When it comes to safeguarding your digital life in the UK, Backblaze stands out as a highly effective and remarkably straightforward cloud backup solution. Think of it as your digital safety net, continuously and automatically copying your computer’s data to secure remote servers, ensuring that your precious files—be they family photos, crucial work documents, or creative projects—are safe from accidental deletion, hardware failure, ransomware attacks, or even theft. For anyone in the UK seeking a reliable, set-it-and-forget-it backup service, Backblaze offers peace of mind, allowing you to recover your entire system or individual files with minimal fuss, regardless of where you are. You can dive deeper into its offerings and specifics at Backblaze uk.

Table of Contents

Understanding Cloud Backup and Its Importance for UK Users

Cloud backup isn’t just a fancy tech term.

It’s a fundamental pillar of digital security in our interconnected world.

For individuals and small businesses across the UK, relying solely on local backups is akin to putting all your eggs in one basket – a risky proposition.

What is Cloud Backup?

Cloud backup, at its core, is the process of sending copies of your data over the internet to a secure, remote server maintained by a third-party provider.

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Instead of saving files to an external hard drive in your home or office, which is susceptible to the same physical threats fire, flood, theft as your computer, cloud backup stores them off-site in highly secure data centres. Antifungal cream strong

This distributed approach significantly mitigates risk.

Continuous Protection: Many cloud backup services, including Backblaze, offer continuous or scheduled backups, meaning your data is updated regularly, often in real-time as changes are made.
Off-site Security: Your data is stored in professional data centres with enterprise-grade security, redundancy, and environmental controls far beyond what most individuals or small businesses can achieve locally.
Accessibility: You can access your backed-up files from virtually anywhere with an internet connection, using a web browser or a mobile app.

Why is Cloud Backup Essential in the UK?

Ransomware and Cyber Threats: The UK faces persistent cyber threats. In 2023, the National Cyber Security Centre NCSC reported a significant increase in ransomware incidents targeting UK organisations and individuals. Cloud backup provides an invaluable “undo” button, allowing you to restore unencrypted versions of your files after an attack.
Hardware Failure: Hard drives fail, laptops get dropped, and coffee spills happen. Data from various tech reports consistently shows that hard drive failures are a leading cause of data loss. Cloud backup ensures that even if your primary device is irrevocably damaged, your data remains intact.
Theft and Loss: Laptops are stolen, phones are misplaced. If your device goes missing, the data stored on it is gone forever unless it’s backed up. Cloud backup acts as your remote vault.
Compliance and Peace of Mind: For small businesses, having a robust backup strategy can contribute to data protection compliance. For individuals, it’s simply peace of mind, knowing that irreplaceable memories and important documents are safe.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to the potential financial and emotional cost of data loss, a cloud backup subscription is remarkably affordable. Many providers offer unlimited storage for a fixed monthly fee, making it accessible to virtually everyone.

Backblaze’s Core Offering: Unlimited Backup for UK Consumers

Backblaze has carved a niche for itself by offering a deceptively simple yet incredibly powerful proposition: unlimited cloud backup for a single computer.

This “set it and forget it” philosophy has resonated deeply with UK users looking for hassle-free data protection.

Unlimited Storage: The Game-Changer

One of Backblaze’s most significant advantages is its unlimited storage capacity. Unlike many cloud storage providers that cap your data at a certain gigabyte limit e.g., 1TB, 2TB and charge you more for exceeding it, Backblaze allows you to back up every single file on your primary computer without worrying about hitting a limit.

No Capacity Planning: This eliminates the need for users to constantly monitor their storage usage or selectively choose which files to back up. Everything on your primary internal drives is covered.
Future-Proofing: As digital files grow in size e.g., 4K videos, high-resolution photos, an unlimited plan ensures your backup solution scales with your needs without additional costs.
Transparent Pricing: The single, flat monthly or annual fee simplifies budgeting and removes hidden surprises. For UK users, this clarity in pricing is a significant benefit, especially with fluctuating exchange rates.

Automatic and Continuous Backup

Backblaze’s core design philosophy revolves around automation, making it genuinely “set it and forget it.” Once installed, the software works quietly in the background. Antifungal for jock itch

Real-Time Monitoring: The Backblaze client monitors your system for changes to files. When a file is modified, saved, or created, it’s typically queued for backup almost immediately.
Bandwidth Throttling: The software intelligently manages its bandwidth usage to avoid slowing down your internet connection. Users can also manually adjust the throttling settings to prioritise their internet speed during active use.
Scheduling Options: While continuous backup is the default, users can opt for scheduled backups e.g., once a day or even manual backups if they prefer more control. However, for maximum data protection, continuous backup is highly recommended.

Seamless Restoration Options

The true test of any backup service lies in its restoration capabilities.

Backblaze offers multiple ways to retrieve your data, catering to different scenarios.

