Back it up.

Q I'm looking for a back-up and storage solution for my small business and I'm thinking about doing it all online. Do you think this is a good idea?

--R. Scott

Washington, DC

A The short answer is not Although online storage and backup companies such as Xdrive(www.xdrive.com) and tBacrkup (www.ibackup.com), have offered storage services and solutions for a few years, I would not recommend this as your sole method of backing up important business documents. That being said, an online storage solution does have its place in a small business.

For example, if you need access to documents while on the road. online backup and storage makes perfect sense, as some services let you access your information via the Web or FTP. Additionally, companies such as IBackup. for example, offer reasonable solutions for consumers as well as businesses; plans range from as little as $3 per month for just storage to up to $12.000 a year for a workgroup subscription. And Xdrive and IBackup offer 15-day and 30-day free trials, respectively, so you can give their products a try before you decide.

I would, however, recommend having a traditional backup solution, such as CD- or DVD-ROM--and make sure your files are backed up regularly.

--Sonya A. Donaldson

Mail your technology questions to Cyberwise. BLACK ENTERPRISE 130 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011 or send an e-mail to [e-mail].