Data protection for everyone with automatic backup!

Faced with a clear upsurge in IT threats, all professionals are highly exposed to cyber-attacks, whether freelance or working for a major corporation.

That's why it's so important to put in place a well-honed IT security strategy, which necessarily includes a backup process. Indeed, in the event of a problem, this operation enables lost or compromised data to be restored, thus ensuring business continuity.

And because not all professionals and businesses have the bandwidth to take care of all this on their own, it's even better if it's an automatic backup!

How does it work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? How do you back up files automatically , and what tools do you use?

Backup without the headache, it's this way 👉.

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What is an automatic backup?

As a reminder, computer backup defines an operation involving the creation of a copy of data on a medium external to the system where it resides, so that it can be accessed again should a problem arise (cyber attack, disaster, human error, etc.).

💡This is why backups are generally included in companies' disaster recovery plans and business continuity plans.

But what about automatic backup?

As the name suggests, this involves making a backup without any manual intervention, in the event of a change to a file or at predefined intervals.

In other words, you don't have to worry about your backups - your backup software does them all by itself. So, even if you don't have an IT team or the time to deal with this kind of task, this is a good way of protecting your data at all times 😉.

The 4 different types of automatic backup

To better understand how automatic backup works, it's important to know the different ways of proceeding:

• full backup;
• incremental backup;
• differential backup;
• continuous backup.

Full backup

A full backup copies all selected data every time, regardless of whether it has been modified or not. It can be performed daily, weekly or at any other defined interval.

👍 Advantage: simplifies the restoration process, as all data is contained in a single set.

👎 Disadvantage: requires a lot of time and storage space.

Incremental backup

An incremental backup is concerned only with data that has changed since the last backup, whether full or incremental.

E.g.: if a full backup is performed on Monday :

• an incremental backup on Tuesday copies only the changes made since Monday ;
• an incremental backup on Wednesday copies only the changes made since Tuesday, etc.

👍 Advantage: reduces execution time and storage space used.

👎 Disadvantage: restoration can be complex, since the last full backup and all subsequent incremental backups must be recovered.

Differential backup

Here, the process involves copying all data modified after the last full backup.

The difference with incremental backup lies in the reference point used to determine what should or should not be backed up.

For example, if a full backup is performed on Monday :

• a differential backup on Tuesday copies all changes made since Monday ;
• a differential backup on Wednesday also copies all changes made since Monday.

👍 Advantage: restoration is simpler than with the incremental method, since it requires only the last full backup as well as the last differential backup.

👎 Disadvantage: takes up more time and space as the number of changes increases.

Continuous data protection

This is generally the type of backup that first springs to mind when the question of automatic backup is raised.

The process is based on recording every change, in real time.

👍 Advantage: provides the highest level of data protection, with near-instantaneous restoration.

👎 Disadvantage: requires a lot of system resources and bandwidth.

How does automatic backup work?

How automatic backup works is very simple: your backup software does the job for you.

All you have to do is choose the service provider that's right for you, then configure the tool to suit your needs:

• Which files or folders should be backed up?
• How often should backups be performed?
• Which storage location do you prefer?

Once all these elements have been filled in, the software works automatically, regularly copying the specified data to a new target, when there is a change or according to the parameters entered.

👉 These backups are commonly stored off-site in the cloud, for optimum security:

• you are protected against local data loss, theft or disaster (fire, flood, etc.);
• cloud backup services often use advanced encryption protocols to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data in transit and at rest;
• folders and files can be retrieved from anywhere, and your information is generally available 24/7.

Advantages and disadvantages of automatic backup

Advantages of automatic backup

There are a multitude of advantages to automatic backup, most of which are linked to the very fact of using specific software.

💡 Here are the main ones to remember:

• You save time and reduce the risk of errors on your backup operations thanks to the elimination of manual tasks.
  
  
• You always have a perfectly up-to-date copy of your files, even if you have to handle a large quantity of documents.
  
  
• Greater flexibility thanks to configuration. There are no time constraints for your backup processes, and you're free to choose the appropriate frequency and type of backup.
  
  
• You save money, since you don't have to pay IT staff.
  
  
• You benefit from the security protocols included in specialized solutions, as all data is encrypted and stored off-site, in well-protected clouds.
  
  
• You can quickly recover your data in the event of a breakdown, attack or accidental deletion. Some tools even include versioning capabilities, which come in handy if you want to restore earlier versions of files.
  
  
• Regular, traceable backups make it easier to comply with regulatory data protection requirements.

And the drawbacks?

Frankly, there aren't many drawbacks to automatic backup. In fact, it all depends on the solution you choose, and the type of backup you set up.

👉 For example, if you opt for continuous or frequent backup, you can expect bandwidth consumption to slow down other activities on your network.

In addition, other problems may arise if you choose software that is:

• difficult to maintain and configure ;
• has security flaws ;
• doesn't offer sufficient or flexible storage space.

Hence the importance of choosing the right provider, based on precise criteria that we're going to detail right now 😀.

Which solutions for your automatic backup?

How do you choose your backup software?

To choose the right backup software, study the various criteria below, confronting them with your own needs as well as the structure of your business. It's easy to understand that a large company handling a very large volume of data and a freelancer with more modest requirements will not turn to the same tool.

👉 So here are the main points to look out for:

• The platform's backup features: in particular, check whether the solution supports the type of backup that suits you, and whether it's possible to schedule the frequency as you wish.
  
  
• System performance: the software must guarantee optimum backup speed without slowing down day-to-day operations.
  
  
• Platform security: what security protocols are applied? Data encryption, access control, etc.
  
  
• Storage and scalability: consider the storage options on offer (local, cloud, hybrid) and whether the tool will be able to scale easily as you grow.
  
  
• Integration with your information system: make sure the solution you choose is compatible with your working environment, whether it's your operating system or your various applications and databases.
  
  
• User-friendly interface: thanks to an intuitive interface, even non-technical users are able to manage backups.
  
  
• Restore options: take a look at the different restore options available (full restore, file-by-file, version-by-version, etc.).
  
  
• Software cost: compare the various pricing models (monthly subscription, one-off payment, cost per data volume), paying attention to potential "hidden costs", and look for the tool promising the best return on investment.
  
  
• Regulatory compliance: make sure the solution helps you comply with local and international data protection regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).

Examples of automatic backup software

In our directory, you'll find many interesting backup solutions , to be studied in the light of the above criteria.

💡 However, if you're a freelancer or small business operating in a Linux environment, we recommend Datashelter. Very easy to use, even for the less technophile, this software makes perfectly secure incremental backups for you (AES-256 encryption and servers located in France). All you have to do is configure it in just a few clicks, and Datashelter takes care of the rest. And all these services are available at an attractive, scalable and transparent price.

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What can I learn from automatic backup?

In the final analysis, automatic backup lets you sleep soundly: you no longer need to worry about preserving your data, without spending an inordinate amount of energy and money on IT security.

Today, software developed for this purpose enables you to apply the type of backup you want, in line with your requirements and the nature and volume of data you produce.

As a result, having an IT security policy is no longer the prerogative of large corporations. Smaller professionals can also protect and back up their information... even if they're not very comfortable with technology!