Code 42 Brings More Options to Small-Business Backup

Code 42 Software recently started selling its first online backup service for small businesses, filling the void between its consumer and enterprise products. While the latest release is unlikely to shake the market, the service is worth a look.

Called CrashPlan Pro, the new product doesn't deviate from Code 42's focus on backup. The application gives subscribers the option of stashing data on the company's servers, on a local backup device or on another computer. Users can configure the CrashPlan software to back up specific files and folders or all the data on a computer. What's backed up can vary on each destination, which can be running Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris or Linux.

By default, CrashPlan Pro runs every 15 minutes. That can be changed, with different schedules set up for each connected computer. Older versions of updated files are always available, and files deleted from the original computer remain stored, unless removed by the customer.

Code 42 believes the software's user interface separates it from rivals by including such ease-of-use features as graphs to show how much data is backed up on each computer and where the devices are located. In addition, backup management can be handled remotely from a central console. Of course, all vendors tout simplicity in their software, so only a test drive will ensure it performs as advertised.

Unlike Code 42's other products, CrashPlan Pro only provides initial backups to its servers through a customer's broadband connection. For small businesses looking to back up everything in a computer, the process could take days, depending on the amount of data. Code 42's other customers have the option of asking for a portable hard drive, which the customer stuffs with data and sends back to the vendor to manually load the information into its server. The service costs $125 per backup.

Providing the option to small businesses would have required additional manpower, so Code 42 decided to wait and see if it's needed, Mike Evangelist, the company's chief marketing officer, says. In the meantime, the company is preparing for the release this month of a mobile application for smartphones and tablets running Apple iOS and Google Android.

Features will include the ability to browse backed up data and view spreadsheets, documents, pictures and video. The app won't edit files, but will provide the option of moving them to third-party software.

Code 42 has two plans for CrashPlan Pro. The first costs $7.49 a month per computer for unlimited online backup and the second starts at $17.49 a month for 50 gigabytes of storage and an unlimited number of computers.

Code 42 is one of many fast-growing small companies in the online backup market. The Minneapolis-based company had $12 million in revenue last year and has grown between 200 percent and 300 percent each of the last four years, Evangelist says. Corporations using Code 42 software to backup employee laptops include Adobe, Apple and Netflix.

The market as a whole is also growing at a decent clip. Revenue is expected to more than double by 2014 from $1.2 billion this year, according to IDC. "The market is emerging and very crowded right now, so options will be plentiful and differentiation will be subtle," IDC analyst Brad Nisbet said in an email.

Market trends are good news and bad news for Code 42. The good news is small businesses are increasingly looking to online back up as reliable protection for data. The bad news is businesses over the next five years will want more services from their backup provider, such as file sharing, collaboration, analytics and compliance with regulations. According to Nisbet, customers will be asking, "Now that I have my data up in the cloud, what can I do with it?"

Code 42 and many of its rivals will have to come up with an answer.