Looking for a good backup solution (cloud backup?)

[Giant Lizard]

Hi, I'm not completely sure this is the right section to ask this, because I wanted to ask more about cloud backup.

I already do a normal backup of my data with phisical hard drives, but I was thinking to go for a cloud backup service, for maximum security (hard drives can broke and be stolen) and making a little research I've found out services like CrashPlan and Backblaze, which I don't know how they work.

I know I should pay 6 or more $ per month. First of all, do you suggest them? Are they safe?

And second: which one you suggest?

I'm worried about the fact they say you can use only one computer, what does it mean exactly? Not many computers at the same time? My files are stocked in external hard drives, not on a single computer.

And of course I would keep doing backups on real hard drives, encrypted (and I actually need a suggestion about that too, for which software to use ).

Thank you in advance

 

[RealBeast]

If your data is important, offsite backup is a wise decision. Personally, I would recommend Backblaze as I have used them on a number of clients. They (and I would assume Crashplan also) does significant redundant backup at multiple locations. The software is easy to use.

Backblaze publishes a lot of hard drive data on drive reliability that I follow and as you can see HERE they have approximately 70,000 drives in use and *added* about 32 petabytes of additional storage during the second and third quarter last year.

 

[USAFRet]

For backing up to local drives, I use Macrium Reflect.
Does a full disk image, on whatever schedule you choose.
Also does Differential images.
If you buy the paid version($70), that adds Incremental images and other features.

Also, for simple file/folder backups, SyncBack Free, or FreeFile Sync.

I'm in the middle of rebuilding most of the systems in the house, and redoing the backup plan as part of that.

But my basic flow is this:
My main system:
A nightly image at 2AM of the 500GB C drive. Keep for 2 weeks, deleting the oldest as it goes. This lands on another drive in the system.
Also, a weekly backup to another system on the house LAN. Sunday at 3AM. Keep for 4 weeks, deleting the oldest.
The wife's PC gets the same treatment.

All unattended on a schedule.

Other files on other drives get s simple file/folder copy, with SyncBack free or FreeFile Sync. On a similar schedule.

Anything really critical and irreplaceable lives on a hard drive at work. Scans of birth certificates, pics of the grandkids, etc, etc. Stuff that does not change.
Rotate between 2 drives once a month or so.

Sounds complex, but once it is set up, its mostly hands off.

 

[Giant Lizard]

well, for a local backup, I'd rather pick a free tool if possible. I know there are good backup softwares, I just need to know which one is better (but free, that's important)

I read that softwares like Crashplan and Backblaze do also offline backup. It would be awesome to use only one program to do all.

If your data is important, offsite backup is a wise decision. Personally, I would recommend Backblaze as I have used them on a number of clients. They (and I would assume Crashplan also) does significant redundant backup at multiple locations. The software is easy to use.

Backblaze publishes a lot of hard drive data on drive reliability that I follow and as you can see HERE they have approximately 70,000 drives in use and *added* about 32 petabytes of additional storage during the second and third quarter last year.

Yeah, I'm actually trying to decide which one is better between Crashplan and Backblaze. I read many articles, most of them say that Crashplan is a little better than Backblaze, because of encryption (higher than Backblaze) and speed (but the last seems to be good only from USA, while I'm in EU).

You use Backblaze: does it let you do the backup locally too? From your computer to an external hard drive? Is it fast? Do you live in EU or USA?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm trying to understand 😀

thank you again!

 

[USAFRet]

well, for a local backup, I'd rather pick a free tool if possible. I know there are good backup softwares, I just need to know which one is better (but free, that's important)

My above linked applications are all free.

 

[Giant Lizard]

well, for a local backup, I'd rather pick a free tool if possible. I know there are good backup softwares, I just need to know which one is better (but free, that's important)

My above linked applications are all free.

thank you, I will check them too

 

[RealBeast]

I am in the US, well sort of -- I'm in Texas.

All of the users that I have set up on Backblaze for cloud backup also are set up for local backup and most use Macrium for their local backup.

At home I don't use Backblaze, as several relatives in the computer industry provide me with high volume storage on their local servers in other states at no cost. At home I have multiple large storage arrays and I use Macrium Reflect (the full version) and do periodic backup like USAFRet does to my primary server, which is periodically backed up to a secondary local server and the other non-local sites. I don't recommend my own personal method for anyone else as it is a bit excessive and labor intensive for most people.

The important issue is to choose a backup method that you will continue to do without fail, which for most people means automatically as it is usually not a priority with life happening.

 

[Giant Lizard]

I am in the US, well sort of -- I'm in Texas.