Web Download: For individual files or smaller folders, you can log into your Backblaze account via a web browser from any device and download your data directly. This is ideal for quickly retrieving a lost document or photo.
Backblaze Restore Application: For larger restorations, such as recovering an entire hard drive or a significant portion of your data, Backblaze offers a dedicated restore application that streamlines the process.
USB Hard Drive or Flash Drive Restore: This is a unique and incredibly valuable feature for large data sets. Backblaze can ship you a physical USB hard drive up to 8TB or a flash drive up to 256GB containing your backed-up data. While there’s a refundable deposit for the drive, it’s an incredibly efficient way to restore massive amounts of data without relying on internet speeds. This is particularly useful in the UK where internet speeds can vary geographically, and restoring terabytes of data over a standard broadband connection could take days.
Version History: Backblaze keeps multiple versions of your files. By default, it stores versions for 30 days. However, users can extend this to 1 year or even forever for an additional fee. This is crucial if you accidentally save over a file or need to revert to an older iteration. For example, if you’re a graphic designer in London working on large project files, having a 1-year or forever version history could be a lifesaver.

Pricing and Plans: A UK User’s Perspective

Backblaze’s pricing model is refreshingly simple, focusing on value and unlimited storage.

For UK users, understanding the different subscription options and their implications is key to making an informed decision.

Simple Subscription Tiers

Backblaze offers a straightforward pricing structure, primarily based on the subscription duration. Best affordable vpn

There are no complicated tiers based on storage capacity, as all personal backup plans include unlimited storage for one computer.

Monthly Subscription: This offers the most flexibility, allowing users to pay on a month-to-month basis. It’s ideal for those who want to try the service without a long-term commitment or whose needs might change frequently.
Yearly Subscription: Opting for an annual plan typically provides a discount compared to paying monthly. This is the most popular option for users who are confident in their long-term need for continuous backup.
Two-Year Subscription: This option provides the best per-month value, offering the largest discount for committing to a longer term. It’s perfect for users who know they’ll need the service for an extended period.

Example Pricing Illustrative, current prices available on Backblaze website:

Monthly: Around $9.00 USD approx. £7.20 – £7.50, subject to exchange rate
Yearly: Around $99.00 USD approx. £79.00 – £82.50, subject to exchange rate, effectively $8.25/month
Two-Year: Around $189.00 USD approx. £151.00 – £158.00, subject to exchange rate, effectively $7.88/month

Note: UK users will be charged in USD, and the final cost in GBP will depend on the prevailing exchange rate and any foreign transaction fees from their bank.

Additional Features and Costs

While the core unlimited backup is a flat fee, Backblaze offers a couple of optional add-ons that might be beneficial for specific user needs.

Extended Version History: As mentioned earlier, the default version history is 30 days. For an additional fee e.g., $2/month for 1-year history, $6/month for Forever History, you can extend this. This is highly recommended for professionals, creative individuals, or anyone dealing with frequently updated critical files.
Physical Restore Drives: While the deposit for the restore drive is refundable upon its return, the shipping cost to and from the UK would be an additional expense. It’s crucial to factor this in if you anticipate needing to restore very large data sets via physical media. For instance, shipping an 8TB drive might cost around $189 for shipping to the UK.
Business Backup B2 Cloud Storage & Business Backup: Backblaze also offers solutions for businesses, which are priced differently. Their B2 Cloud Storage is an object storage service similar to Amazon S3, priced per GB of storage and download. Their Business Backup product, however, offers unlimited backup per computer similar to personal backup but with centralised management. These are separate products with different pricing models to consider for UK businesses.

Value Proposition for UK Users

From a UK perspective, Backblaze’s pricing represents excellent value, especially when compared to:

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Local Storage Costs: Continuously buying new external hard drives to keep up with data growth, plus the risk of failure, quickly adds up.
Other Cloud Providers: Many competitors charge significantly more for comparable unlimited storage, or impose strict storage limits.
Cost of Data Loss: The emotional and financial cost of losing irreplaceable photos, crucial documents, or business data far outweighs any subscription fee.

For example, losing a hard drive containing 50,000 family photos could cost thousands to attempt data recovery if even possible and cause immeasurable emotional distress.

A yearly Backblaze subscription, costing roughly £80, provides continuous protection against such a catastrophe.

Security Measures: Protecting Your Data in Backblaze Data Centres

When entrusting your precious data to a third-party cloud service, security is paramount.

Backblaze understands this and has implemented a robust, multi-layered security architecture designed to protect your information from unauthorised access, physical threats, and digital vulnerabilities. Avira free antivirus mac

Encryption: Data in Transit and at Rest

Encryption is the cornerstone of Backblaze’s security strategy, ensuring your data is unreadable to anyone without the correct decryption key.

