutorials, a demo and webinars available.

There is no free version, however, there is a 15 day trial on all editions.

Summary

Overall Data Deposit Box is a solid, very secure online backup service. The client's look and feel is a bit dated but it has that 'built to last' quality which gives the impression that this product will never let you down and will last forever. The backup features are excellent, although the lack of an ability to schedule backups is a bit strange. In our tests, the backup took a long time: Over 4 hours but this has to be weighed against the fact that there was almost zero processor or bandwidth overhead since the client stops whenever we used the PC.

The pricing is good if you have a small amount of data that needs protecting on several PCs. If you have a lot of data then this solution could get quite expensive. Also you will need to keep an eye on data expansion if you want to control costs.

The private sharing and photo album features are nice touches but it would be good to see this expanded by links with online document services like Google Docs and Zoho as well as photo editing services.

As a final summary I would say that Data Deposit Box is a great solution if you have a limited amount of data spread across lots of computers. If you have a lot of data then there are cheaper solutions available.