Keep updated copy full backup with Macrium on Cloud for emgcy?

I do regular backups of my desktop to usb drives using Macrium Workstation Edition. I am concerned about data protection in fire or flood since my backups are on premises and I've nowhere else to store them. Once a backup is completed by Macrium the file can only be read by a Macrium program. One full system backup is about 5gb.

I'm looking for a way to upload the entire Macrium Backup File to a cloud WITHOUT any encryption during upload or download. I spoke with Macrium and they said their backup file would fail to restore if it has been encrypted/decrypted. Every cloud backup service I've found seems to encrypt at least at one point (or more) along the path from the local machine to the cloud and back again. I'm looking for a cloud backup space that doesn't do this. Although my Macrium files would not be extremely secure, I don't need the extra security. I need the off site protection from things like fire and flood.

Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated. Is this a viable idea - at least in concept?

Thanks

mlg said:

I spoke with Macrium and they said their backup file would fail to restore if it has been encrypted/decrypted.

That is interesting, since the encryption does not alter files in any way.
Considering, that all version support an inbuilt decryption, that is odd.
Macrium Reflect 7 Home Edition | DiskImageWorks.com

Well, one more reason not to recommend Macrium.

mlg said:

Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.

cereberus said:

In fact, I am not sure Macrium is best solution for data backup.

THIS ^^^

NavyLCDR said:

Given the relative slow speed of internet transfer, you would be looking at hours - pushing into days - of upload and download time.

I have transferred 200GB via TeamViewer in 3 days, a few hours a day, it depends on OP's upload speed.

NavyLCDR said:

Hard drives are much more durable that USB flash drives.

That is questionable. I prefer USB, because you can throw it around, even put in water and it will last. HDD on the other hand are very sensitive, even if you use 2.5" without an external adapter and you can not tell, if it is getting damaged until backups are corrupted. USB either works or not, mine work for 10 years already.

I have Verizon Fios Gigabit and actually am getting about 900 up. Therefore, I thought it wouldn't take an overwhelming amount of time to upload the whole image. This is only in case of some disaster - if the image I had available was several days old I think I'd still be very happy
OP states his backup image is only 5GB, so with a modest upload would only take five hours or so - easily done overnight
Really sorry - I left off a few digits. Full image backup is 500 GB. In addition to my day job I do photography and keep copies of all my original RAW shots. The OS is part of that but is on the same disk as the photo editing software. Adobe insists and makes your life miserable if it's any other way :)
Actually, I do not follow OP's point about encryption - it does not matter if uploader encrypts on way to cloud, as download reverses encryption ie downloaded file would be identical to original.b
I originally called Macrium asking if they provided such a service for the safekeeping of their backups. I described my "disaster plan". The tech told me the image wouldn't be viable even after it was de-crypted, but it doesn't make sense and might be worth a try.If image is only 5GB, that cannot be OS drive but data drive I assume?
see my answer above - mistake - it's 500GBBacking up OS drive is less critical of course. Backing up data is critical.
In fact, I am not sure Macrium is best solution for data backup.Ws
What makes you hesitate about using Macrium for data backup? For the past several years (previous computer), I used usb hard drives (alternated two or three). I did full backup, 6 or 7 differentials, and then a new full backup etc. On several occasions I was able to get back a file I'd deleted or changed. And on at least two occasions I was able to replace my drive C with a larger drive and cloned the new one from a Macrium backup

During most of those years I also used Crash Plan as a continuous cloud backup. But I was unhappy with its insistence on using the C drive for installation and encryption - took too many resources as well as putting a lot of wear on an SSD. So now that I have a new computer I'm looking for an alternate solution.
I would simply create onedrive folders junction linked to actual data folders, then as data is changed, it is automatically synced to onedrive. See recent tutorial how to do this.
​Afraid I'm completely at a loss. What is onedrive? I have a vague idea of junctions. Is the tutorial amongst Brink's tutorials or elsewhere?'

Thanks so much for your thoughts and suggestions. Even if OP spends a few nights uploading initial data, once done, it should not be a major overhead handling changes only.[/QUOTE]
BTW - I tried to follow the quote and answer format but kept being told my answer was only three words long so please forgive me if this isn't properly formatted.

"...create onedrive folders junction linked to actual data folders, then as data is changed, it is automatically synced to onedrive..." To some purists, that is a replication process, not a backup process.

mlg said:

I do regular backups of my desktop to usb drives using Macrium Workstation Edition. I am concerned about data protection in fire or flood since my backups are on premises and I've nowhere else to store them. Once a backup is completed by Macrium the file can only be read by a Macrium program. One full system backup is about 5gb.

I'm looking for a way to upload the entire Macrium Backup File to a cloud WITHOUT any encryption during upload or download. I spoke with Macrium and they said their backup file would fail to restore if it has been encrypted/decrypted. Every cloud backup service I've found seems to encrypt at least at one point (or more) along the path from the local machine to the cloud and back again. I'm looking for a cloud backup space that doesn't do this. Although my Macrium files would not be extremely secure, I don't need the extra security. I need the off site protection from things like fire and flood.

Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated. Is this a viable idea - at least in concept?

Thanks

You could get a small stand alone drive, make a full back up and the store the whole drive at a neighbors or relatives house.

See onedrive guides in tutorial section - in particular:

Sync Any Folder to OneDrive in Windows 10 Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials

Choose Folders for OneDrive Selective Sync in Windows 10 Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials

Of course, you will need to get enough onedrive space - you only get 5GB free.

A good deal is to lease MS Office, and get 1TB of storage space as well.