[Web4lib] Off-site backups and scripted SCP/SFTP

[Keith D. Engwall]

I'm curious as to whether anyone is using commercial off-site backups and if so, what service they are using.
 
We've got about 5GB (mostly from our LIS), and would prefer to use SFTP or SCP with keys (because of scripts).
 
Also,
I've found some information online about setting up SSH Keys for scripts, but it seems like either
 
a) you have to not password protect the key
 
or
 
b) you have to manually enter the password after a reboot of the computer (using ssh-agent or similar solution)
 
I'm trying to find a third, in between method... where the password is stored somewhere obscure.  Obviously this is still a security risk, but it's at least less of one than using cleartext ftp with the username and password in the script.
 
Any ideas?
 
Thanks,
Keith
 
Keith Engwall
Head of Library Systems and Technology
Catawba College Library
kengwall at catawba.edu
http://www.lib.catawba.edu