In-Transit Encryption SSL/TLS: When your data is uploaded from your computer to Backblaze’s servers, it’s encrypted using SSL/TLS Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security. This is the same encryption technology used for secure online banking and e-commerce, preventing eavesdropping or tampering as data travels across the internet. Backblaze uses a secure connection with a minimum of 128-bit encryption.
At-Rest Encryption AES-256: Once your data arrives at Backblaze’s data centres, it’s stored on their servers using AES-256 Advanced Encryption Standard with a 256-bit key. AES-256 is considered one of the strongest encryption algorithms available and is widely used by governments and financial institutions worldwide. Each file is encrypted with a unique key, and these file keys are then encrypted with a master key.
Optional Private Encryption Key: For an even higher level of security, Backblaze offers an optional private encryption key. If you choose this option, a unique passphrase known only to you is used to encrypt your master encryption key. This means that even Backblaze technicians cannot access your data without your specific passphrase. While this significantly enhances security, it comes with a critical caveat: if you lose this private encryption key, Backblaze cannot recover your data, and your files will be permanently inaccessible. This is a powerful feature for UK users with highly sensitive data, but it demands absolute diligence in key management.

Physical Security of Data Centres

Backblaze operates its own purpose-built data centres, which are designed with enterprise-grade physical security measures to prevent unauthorised access and environmental damage.

Biometric Entry & 24/7 Surveillance: Access to the data centres is strictly controlled using biometric scanners, keycard access, and continuous video surveillance. Only authorised personnel have physical access.
Redundant Power & Cooling: Data centres are equipped with redundant power supplies UPS and generators and cooling systems to ensure continuous operation, even during power outages or extreme temperatures.
Fire Suppression Systems: Advanced fire detection and suppression systems e.g., inert gas systems are in place to protect equipment and data from fire hazards.
Geographic Redundancy for B2, not Personal Backup: While personal backup data is stored in one primary region currently US-based, their B2 Cloud Storage service offers optional multi-region replication for even higher redundancy. For personal backup, the focus is on robust local redundancy within their single data centre.

Internal Security Protocols and Audits

Beyond encryption and physical security, Backblaze maintains rigorous internal security practices.

Strict Access Controls: Employee access to customer data is strictly limited to a need-to-know basis and is logged and monitored.
Regular Security Audits: Backblaze undergoes regular third-party security audits and compliance certifications e.g., SOC 2 Type 2 to ensure their security controls meet industry best practices.
Secure Software Development: Their development processes incorporate security best practices, including code reviews and vulnerability testing, to minimise the risk of software flaws.

While Backblaze’s data centres are currently located in the US California and Arizona, the robust encryption and security protocols ensure that data stored from the UK is highly protected.

For UK users concerned about data sovereignty, it’s important to note the US location, but the strong encryption makes it very difficult for any third party to access the content of your files. Antifungal cream strongest

Performance and Bandwidth Considerations for UK Users

The effectiveness of any cloud backup service hinges on its performance, particularly upload and download speeds, and how it manages your internet bandwidth.

For UK users, where internet speeds can vary significantly across regions, these factors are crucial.

Upload Speeds: Initial Backup and Ongoing Sync

The initial backup of your entire computer’s data is typically the most time-consuming part, as it involves uploading potentially hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes of data.

Internet Service Provider ISP Speed: Your upload speed is directly limited by your internet service provider. In the UK, average fixed broadband speeds in 2023 were around 70-80 Mbps download and 18-20 Mbps upload, according to Ofcom. Fibre-to-the-Premises FTTP connections in urban areas can offer much faster upload speeds e.g., 50-100 Mbps or even higher, while rural areas might still rely on ADSL with much lower upload capabilities e.g., 1-2 Mbps.
Backblaze’s Optimisation: Backblaze is designed to maximise throughput given your available bandwidth. It uses multi-threaded uploads and intelligently segments files to improve efficiency.
Throttling: Backblaze includes built-in throttling settings that allow you to control how much bandwidth the application uses. You can set it to “Automatic,” which attempts to use available bandwidth without interfering with your browsing, or manually set a specific upload rate. This is particularly useful for UK users with lower upload speeds, preventing the backup from hogging all your bandwidth during the day.
Initial Backup Time:
- For a 500GB initial backup with a consistent 10 Mbps upload speed, it could take approximately 4-5 days.
- For a 1TB backup with 20 Mbps upload, it might take 4-5 days.
- With a slower 2 Mbps upload speed, a 500GB backup could take over 20 days.
- Recommendation: For the initial backup, it’s often advisable to leave your computer on and connected to the internet overnight, when you’re not actively using your bandwidth.

Download/Restore Speeds

Restoring data is equally important, especially in a disaster recovery scenario.

