MozyHome backup is now in version 2 as of May 2010. Get the highlights of what Mozy 2.0 for Windows has to offer.

MozyHome, as the name indicates, is geared for the home consumer and small office/home office consumers. There are three plans available for MozyHome subscribers: MozyHome Free, 50GB and 125GB. Their other service, Mozy Pro, is for enterprise business users.

Full Review

MozyHome Free allows users to backup 2GB of data for free. If you need to store more data than that, then you’ll need to sign up for Mozy Home’s 50GB and 125GB plans. Priced at $5.99/month, the 50GB plan is for a single computer only, while the 125GB plan at $9.99/month is for three computers. For both subscriptions, you get 1 month free if you sign up for a 1-year plan, and 3 months free for a 2-year plan. You can also get a 10% discount if you use the coupon code provided below.

Mozy Home offers bullet-proof encryption to ensure your files are fully secured and protected and is very easy to use. The small program that manages your backups works quietly in the background without taking up too much of your computer’s resources. And if you don’t want it continuously working in the background, you can create a schedule as to when you want your backups performed.

Mozy is owned by Decho corporation, a subsidiary of the enterprise storage giant and Fortune 500 company, EMC. The parent company’s strong emphasis and experience with the enterprise space is apparent with MozyHome. But while the online backup service is easy to use, it’s still not the easiest solution out there for the novice and it has some advanced features that may be overwhelming for some.

MozyHome Free service was the first online backup service I tried back in the beginning of 2008. But given that over two years has passed since that time, I found it necessary to take a quick look at what Mozy Home now offers, especially with the release of Mozy version 2.0.

Initial Install and Backup With MozyHome

Installing Mozy Home was easy and the setup was painless. With Mozy 2.0, you simply have to create a new account by entering your email address and password, and you’re in. The software then automatically scans your computer for files, afterwards giving you a summary of the files it is set to backup. Now you can change the backup set in the succeeding pages but in general, the files you are presented with initially are just the ones most users need backed up – photos, music, documents, videos, and others. As soon as you confirm, the initial backup starts. Most initial backups take hours or even days but the good thing is, you won’t be kept in the dark as Mozy will give an estimated time for backup.

Subsequent Backups and Interface

The initial backup using MozyHome (or any other online backup service for that matter) can take a while, but subsequent backups usually take no more than a few minutes or hours as these services backup only new and changed files after the initial backup. Backups can be scheduled or set to occur automatically. The default is automatic backup but if for some reason you’d prefer to have Mozy run only once or twice a week, you can set this up manually.

Mozy version 2.0 has a better user interface when it comes to giving updates on the backup status. Users have deemed it very helpful that the status window shows clear details on what Mozy is currently working on: the actual file being backed up and the percentage completed, the number of files already transferred, and the total number still on queue.

MozyHome utilizes easily-recognizable icons to show the backup status of each file and folder on your computer. A green check mark indicates that that file has already been backed up and a red exclamation point means that file is not backed up.

Local Backup

Those who’ve read my previous reviews and other articles on this site know I’m a strong proponent of having a local backup via an external hard drive in addition to online backup. If you’re using Mozy 2.0 for Windows, both backups are completed for you (so long as you have your external hard drive connected to your computer).

The latest version of the service has a feature called Mozy2x Protect that automatically backs up the files on an external drive. You simply have to enable local backup, specify the drive you want the program to backup to, and that’s it.

File Access

Mozy launched their iPhone and Android apps in April 2011 and at the time of this MozyHome review, the app has gotten rave reviews. With the Mozy app for iOS, users can access all their backed up files. Even if you are backing up multiple computers with Mozy, you can access all the files from these computers with one app. Additional features include the ability to publish pictures from your backup directly to Facebook and the ability to email any of the files from your backup.

File Restoration Options with MozyHome

As important as the backup itself is the restore process. After all, we backup our files anticipating that we can recover one or all of these should the need arise. When you use MozyHome, you have three options to restore your data:

• Client Restore: You restore from the application that runs on your computer; best for restoring the oddball file you need.
• Web Restore: You restore by downloading your files from the Mozy website; best for restoring a large number of files.
• DVD Restore: You restore by receiving your files on DVDs shipped to you from Mozy; this is a paid option.

Customer Support

Customer support for Mozy users has always been an issue with the company and one that the service provider is still struggling to address. That said, many users have also noted some improvements in support features. MozyHome subscribers can opt to open a support case via their online support desk, or use the live chat support. There is no phone support for Mozy Home users.

Bottom Line of this MozyHome Review

What I’ve discovered with these online backup services which cater to the home user is that none of them are perfect. For every few positive reviews I read about Mozy Home, I would find a less-than-positive review. I didn’t get the sense one way or another after reading all these reviews (from both experts and consumers alike) to use Mozy Home or not to use it. Some loved it. Some hated it.

Based on my actual experience with MozyHome and the overall comments and reviews I read, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it with a few caveats. One, none of these “cheap” online services are perfect so set your expectations accordingly. Two, try to test the restore process to see just how easy (or difficult) it is to get your data restored. That said, it’s worth noting that Mozy services may have vastly improved over the last few months, especially with the upgrade to Mozy version 2.0, and therefore, merit a try at the very least.

And finally, don’t rely on any online backup service as your sole backup safeguard! Make sure you also backup your data to an external hard drive at least once a month (which you can now do more easily with Mozy). By doing that, you’ll be totally protected and you’ll have the best of both worlds. You’ll have instant access to any files via your external hard drive and if your hard drive crashes or perishes in a fire or some other catastrophe, you’ll have your files waiting for you at MozyHome.

Related posts:

1. Mozy App for iOS Launches: Your Backed Up Files Just an App Away
2. Mozy Pro Review

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