Leo Backup for Windows

User Reviews

• Fantastically Simple and Efficient

  EvanThomasDENSeptember 23, 2013

  Pros

  Incremental Backup Backup can be compressed and/or encrypted Network backup Intuitive, easy-to-read log Cloud backup (Pro) Service Mode (Pro) Can be set up to e-mail an administrator to indicate that backup has completed, or that errors have occurred.

  Cons

  User Interface crashes to desktop occasionally in Windows 8 (backup continues to run without issue). Have not had this issue with Windows 7. The log will almost inevitably show a few errors due to open files. Fairly trivial, though it may trigger a few more 'Backup completed with errors' e-mails than you would like, if you've enabled that option.

  Summary

  This program does a great job of taking away the pain-points of a good backup: 1. The user has to remember to backup 2. The backup takes a very long time 3. Restoring individual files is a pain with some backup software (such as the built-in Windows backup) Initial configuration of the LEO Backup software is very easy, with an intuitive wizard that asks you 'What to Backup', 'Where to Backup', 'How to Backup'. Once you've configured what to backup and where, LEO Backup has a scheduler that can be set to backup daily, weekly, monthly. You can also backup manually by simply clicking the 'Backup' button. The Pro version adds a number of advanced features, but the free version is still one of the best backup programs I've seen. After installation, you do get 30 days of the Pro version free, after which the program reverts to the Free mode or you can purchase a license. The "What to Backup' screen is intuitive and allows you to easily select entire folders, or dive down to individual files and include or exclude the files with a simple checkbox system. There is also a filter option that can be used to include or exclude all files of a certain type or with certain aspects in the file name. The 'Where to Backup' screen allows you to choose a local or network drive, an FTP or Secure FTP location, or Amazon S3 Cloud Storage. The last two options are only available in the Pro (paid) version. If you're backing up to a network drive, you can choose to connect to that drive using different credentials (this is called Active Directory impersonation and is only available in the Pro version). The 'How to Backup'screen gives you the option to perform an Incremental Backup, which vastly reduces backup time by only copying files that have changed since the last backup. Since IT principles recommend an occasional full backup and regular incremental backups, you can create one backup set that is weekly or monthly for a full backup and weekly or daily incremental backups. Note: the full version is needed to create multiple backup sets. You can also compress the backup as one file, or compress individual folders to save space, bandwidth, and time. Encryption is available via the AES-256 standard, allowing for very secure data storage. The 'Scheduler' screen (they should have named it 'When to Backup') allows you to set one-time, daily, weekly, or with a customizable timetable. The 'Actions' screen is great for IT professionals who want to run custom scripts or receive e-mail notifications regarding the success or failure of a backup set.

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