Secure Business Data and Applications with Cloud Backups

Cloud backup, which is also referred to as online backup or remote backup, involves copying data from a local system or infrastructure to a remote cloud-based storage service over the Internet.

When you back up your data to the cloud, you create a duplicate set of your files stored on secure remote servers managed by a third-party provider. These servers are usually in secure data centers with robust security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, physical damage, and other threats. Storing your data in the cloud ensures it is kept safe and accessible, regardless of what happens to your local devices.

Here are some key characteristics of cloud backup:

• Versioning: You can keep multiple file versions and restore data to a specific point in time, even if it has been modified or deleted.
• Automated Backup: It often features automated backup processes to regularly back up your data without manual intervention.
• Retention Policies: You can set data retention policies to define how long backups should be kept and when they can be safely deleted.

In this article, you will learn about the workings of cloud backup, the different types of cloud backup strategies, and the differences between cloud backup, cloud storage, and cloud disaster recovery.

How does Cloud Backup work?

Cloud backup operates through a process known as replication. Two common methods of replication used by cloud backup solutions are: 

1. Continuous Replication: Continuous replication, also known as real-time replication, involves monitoring changes to your data and synchronizing them with cloud backup servers. So, when you create, modify, or delete a file on your local device, the corresponding changes are instantly mirrored in the cloud. This method guarantees that your backup copies are always up-to-date, reducing the risk of data loss between backup intervals. 
2. Scheduled Replication: Scheduled replication allows you to choose specific times and intervals to back up your data to the cloud. Software or tools automatically initiate the backup process at the designated times. They then copy selected files and folders from your local devices to the cloud servers. This method balances data protection, resource usage, and network capacity. 

Let’s strengthen our understanding of cloud backup by exploring the different types of cloud backup strategies. 

Types of Cloud Backup Strategy

Various cloud backup strategies are available to cater to your specific requirements.

1. Full Backup: A full backup copies all the data from a source system or device to a backup location. It captures every bit of data at a specific point in time, providing a complete and comprehensive copy of your files, applications, and databases. Full backups are ideal for initial backups or instances where you need to restore entire systems or datasets. However, it can be time-consuming and demands a lot of storage space, especially if you have a large amount of data.
2. Incremental Backup: Incremental backups are a type of backup that only captures and stores the changes made to data since the last backup operation. Instead of copying the entire dataset every time, this method only backs up new or modified files. It’s a great way to reduce data transfer and storage costs, especially for organizations that manage large amounts of data. In addition, incremental backups’ faster and less resource-intensive nature allows them to be performed more frequently than full backups. Therefore, you can ensure that your data is backed up regularly and consistently without affecting your system performance or productivity.
3. Differential Backup: In differential backups, only changes made since the last full backup are saved, ignoring any backups made in between. This method is faster and simpler than making a full backup every time. However, when you need to recover your data, you must start by restoring the full backup and then add the changes from the differential backup to get back to where you were before. Although differential backups are easier to manage and restore than incremental backups, they can consume more storage space over time.

Now that we have discussed the different types of cloud backup strategies, it is important to understand the differences between cloud backup, storage, and disaster recovery.

Cloud Backup vs. Cloud Storage

While both cloud backup and cloud storage involve storing data in the cloud, they have different purposes, offer distinct functionalities, and use cases. 

• Cloud Backup: It focuses on data protection and disaster recovery. Its primary goal is to ensure a reliable and secure backup that anyone can restore in case of data loss or corruption.  
• Cloud Storage: This solution provides a scalable and reliable platform for storing and managing data in the cloud. While you can use it for backups, businesses often leverage it as an off-site external hard drive for everyday tasks like document storage, data archiving, and freeing up server space.

Cloud Backup vs. Cloud Disaster Recovery

Both cloud backup and cloud disaster recovery (DR) are essential components of cloud computing, working towards data safety and availability during unforeseen events. However, their approaches differ: 

• Cloud Backup: It ensures that your data is backed up and recoverable in case of data loss or corruption.  
• Cloud Disaster Recovery: Cloud DR goes beyond backup. It offers comprehensive protection and rapid recovery capabilities to minimize downtime during disasters, ensuring business continuity. It achieves this through: 
  • Redundancy: Cloud DR replicates data across multiple geographically dispersed locations for high availability and redundancy. 
  • Testing and Validation: You can simulate disaster scenarios to test and validate if recovery processes are effective and reliable. 
  • Comprehensive Protection: Cloud DR protects your entire IT infrastructure, ensuring recoverability from various disasters. 

Both cloud backup and cloud disaster recovery are dependable solutions for securing valuable data against various threats and making it accessible from anywhere at any time. Learning the different cloud backup strategies and their benefits can help you make well-informed decisions to protect your data.