{"id":68911,"date":"2016-11-04T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T17:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=68911"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:12:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:12:59","slug":"5-common-cloud-backup-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/5-common-cloud-backup-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Mistakes Everyone Makes With Cloud Backup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cloud<\/a><\/p>\n

Cloud-based storage and file sync services are ubiquitous: Everywhere we turn, new services pop up (and often shut down), promising free or low cost storage of everything and anything on our computers and mobile devices.<\/p>\n

When you depend on the cloud, it\u2019s very easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Don\u2019t. Here are five common mistakes all of us make with cloud backup and sync services. I\u2019ve added suggestions for how to avoid these pitfalls.<\/p>\n

Assuming the Cloud Is Backing Things Up<\/h2>\n

\u201cI have iCloud or Google Drive, so everything\u2019s backed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some cloud backup and file sync services make it really easy to put files online, but they may not be all the files you need. Don\u2019t just assume the cloud services you use are doing a complete backup of your device\u2014check to see what is actually being backed up. The services you use may only back up specific folders or directories on your computer\u2019s hard drive.<\/p>\n

Read this for more info on how Backblaze backs up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a big difference between file backup services and sync services, by the way. Which brings me to my next point:<\/p>\n

Confusing Sync for Backup<\/h2>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need backup. I\u2019ve got my files synced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sync services enable you to keep consistent contents between multiple devices\u2014think Dropbox or iCloud Drive, for example. Make one change to the contents of that shared info, and the same thing happens across all devices, including file changes and deletions. Depending on how you have syncing and sharing set up, you can delete a file on one device and have it disappear on all the other shared devices.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also found it handy to have a backup service<\/a> that enables you to restore multiple versions. In point of fact, Dropbox lets you restore previous versions<\/a>. Apple\u2019s Time Machine, built into the Mac, does this, too. So does Backblaze (we keep track of multiple versions up to 30 days). Not to say you shouldn\u2019t use Dropbox; we do! We wrote about how we are complimentary services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thinking One Backup Is Enough<\/h2>\n

\u201cHey, I\u2019m backing up to the cloud. That\u2019s better than nothing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s better than nothing but it\u2019s not enough. You want a local backup too. That\u2019s why I recommend a 3-2-1 backup<\/a> strategy. In addition to the \u201clive\u201d copy of the data on your hard drive<\/a>, make sure you have a local backup, and use the cloud for off-site storage<\/a>. Likewise, if you\u2019re only storing data on a local backup, you\u2019re putting all your eggs in that basket. Add off-site backup to complete your backup strategy. Conversely, if you only store your data in the cloud, you\u2019re susceptible to those services being down as well. So having a local copy can keep you productive even if your favorite service is temporarily down.<\/p>\n

Leaving Things Insecure<\/h2>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not backing up anything important enough for hackers to bother with.\u201d<\/p>\n

With identity theft on the rise, the security of all of your data online should be paramount. Strong encryption<\/a> is important, so make sure it\u2019s supported by the services you depend on.<\/p>\n

Even if a bad actor doesn\u2019t want your data, they still may want your computer for nefarious purposes, like driving a botnet used to launch a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. That\u2019s exactly what recently happened to Dyn<\/a>, a company that provides core internet services for other popular internet services like Twitter and Spotify.<\/p>\n

Make sure to protect your computer with strong passwords, practice safe surfing, and keep your computer updated with the latest software. Also check periodically for malware and get rid of it when you find it.<\/p>\n

Thinking That It\u2019s Taken Care Of<\/h2>\n

\u201cI have a backup strategy<\/a> in place, so I don\u2019t have to think about it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s wise to observe an old aphorism: \u201cTrust but verify.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s absolutely nothing wrong with developing an automated backup strategy. But it\u2019s vitally<\/em> important to periodically test your backups to make sure they\u2019re doing what they\u2019re supposed to.<\/p>\n

You should test your most important, mission-critical data first. Tax returns? Important legal documents? Irreplaceable baby pictures<\/a>? Make sure the files that are important to you are retrievable and intact by actually trying to recover them. Find out more about how to test your backup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Backblaze too. Test all<\/em> your backups\u2014we even recommend it in our Best Practices<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Got more cloud backup myths to bust? Share them with me in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cloud-based storage and file sync services are ubiquitous: Everywhere we turn, new services pop up (and often shut down), promising free or low cost storage of everything and anything on our computers and mobile devices. When you depend on the cloud, it\u2019s very easy to get lulled into a false sense of security. Don\u2019t. Here… Continue reading Five Mistakes Everyone Makes With Cloud Backup<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":68921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,121],"tags":[469],"class_list":["post-68911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backblaze-tips-tricks","category-backing-up","tag-consumerbackup","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Common Cloud Backup Mistakes and How to Ensure Data Reliability<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Saving your data to the cloud is not a set it and forget it activity. 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Don't make these five common mistakes or your data will be at risk.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/5-common-cloud-backup-mistakes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/backblaze\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/flargh\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-11-04T17:00:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-11T20:12:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/backup-is-hosed.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"820\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Peter Cohen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@flargh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@backblaze\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Peter Cohen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 Common Cloud Backup Mistakes and How to Ensure Data Reliability","description":"Saving your data to the cloud is not a set it and forget it activity. 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