It’s always exciting for us to see new data backup solutions that could genuinely help the average person preserve and protect their valuable data.  We’ve written about the importance of regular backups to USB devices such as Western Digital’s MyBook Elite and the benefits of moving beyond single drive devices to RAID capable network attached storage devices such as those offered by Qnap, LG, or Synology.  Additionally, as advancements in “cloud computing” mount, online storage services continue to enhance their offerings and service plans as consumers realize the added security of off-site storage.

Capturing the convenience of a NAS device and the piece-of-mind offered by online storage services, CTERA’s recently released CloudPlug solution makes data backup easy and secure.  The brilliance of the CloudPlug stems from its simplicity.  By plugging it into an AC outlet, connecting a CAT5 cable to its gigabit Ethernet port, and connecting an external USB or eSATA hard drive enclosure, the device makes the “attached storage” accessible to any computer on the local network.  Any backup software can then be used on the network computers to regularly copy files to the NAS.

The CloudPlug’s internal server then automatically and securely syncs the NAS data with CTERA’s online cloud storage service.  The first 10GB of storage is free for the first year, after which prices start at $10 per month.  Having your data dually backed up locally on a NAS device and remotely in the cloud grants people easy access to their data when local recoveries are required in addition to the benefits of off-site storage should local backups be destroyed by natural disaster or fire.

The CloudPlug has an MSRP of $199.  Compared to the $500+ that could be spent on a traditional two bay RAID 0-1 NAS without an in-built cloud based backup solution, this could be a cost effective means for home users to automate the preservation of their data without buying expensive enterprise grade equipment.