Internet Service Provider ISP Download Speed: Your download speed will be the primary factor. With typical UK download speeds of 70-80 Mbps, restoring a 100GB folder would take around 2.5-3 hours.
Backblaze’s Infrastructure: Backblaze’s data centres are designed for high-speed egress data transfer out. While they don’t cap your download speed, it’s ultimately limited by your ISP.
Web Download vs. Restore Application: For small files, web downloads are quick. For larger restorations, the Backblaze restore application typically provides better performance as it can manage the download more efficiently.
Physical Drive Restore: For massive data sets e.g., multiple terabytes, requesting a physical hard drive is often the fastest way to restore your data in the UK, bypassing internet speed limitations entirely. While there’s a shipping cost and a refundable deposit, the time saved can be immense. For instance, restoring 4TB over a 100 Mbps fibre connection would take roughly 4 days, whereas a physical drive could arrive in a couple of business days.

Impact on Day-to-Day Usage

Backblaze is designed to run quietly in the background with minimal impact on your computer’s performance or your internet usage. Antifungal cream for ringworm

Low CPU/RAM Usage: The software is lightweight and doesn’t typically consume significant CPU or RAM resources, allowing you to continue working or browsing without noticeable slowdowns.
Intelligent Throttling: As mentioned, the intelligent throttling ensures that active internet use like streaming video calls or gaming takes precedence over backup uploads. Backblaze will pause or slow down its uploads when it detects high network activity from other applications.
Power Management: You can configure Backblaze to pause backups when on battery power or when your computer is asleep, further conserving resources.

For UK users, especially those outside major metropolitan areas with potentially slower internet connections, understanding these performance characteristics is key.

The initial backup can be a patience game, but the subsequent continuous backups are generally imperceptible.

The physical drive restore option is a critical fallback for large data recovery scenarios.

Backblaze vs. Competitors: A UK Market Comparison

The cloud backup market in the UK is competitive, with several established players offering various features and pricing models.

While Backblaze excels in its simplicity and unlimited storage, it’s worth understanding how it stacks up against some of its main competitors to make an informed choice. Anti fungal cream for ringworm

Backblaze’s Unique Selling Points USPs

Truly Unlimited Storage: This remains Backblaze’s strongest differentiator for personal backup. Most competitors either impose limits or charge significantly more for unlimited plans.
Simplicity and Ease of Use: The “set it and forget it” philosophy is real. Installation is straightforward, and the software generally requires minimal user intervention.
Physical Drive Restore Service: The option to receive a USB hard drive with your data is a lifesaver for large restores, making it much faster than downloading terabytes over a UK internet connection.
Affordable Fixed Price: A single, transparent price for unlimited backup, without tiered pricing based on storage, appeals to budget-conscious UK users.
Cross-Platform Support: Works seamlessly on both Windows and macOS.

Key Competitors and Their Differentiators

Here’s a comparison with some popular cloud backup services often considered by UK users:

1. IDrive

Model: Offers a hybrid approach with cloud backup and local backup capabilities.
Storage Limits: Typically offers tiered storage plans e.g., 5TB, 10TB rather than unlimited, but often at competitive prices.
Multiple Devices: A key advantage of IDrive is that one subscription covers multiple computers, mobile devices, and even server backups. This is a significant differentiator if you need to back up several family PCs or a small business with multiple endpoints.
File Sync: Includes file syncing functionality like Dropbox within its storage limits, which Backblaze does not.
Version History: Offers 30-day version history, similar to Backblaze’s default.
Pricing: Often very competitive for the storage tiers offered, especially for multi-device backup.
Consider for UK Users: If you need to back up multiple devices e.g., a family with 3-4 PCs and several phones under one account and prefer a fixed storage limit over unlimited for a single machine, IDrive can be more cost-effective.

2. Carbonite

Model: Similar to Backblaze in offering unlimited personal backup.
Pricing Tiers: Carbonite offers different tiers Basic, Plus, Prime with varying features, such as external drive backup, automatic video backup, and courier recovery service similar to Backblaze’s physical drive restore.
External Drive Backup: Basic plans often don’t include external drive backup, while Backblaze includes it though with specific settings.
Simplicity: Generally considered user-friendly, but Backblaze often wins on sheer simplicity.
Consider for UK Users: Carbonite can be a strong contender, but its tiered pricing might make it slightly more complex than Backblaze’s single personal backup offering. Users need to carefully check which features are included in each tier.

3. CrashPlan for Small Business / Family

Model: Historically offered unlimited personal backup, but now primarily focuses on small business and family plans.
Unlimited Storage: Still offers unlimited storage per computer.
Device Coverage: A single CrashPlan for Small Business subscription covers multiple computers e.g., 1-10 devices.
External Drive Backup: Included.
Version History: Offers robust version history, often keeping deleted files indefinitely until storage limits are hit which for unlimited, means a very long time.
Pricing: Generally more expensive than Backblaze per device, but value improves as you add more devices.
Consider for UK Users: If you have multiple computers to back up e.g., a family of 3 with individual laptops and prioritise unlimited storage for all of them, CrashPlan could be a viable, albeit pricier, alternative to Backblaze.

