Data protection within everyone's reach thanks to automatic backup!

Faced with a clear upsurge in IT threats, all professionals are highly exposed to cyber attacks, whether they are freelancers or part of a large group.

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

And because not all professionals and businesses have enough bandwidth to deal with all this on their own, it's even better if it's an automatic backup!

How does this work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? How do you back up a file automatically and what tools do you use?

Backup without the headache is here 👉.

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What is an automatic backup?

As a reminder, computer backup defines an operation consisting of creating a copy of data on a medium external to the system where it is located, so that it can be accessed again if there is a problem (cyber attack, disaster, human error, etc.).

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

So 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, there's no need to worry about your back-ups - your backup software does them all by itself. It's a great way to protect your data in all circumstances, even if you don't have an IT team or the time to manage this type of task 😉.

The 4 different types of automatic backup

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

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

Full backup

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

👍 Advantage: simplifies the restoration process, as all the 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.

For example, if a full backup is made 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, as the last full backup and all subsequent incremental backups must be recovered.

Differential backup

Here, the process involves copying all the 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 made on Monday :

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

👍 Advantage: restoration is simpler than with the incremental method, as it only requires the last full backup and 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 virtually instantaneous restoration.

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

How does automatic backup work?

Automatic backup works very simply: your backup software does the job for you.

All you have to do is choose the service provider that suits you best, then configure the tool to suit your needs:

• Which files or folders should be backed up?
• How often should they be backed up?
• 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, in the event of 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;
• your folders and files can be recovered from anywhere and your information is generally available 24/7.

Advantages and disadvantages of automatic backup

The 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.
  
  
• Configurations give you greater flexibility. There are no time constraints for your backup processes, and you are free to choose the frequency and type of backup you require.
  
  
• You save money, because you don't have to pay IT staff.
  
  
• You benefit from the security protocols included in specialist solutions, because 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 features, which are handy if you want to restore earlier versions of files.
  
  
• Regular, traceable back-ups 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.

Other problems can arise if you choose software that is :

• is difficult to maintain and configure ;
• has security flaws
• does not offer sufficient or flexible storage space.

That's why it's important to choose the right service provider, based on specific criteria that we're going to go into in more detail now 😀.

Which solutions should you use to carry out your automatic backup?

How do you choose your backup software?

To choose the right backup software, study the various criteria below, comparing 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 choose 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 is 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 ask yourself 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, by version, etc.).
  
  
• The cost of the software: compare the various pricing models (monthly subscription, one-off payment, cost per volume of data), paying attention to potential "hidden costs", and look for the tool that promises 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 will find many interesting backup solutions , to be studied in the light of the above criteria.

💡 However, if you are a freelancer or small business operating in a Linux environment, we recommend Datashelter. Very easy to use, even for the less tech-savvy, 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 a few clicks, guided by its interface, and Datashelter will take care of the rest. And all these services are available at an attractive, scalable and transparent price.

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What should I remember about 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 allows 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 companies. Smaller businesses can also protect and back up their information... even if they're not very comfortable with technology!