VZ: Verizon Now Offers Data Backup for Its Small- and Medium-Sized Business Customers

Verizon just added automatic online backup to its product portfolio, so small- and medium-sized business customers can concentrate on running their businesses without having to worry about whether their data is protected from viruses and system crashes.

Verizon Online Backup helps protect company and customer information and enables easy collaboration with colleagues who are working off-site, file sharing with clients, or accessing files when away from the office.

With Verizon Online Backup, businesses can back up files to an online data storage site where they can be accessed anytime, as long as the user has access to the Internet. Additionally, with files accessible online, the cumbersome chore of individually uploading large graphics or documents to others, which can take up a lot of bandwidth and slow down everyone's access to the Internet, is avoided.

A key feature of Verizon Online Backup allows the small-business user to enable automatic backups, which will help protect files and documents from hardware failure, natural disasters and even human error. Verizon Online Backup provides security both during transmission and at the online facility. Data is encrypted during transmission and at the online facility.

Verizon Online Backup also includes an easy collaboration tool that allows users to mark files to be shared with others in their contact list so colleagues or clients can have access to these files. A link to the file, along with a password, is sent via e-mail to the contact, who can then retrieve the file from the Web site. Collaboration can be controlled by date or the number of times it can be downloaded.

"Every chance we get, we roll out key products and services that make it easy for our small- and medium-sized business owners to focus on their business and avoid having to worry about details like how to safeguard the data stored on their computers," said Colson Hillier, director of broadband products for Verizon. "I think our customers will find this product particularly useful because they will never have to e-mail large files again. And the automatic backup option covers even hard drives, which aren't typically backed up."

Verizon Online Backup blocks range from 1 GB (gigabyte) at $3.99 per month to up to 50 GB at $39.99 per month, and data can be backed up and restored from and to multiple PCs. There is no extra charge for setting up sub-accounts that allow backup space to be allotted to individual users within a company.

Verizon also offers a bundle that includes the backup product and Verizon Internet Security Suite, which has anti-virus coverage, firewall protection and more, starting at $7.99 for 1 GB of online backup storage and up to 3 PCs of internet security protection.

Verizon offers a variety of products and services that allow small and medium-sized businesses to customize the solutions they need to better compete in the marketplace. In addition to broadband Internet access, solutions include e-mail encryption and communications management tools.

Frost & Sullivan recently recognized Verizon for offering one of the most robust portfolios of products and services to small businesses. For broadband access, voice services and video - in select markets - Verizon also offers a "triple-play" bundle of unlimited calling, DSL and DIRECTV service to qualifying small businesses, starting at around $100.

For more information on Verizon's products and services for small- and medium-sized businesses visit http://business.verizon.net or call 888-649-9500.