4. Microsoft OneDrive / Google Drive / Dropbox Cloud Storage vs. Cloud Backup

Model: These are primarily cloud storage services, not dedicated cloud backup solutions.
Purpose: Designed for file syncing, sharing, and active collaboration, rather than comprehensive system backup.
Storage Limits: Offer tiered storage limits, often starting with a few GBs for free and increasing with paid subscriptions.
Cost: Can become very expensive for large amounts of data, as they are not designed for bulk, unlimited backup. For instance, 2TB on OneDrive might cost around £80 annually.
Consider for UK Users: These are excellent for active files you need to share or access frequently, but not a substitute for a full system backup like Backblaze provides. They don’t automatically back up your entire hard drive, operating system, or applications.

Making the Choice for UK Users

If you need unlimited, “set-it-and-forget-it” backup for one primary computer laptop or desktop: Backblaze is incredibly hard to beat on value and simplicity.
If you need to back up multiple devices e.g., family PCs, phones under one account: IDrive or CrashPlan might offer better value, depending on your total data volume.
If you need file syncing and sharing as a primary feature: Consider using Backblaze for comprehensive backup alongside a dedicated cloud storage service like OneDrive or Dropbox.
For UK businesses with specific compliance or data sovereignty needs: While Backblaze Business Backup and B2 are options, larger enterprises might explore UK-based data centres or more complex solutions.

In essence, Backblaze remains a top choice for individual UK users seeking straightforward, unlimited, and affordable cloud backup without needing multi-device coverage for personal use.

Integration and Compatibility: Devices and Operating Systems in the UK

Backblaze is designed for broad compatibility, ensuring that most personal computer users in the UK can easily install and benefit from its backup services.

Its primary focus is on desktop and laptop operating systems, with complementary mobile access.

Supported Operating Systems

Backblaze provides native client applications for the two dominant personal computer operating systems: Ardent-cleaning.co.uk Reviews

Windows: Backblaze fully supports various versions of Microsoft Windows.
- Minimum Requirements: Typically Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 are fully supported. Users on older versions like Windows 7 might find limited or no support.
- Functionality: The Windows client seamlessly integrates into the system, backing up internal hard drives, attached external USB drives if configured, and managing backup schedules and settings.
macOS: Apple Mac users are equally well-catered for.
- Minimum Requirements: Backblaze generally supports macOS versions from 10.13 High Sierra onwards, including the latest Sonoma. Compatibility information is always updated on their website.
- Functionality: The macOS client functions similarly to the Windows version, ensuring all internal drives and connected external drives if selected are backed up automatically.

Important Note on Linux and Server OS: Backblaze Personal Backup is not designed for Linux or server operating systems. For these environments, Backblaze offers B2 Cloud Storage, which is an object storage service similar to Amazon S3, allowing users to back up data from various sources using third-party tools or custom scripts. This distinction is crucial for UK users running Linux desktops or servers.

External Hard Drive Backup

A significant feature for many UK users is the ability to back up external hard drives.

Inclusion: Backblaze can be configured to include data from external USB or Thunderbolt drives connected to your computer.
Configuration: You simply need to select these drives within the Backblaze preferences.
Connectivity: For external drives to be backed up, they must be connected to your computer and mounted at least once every 30 days. If a drive is disconnected for longer than this period, Backblaze will assume it’s no longer needed for backup and will stop backing up its contents. This is a critical point for UK users with infrequently connected backup drives or media archives.

Mobile Access iOS and Android

While Backblaze doesn’t directly back up your mobile phone’s contents photos, videos, app data, it provides companion mobile apps for accessing your backed-up computer data.

iOS App: Available on the Apple App Store, the iOS app allows iPhone and iPad users to:
- Browse files stored on their backed-up computers.
- Download individual files or folders directly to their mobile device.
- Share files from their backup.
- View backup status.
Android App: Available on the Google Play Store, the Android app offers similar functionality:
- Access and browse files from your backed-up computer.
- Download files to your Android device.
- Share content.
- Check backup progress.

These mobile apps are incredibly useful for UK users who need to quickly retrieve a document or photo from their main computer while on the go, without needing to be physically at their desktop or laptop. Meta-trade.com Reviews

They provide a convenient portal to your cloud-backed data.

