Dropbox's relative ease of use can make it an appealing method of backing up information, but storage space is an issue. None of the available accounts, free or paid, offer a massive amount of storage.

The limited storage space is not insurmountable, however. One way to overcome it is by making heavy use of .zip files. Zip files are compact folders that compress files, reducing the storage space they consume. The trade-off is accessibility - you have to decompress the files in the .zip folder before you can open them. Most modern computers can handle this task in seconds, but the time required to unzip a folder will depend on the level of compression and the speed of the computer you're using.

Another way to side-step the storage space limitation is to be selective about what you back up. Do you really need to backup the software installed on your computer? Do you really need to backup every single image or music file you have on your computer? Sorting through your files and picking the ones that are important can be difficult, but it will reduce the data you need to backup.

Security is also an issue that can impact Dropbox (and any other online storage service).

Storing your information online is handy and provides an off-site backup that you can access in the event of a major catastrophe. However, backing up your data online makes it accessible to anyone who knows your username and password. You can improve your security by choosing a password that would be difficult to guess and limiting access to Dropbox to secure connections, but there is always going to be some risk involved. Dropbox may not be the best choice of backup solution if you need to backup sensitive data, such as bank e-statements or last year's tax returns.