360Works Launches SafetyNet Remote Backup Service

360Works, a FileMaker product developer and innovator located in metro Atlanta, announced the launch of 360Works SafetyNet, the first automated offsite backup plugin designed specifically for FileMaker Server solutions.

SafetyNet makes it easy to set up remote backup routines for FileMaker Server administrators. Files are stored on Amazon’s ‘cloud-based’ online file storage service, which runs on the same reliable and fast infrastructure that Amazon uses to run its own global network of web sites.

“There are a lot of solutions out there that promise ease of use and seamless integration for offsite backups,” said Jesse Barnum of 360Works. “But they often don’t work well with the special requirements of FileMaker Server. 360Works SafetyNet actually delivers on that promise. Our clients were looking for something that doesn’t require workarounds or complex configuration. SafetyNet just works. It’s the first remote backup product designed to work with FileMaker Server: file transfers, restores and change monitoring all work right out of the box.”

SafetyNet works hand-in-hand with FileMaker Server. Once installed as a plugin on a FileMaker Server, SafetyNet watches for changes to the scheduled backup sets. When new files are detected, SafetyNet automatically compresses and transfers the latest backups to Amazon’s secure off-site digital storage facilities using SSL encryption. As with any effective, reliable backup solutions, SafetyNet requires no user intervention after the initial setup. It works automatically to guarantee that the latest versions of users’ files are safely stored on a remote server, and will e-mail the administrator in the event of a backup failure (and optionally, on backup success).

SafetyNet includes a web-based control panel that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Administrators can monitor real-time backup progress, view a list of all offsite files, download files from backup, and even do one-click restores to FileMaker Server which will safely archive live files and replace them with the selected backup file.

The plugin itself is free, and billing for the service is handled by Amazon at a surprisingly low cost: 99 cents per month, $1.00 per gigabyte per month stored, and $1.00 per gigabyte transferred. For example, using SafetyNet to back up a 275 MB FileMaker solution every night, with 7 days of previous versions stored online, would cost about $5.00 per month.

Bob Patin of Longterm Solutions used a pre-release version of SafetyNet to back up his FileMaker hosting servers. “SafetyNet is exactly what I’ve been looking for: in a 5-minute setup, I was able to create a safe and simple way to schedule database backups to the cloud. I’m extremely impressed with the ease of setup and reasonable cost. Well done, 360Works.”

David Pogue, technology columnist for The New York Times, writes that online backups are reliable and convenient: “Online backup means never having to buy or manage backup disks. You can have access to your files from any computer anywhere. And above all, your files are safe even if disaster should befall your office – like fire, flood, burglary”. Until now, FileMaker users had no easy access to online backups.

SafetyNet is available for immediate for download.