Limitations and Considerations

No Network Drive NAS Backup: Backblaze Personal Backup does not back up network-attached storage NAS devices or network shares directly. If you have a NAS, you would need to use Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage with a compatible third-party NAS backup solution e.g., Synology’s Cloud Sync, QNAP’s Hybrid Backup Sync to back up its contents. This is a common point of confusion for UK users with home media servers.
Single Computer per License: Each Backblaze Personal Backup license covers only one computer. If you have multiple laptops or desktops, you’ll need separate subscriptions for each, or consider a multi-device solution like IDrive or CrashPlan for Small Business.
Live Boot CDs/Clones: Backblaze backs up your data files, but it doesn’t create a bootable clone of your operating system. If your primary hard drive fails, you’ll need to reinstall your OS and applications, then restore your data.

Overall, Backblaze offers excellent compatibility for the majority of individual Windows and macOS users in the UK, providing robust backup for their main devices and convenient mobile access to their backed-up files.

Data Retention and Versioning: What Happens to Your Files?

One often overlooked but critical aspect of any backup service is its data retention policy and how it handles different versions of your files.

This dictates how far back you can go to retrieve a file and what happens to your data if you delete it locally or stop your subscription.

Standard 30-Day Version History

By default, Backblaze maintains versions of your files for 30 days. Digitalteacher.in Reviews

How it Works: When you modify a file, Backblaze backs up the new version. The previous version is then retained for 30 days. If you delete a file from your computer, Backblaze will keep a copy of that deleted file in its backup for 30 days from the date of deletion.
Use Case: This standard policy is sufficient for most common scenarios, such as accidentally saving over a document, deleting a file by mistake, or needing to revert to a slightly older version of a project.
Example: You were working on a Word document, saved it, then realised you messed something up in the latest save. As long as it’s within 30 days of that save, you can go back and restore the previous version. If you accidentally delete a photo album, you have 30 days to restore it from Backblaze.

Extended Version History Options

Recognising that 30 days might not be enough for some users, Backblaze offers optional upgrades for extended version history:

1-Year Version History Billed Annually: For an additional monthly fee around $2 USD / £1.60, you can extend your version history to one year. This means Backblaze will keep all versions of your files for 365 days, and deleted files will remain in backup for one year after their local deletion.
Forever Version History Billed Annually: This premium option, at a higher additional monthly fee around $6 USD / £4.80, provides unlimited version history. Backblaze will keep every single version of your files indefinitely, and deleted files will remain in your backup account forever.
- Benefit: This is the ultimate peace of mind for professionals, photographers, videographers, or anyone whose data has historical significance and needs absolute long-term retention. It ensures that no matter when a file was modified or deleted, you can always retrieve any previous state. This is particularly valuable for creative professionals in the UK who deal with large project files and multiple iterations.

What Happens When You Disconnect a Drive or Cancel Service?

Understanding the implications of changes to your local drives or subscription status is crucial.

Disconnected External Drives: If an external drive that was being backed up by Backblaze is disconnected for more than 30 days, Backblaze will cease backing up its contents. After a further period typically a few days or weeks, the data from that disconnected drive might be pruned from your Backblaze account. The logic here is that if a drive isn’t connected, it’s either lost, no longer in use, or not relevant for continuous backup.
- Pro Tip for UK Users: If you have an external archive drive you only connect occasionally, ensure you connect it at least once a month for Backblaze to scan and keep its files in sync.
Subscription Cancellation: When you cancel your Backblaze subscription, your data will typically be retained for a grace period e.g., 7-30 days, check current terms to allow for re-subscription or final downloads. After this grace period, all your backed-up data will be permanently deleted from Backblaze’s servers.
- Important: Unlike some cloud storage services that might hold your data for longer or prompt you, Backblaze’s model is tied to an active subscription for continuous backup. Always ensure you have a copy of your data before cancelling if you don’t intend to re-subscribe.

Backblaze’s flexible version history options allow UK users to tailor their backup strategy to their specific needs, from basic protection against recent mishaps to comprehensive, long-term archival.

Choosing the right version history plan is as important as choosing the backup service itself.

Getting Started: Installation and Initial Setup for UK Users

Setting up Backblaze in the UK is a straightforward process designed to get your data backing up with minimal fuss. Idispute.org Reviews

The “set it and forget it” philosophy begins right from the installation.

Step 1: Sign Up and Download

Visit the Backblaze Website: Navigate to the Backblaze website. For UK users, the pricing will typically be displayed in USD, and your payment will be processed in USD, subject to your bank’s exchange rate.
Choose Your Plan: Select your preferred subscription length monthly, yearly, or two-yearly.
Create Account: You’ll need to provide your email address and create a password.
Download the Client: After signing up and making payment, you’ll be prompted to download the Backblaze client software appropriate for your operating system Windows or macOS. The download file is typically small a few MBs.

Step 2: Installation Process

Run the Installer: Locate the downloaded file e.g., Backblaze Installer.exe for Windows or Backblaze Installer.dmg for macOS and run it.
Follow Prompts: The installation wizard is very simple.
- Windows: You’ll typically just need to click “Install” and follow a couple of on-screen prompts.
- macOS: Drag the Backblaze application icon to your Applications folder. You might need to grant certain permissions e.g., Full Disk Access in macOS System Preferences to allow Backblaze to access all your files. Backblaze provides clear instructions on how to do this.
Login: Once installed, the Backblaze application will launch and prompt you to log in with the email and password you used during sign-up.

