Online backup provider Mozy claims end users are risking their data by failing to carry out thorough background checks on cloud storage firms.
EMC-backed Mozy provides backup services for consumers, large enterprises and SMBs.
Speaking to IT Pro, Claire Galbois-Alcaix, senior marketing manager at Mozy, said it is not uncommon for online backup users to get caught out by hidden data upload limits.
"If users have a certain amount of data they need to back up, they need to know it is possible to upload [it] over the time frame they need," she said.
Good customer experience depends on being able to enjoy the service you are paying for.
"Users don't want to be paying for a solution that claims to offer them the opportunity to backup large amounts of data, when there is actually a quota associated with that service."
Users often assume their data will be automatically encrypted, and stored in the same country they are in, which is not always the case, explained Galbois-Alcaix.
"You have to look very carefully at the information on [the provider's] website or you have to ask them directly or join a user forum," she added.
"It's not easy, but it is worth doing your homework because good customer experience depends on being able to enjoy the service you are paying for."
As reported by IT Pro last week, fellow online backup provider Carbonite incurred the wrath of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who described its offer of "unlimited" backup as misleading.
Galbois-Alcaix said cases like this highlight why it is so important for end users to test the claims of cloud providers. This is especially true when it comes to retrieving their data, should disaster strike.
"Good vendors will provide you with a variety of ways to access your data. For instance, online via a secure internet connection or they will offer to send it back to you on an encrypted hard drive," she said.
"You would not choose a particular vendor if they can't guarantee [to] get your data back...but sometimes this is the last thing they check."
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