All of the users that I have set up on Backblaze for cloud backup also are set up for local backup and most use Macrium for their local backup.

At home I don't use Backblaze, as several relatives in the computer industry provide me with high volume storage on their local servers in other states at no cost. At home I have multiple large storage arrays and I use Macrium Reflect (the full version) and do periodic backup like USAFRet does to my primary server, which is periodically backed up to a secondary local server and the other non-local sites. I don't recommend my own personal method for anyone else as it is a bit excessive and labor intensive for most people.

The important issue is to choose a backup method that you will continue to do without fail, which for most people means automatically as it is usually not a priority with life happening.

true, but here comes another question about automatic backup (scheduled): what if my computer is switched off? I'm used to backup programs on servers, which are always turned on, but my pc at home is just a client, so I turn it off often. What happens if my computer is switched off during the scheduled backup? Or what if the hard drive to which it's supposed to do the backup is not plugged?


PS: I would like to know why for you Texas is not in the US, but I guess it's not the right place to ask 😀

 

[USAFRet]

true, but here comes another question about automatic backup (scheduled): what if my computer is switched off? I'm used to backup programs on servers, which are always turned on, but my pc at home is just a client, so I turn it off often. What happens if my computer is switched off during the scheduled backup? Or what if the hard drive to which it's supposed to do the backup is not plugged?


PS: I would like to know why for you Texas is not in the US, but I guess it's not the right place to ask 😀

If either end of the backup chain is OFF or disconnected...Source or Target...obviously it won't happen.
Some of the applications will attempt to retry once power is restored.

 

[RealBeast]

You would understand, if like me you moved from the Bay Area in California to rural East Texas -- it's another planet really. Not bad, just very different.

Back to the topic, you need to periodically check that all of your backup is being done as scheduled and that nothing in your storage needs has changed to prompt changes in what you need to do. Just think of it as a dynamic process, when things change you need to consider storage changes.

You are clearly on the right path, most posts are by users who have lost all of their data already.

 

[Giant Lizard]

true, but here comes another question about automatic backup (scheduled): what if my computer is switched off? I'm used to backup programs on servers, which are always turned on, but my pc at home is just a client, so I turn it off often. What happens if my computer is switched off during the scheduled backup? Or what if the hard drive to which it's supposed to do the backup is not plugged?


PS: I would like to know why for you Texas is not in the US, but I guess it's not the right place to ask 😀

If either end of the backup chain is OFF or disconnected...Source or Target...obviously it won't happen.
Some of the applications will attempt to retry once power is restored.

of course, but it will retry as soon as the sources are online, or it would wait until the next scheduled backup to try again?

 

[Giant Lizard]

You would understand, if like me you moved from the Bay Area in California to rural East Texas -- it's another planet really. Not bad, just very different.

Back to the topic, you need to periodically check that all of your backup is being done as scheduled and that nothing in your storage needs has changed to prompt changes in what you need to do. Just think of it as a dynamic process, when things change you need to consider storage changes.

You are clearly on the right path, most posts are by users who have lost all of their data already.

ah ok, yeah, now I see what you mean then 😀

anyway, I'm a little worried now, I was sure enough to take CrashPlan, when I've found this review: http://www.backupreview.com/crashplan-review/

the user's comments are HORRIBLE. It seems they delete all your files with no warnings if you don't connect for more than a period of time, EVEN IF YOU PAY :| the support is zero (means you call them and no one answer for a couple of weeks or they answer rude), the speed even decreased recently...in short, it sucks. And that's completely the opposite of what all the reviews say.


And Backblaze user's reviews are almost on the same level: http://www.backupreview.com/backblaze-review/


so, now I don't know what to do anymore...it seems it doesn't exist a reliable backup cloud service out there 🙁 I honestly trust more the user's reviews than specialized websites who probably test softwares for a couple of days max :/


by the way, I never lost anything yet, but my system is not safe enough, it could happen any moment, that's why I need to secure it asap.

 

[Giant Lizard]

up 🙁

I'm even having problem to find a good offline backup software (free). All the websites say that EaseUS Todo Backup is the best one, but I read some bad user's review and they also don't give the option to encrypt the files. Do the programs you suggested do that?


And for the cloud backup, is even worse. Crashplan is considered crap everywhere: 80% of the user's comments are really negative, only the websites say it's the best one. I wonder if they payed for the good reviews...

Same issues with Backblaze. They too, delete all your data after a while if you don't connect (and it could happen for a problem and you don't even know), EVEN if you are still paying.


So, in short: I still have nothing 🙁