Step 3: Initial Configuration

Upon successful login, Backblaze will perform an initial scan and begin backing up automatically with default settings. However, you can fine-tune these settings.

Select Drives to Backup:
- By default, Backblaze backs up all internal hard drives connected to your computer.
- External Drives: If you have external USB or Thunderbolt drives, you can go into the Backblaze System Preferences or Control Panel on Windows and select which ones you want to include in the backup. Remember, these drives must be connected at least every 30 days to remain part of the backup.
Schedule and Throttling:
- Continuous Backup Default: This is the recommended setting, as it means Backblaze is constantly monitoring and backing up changes.
- Throttling: You can adjust the “Automatic Throttling” setting to “Manual” if you want to limit the upload speed more precisely, which can be useful for UK users with slower internet connections to prevent backup from affecting their browsing or streaming experience.
- Scheduling: You can also change from “Continuously” to “Once per day” or “Only when I click Backup Now” if you prefer a less automatic approach, though continuous is generally best for maximum protection.
Files to Exclude: You can specify folders or file types that you do not wish to back up e.g., temporary files, operating system files that are irrelevant to your data. This can help reduce the initial backup time.
- Note: Backblaze automatically excludes system files and applications by default, focusing solely on your user data.
Private Encryption Key Optional but Important: If you desire the highest level of security, you can set a private encryption key during or after setup. Crucially, if you set this, you MUST NOT lose it, as Backblaze cannot recover your data without it.

Step 4: Monitoring the Initial Backup

The First Backup is the Longest: Be prepared for the initial backup to take a significant amount of time – days or even weeks, depending on the amount of data and your upload speed. A typical UK household might have 500GB to 1TB of data on a primary computer.
- Example: With a 10 Mbps upload speed, 1TB of data will take approximately 9.3 days to upload continuously.
Leave Your Computer On: For the fastest initial backup, leave your computer on and connected to the internet overnight or during periods of inactivity.
Monitor Progress: The Backblaze application will show you the progress, indicating how much data has been backed up and what percentage of your files are complete. You can also view more detailed status online via your Backblaze account.

Once the initial backup is complete, Backblaze will seamlessly transition into its continuous backup mode, silently protecting your new and changed files in the background, offering genuine peace of mind for UK users.

Customer Support and UK-Specific Considerations

Even with a “set it and forget it” service like Backblaze, having access to reliable customer support is crucial when things don’t go as planned or when you have questions.

For UK users, understanding the support channels and any UK-specific nuances is important. Mydegu.com Reviews

Backblaze Customer Support Channels

Backblaze primarily offers support through the following channels:

Email Support: This is the main method for direct assistance. Users can submit support tickets through their website. Backblaze aims to respond to email inquiries within 24 hours, often much faster.
Extensive Knowledge Base: Backblaze has a very comprehensive and well-organised knowledge base help centre on its website. This resource contains articles, FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and step-by-step instructions for almost any query you might have, from installation issues to restore procedures. This is often the quickest way to find answers to common questions.
Community Forum: While not as active as some larger tech forums, Backblaze does have a community forum where users can ask questions and share solutions.
No Direct Phone Support: It’s important to note that Backblaze does not offer direct phone support for personal backup customers. This is a deliberate choice to keep costs down and streamline support, focusing on detailed email responses.

UK-Specific Considerations for Support

Time Zones: Backblaze’s primary operations and support teams are based in the United States Pacific Time. While they aim for 24-hour response, email response times might be slightly longer during UK night hours due to the time difference.
Currency and Billing: As mentioned, UK users are charged in USD. Any billing queries or refunds will be processed in USD, and the final amount in GBP will depend on the exchange rate and your bank’s policies. Ensure you understand any foreign transaction fees your bank might impose.
Data Centre Location: Backblaze’s personal backup data centres are located in the US. While this doesn’t impact functionality, some UK users may have preferences for data storage within the EU/UK for specific compliance or privacy reasons. However, Backblaze’s robust encryption and adherence to privacy regulations including GDPR principles generally address these concerns for personal users.
Physical Drive Restoration Shipping: If you opt for a physical drive restore, the shipping logistics will involve international courier services from the US to the UK. This means factoring in potential customs duties or import taxes though for data recovery, this is rare, but good to be aware of and longer shipping times compared to domestic delivery. Backblaze provides clear information on shipping costs and estimated delivery times.

