Product Overview

iDrive is a service of Pro Softnet Corporation, an ASP and Internet Solutions Provider based in Woodland Hills, CA. Since its inception in 1995, Pro Softnet Corp. has been harnessing the power of Information Technology by providing Internet-based solutions and customized Internet Software solutions for many Fortune 100 companies. There years of experience with the world's leading corporations has helped them understand how technology can help global businesses meet their needs.

Pro Softnet also own iBackup which is aimed squarely at the business market.

Feature Set

Security

The web portal is password protected and secured with 128bit SSL encryption during transfer to and from the servers. Once on the servers your data is protected with 256bit AES encryption and the option to set your own private key.

Physically, the iDrive application is hosted at data centers in the United States. The world-class facilities are custom designed with raised floors, HVAC temperature control systems with separate cooling zones and seismically braced racks. They offer the widest range of physical security features, including state-of-the-art smoke detection and fire suppression systems, motion sensors, 24x7 secured access, video camera surveillance and security breach alarms.

Backup Features

iDrive backs up your data using block level incrementation so only the parts of the files that are changed get uploaded. Continuous backup is also used to ensure your data is backed up as soon as it changes. Additionally, you can schedule backups for specific times if you prefer. Unusually for online backup solutions, both network drives and removable drives can be included in the backup set. However, open and locked files cannot be backed up on network and removable drives.
Files and folders can be added to the backup set using right-click on windows computers and there are status notifications and progress indicators to let you know which files are being backed up and which are still awaiting backup.

There is support for up to 30 versions of every file backed up which is great if you need to revert to an earlier version of a document.
If you have a lot of data to backup, iDrive offer a ‘Rapid Serve’ service for a one-off cost of $69.95 + Tax. If you sign up for this service, iDrive will send you an external USB hard drive to plug into your PC. You then copy all your essential data onto the hard drive and ship it back to them. They then upload it to your account, reducing the initial backup time from weeks to just a couple of days.

Restore Features

Files can be restored from the local client by right-clicking on the file or directory you wish to restore or from the web portal by navigating to the file you wish restored.

Control and Analysis

There is no processor throttling but there are bandwidth controls. Logging and reporting is available from both the web portal and the client software. Support for socks and https proxy servers is also provided.

Interface

There is a limited admin portal in the basic, pro and family editions and a far more expansive admin portal in the SME edition. Multi-account management is available in the Family and SME editions. All editions require the installation of client software.

Device Support

Windows and MAC client and server PCs are supported as well as any internet enabled devices via the web portal. There are specific apps for iPhone, Blackberry and Android. There is even a plugin for wordpress to allow you to back up your blog site!

Limitations

The Basic, Pro and Family editions cannot be used commercially.
The Basic and Pro editions allow backup of a single device; the family edition allows upto 5 devices per account and the SME edition allows upto 100 accounts.

File Sharing and Collaboration

iDrive is a backup tool, not a collaboration or file sharing service.

Synchronisation

Devices are synchronized with the web portal but not directly with each other. And synchronization of more than one device is only available in the Family and SME editions.

Web 2.0 Integration

None.

Pricing

offers 4 packages as shown below:

Plan	Basic	Pro	Family	SME
Initial setup	free	free	free	free
Cost – Monthly	free	$4.95 / mth	$14.95 / mth	$9.95 to $49.95/mth
Cost – Yearly	free	$49.50/yr	$149.50/yr	$99.50 to 499.50/yr
Initial allowed storage amount	2Gb	150Gb	500Gb	50Gb to 500Gb+
Cost of additional storage	n/a	n/a	n/a	$0.50 / Gb / Mth
Cost of additional devices / PCs / users	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Referral Program
E-billing facility	n/a

Ease Of Use

The client software takes minutes to download and setup. In less than 5 minutes you should be starting your first backup. Both the web and client interfaces are simple and with the windows explorer extension installed you can right-click on any file and either back it up immediately or add it to the scheduled backup. Restores are similarly easy, if there are multiple versions of a file, then you can select whichever version you want via date stamp. There is also a very useful search facility for all backed up files.

Screenshots

Customer Support

 Telephone support is available during business hours only. Live Chat and email support are provided. Self-help is available via user guides, white papers, data sheets, FAQs, testimonials, case studies and a demo. There is no forum but there is a blog.
There is no free trial but there is a free version which provides 2Gb of space.

Summary

If you are looking for a straightforward, no frills online backup solution then iDrive is a good choice. The pricing is good and the family and SME versions provide useful and appropriate additional features to allow the management of multiple accounts / devices. The interface is simple and uncluttered, the client software does not use many resources and the encryption on your data both in transit and when on their servers is as good as any bank.