Common UK User Queries and How Backblaze Addresses Them

“My backup is slow / taking too long”: The knowledge base provides detailed articles on optimising backup speeds, adjusting throttling settings, and understanding expected initial backup times based on internet speed.
“My external drive isn’t backing up”: Articles explain the 30-day reconnection rule and how to ensure external drives are properly selected and detected.
“How do I restore my files?”: Step-by-step guides for web downloads, using the restore application, and ordering a physical drive are readily available.
“What happens if my subscription expires?”: The policy on data retention after cancellation is clearly outlined.

In summary, while Backblaze doesn’t offer direct phone support, its email support is generally responsive, and its extensive knowledge base is an excellent first port of call for UK users.

The simplicity of the service also means that advanced troubleshooting is rarely required for the average user.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Backblaze available in the UK?

Yes, Backblaze is fully available for users in the UK.

You can sign up, download the client, and back up your data from anywhere in the UK. Cchatty.com Reviews

Where are Backblaze’s data centres located for personal backup?

Backblaze’s data centres for personal backup are currently located in the United States California and Arizona.

Is my data secure with Backblaze if I’m in the UK?

Yes, your data is highly secure.

Backblaze encrypts data in transit using SSL/TLS and at rest using AES-256 encryption.

You can also opt for a private encryption key for an added layer of security.

How much does Backblaze cost in the UK?

Backblaze charges in USD. Monofinshop.com Reviews

A monthly plan is typically around $9 USD, a yearly plan is around $99 USD, and a two-year plan is around $189 USD.

The exact GBP equivalent will depend on the exchange rate and your bank’s foreign transaction fees.

Does Backblaze offer unlimited storage for UK users?

Yes, Backblaze Personal Backup offers truly unlimited storage for a single computer, regardless of your location in the UK.

Can Backblaze back up my external hard drives in the UK?

Yes, Backblaze can back up external USB or Thunderbolt drives connected to your computer.

You must connect these drives at least once every 30 days for them to remain included in the backup.

How long does the initial Backblaze backup take for a UK user?

The initial backup time depends on your data size and upload speed.

For 1TB of data with a 10 Mbps upload speed common in parts of the UK, it could take around 9-10 days.

Can I access my Backblaze backup from my phone in the UK?

Yes, Backblaze offers free iOS and Android apps that allow you to browse, download, and share files from your backed-up computer to your mobile device.

What is the default version history for Backblaze files?

By default, Backblaze keeps versions of your files for 30 days.

This means deleted files are retained for 30 days, and previous versions of modified files are available for 30 days.

Can I extend the version history beyond 30 days?

Yes, you can upgrade to 1-year version history or Forever Version History for an additional fee.

Does Backblaze offer phone support for UK customers?

No, Backblaze primarily offers support via email and through their extensive online knowledge base.

They do not provide direct phone support for personal backup customers.

Can Backblaze back up my NAS Network Attached Storage in the UK?

No, Backblaze Personal Backup does not directly back up NAS devices or network shares.

For NAS backup, you would need to use Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage with a compatible third-party NAS backup tool.

What happens to my data if I cancel my Backblaze subscription?

If you cancel your subscription, Backblaze will typically retain your data for a grace period e.g., 7-30 days. After this period, all your backed-up data will be permanently deleted.

Can I restore my files via a physical hard drive to the UK?

Yes, Backblaze offers a “Restore by Mail” service where they can ship a physical USB hard drive or flash drive containing your data to the UK for a refundable deposit and shipping fee.

Is Backblaze GDPR compliant for UK users?

While Backblaze’s data centres are in the US, they are committed to privacy and adhere to principles aligning with GDPR, including data processing agreements and strong security measures.

However, for strict data residency requirements, businesses might need to consider solutions with UK/EU-based servers.

Does Backblaze slow down my computer or internet connection?

Backblaze is designed to run quietly in the background with minimal impact.

It uses intelligent throttling to automatically adjust upload speeds and avoid slowing down your internet connection, especially during active use.

Can I back up multiple computers with one Backblaze Personal Backup account?

No, one Backblaze Personal Backup license covers only one computer desktop or laptop. If you have multiple devices, you will need a separate subscription for each or consider a multi-device solution from a competitor.

Does Backblaze back up my operating system and applications?

No, Backblaze Personal Backup is designed to back up your user data documents, photos, videos, podcast, etc., not your operating system or applications.

In case of a system failure, you would reinstall your OS and apps, then restore your data.

How does Backblaze handle deleted files?

By default, Backblaze keeps deleted files in your backup for 30 days from the time they are deleted locally.

If you opt for extended version history, deleted files are kept for 1 year or forever.

What is the difference between Backblaze Personal Backup and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage?

Backblaze Personal Backup is an unlimited, automated, “set it and forget it” solution for backing up a single personal computer.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is an object storage service, like Amazon S3, where you pay per GB stored and downloaded, offering more flexibility for developers, servers, or large-scale data storage with third-party integrations.

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