{"id":83329,"date":"2018-06-07T09:51:46","date_gmt":"2018-06-07T16:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=83329"},"modified":"2025-12-11T12:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:22:23","slug":"advanced-cloud-backup-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/advanced-cloud-backup-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Advanced Cloud Backup Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Simple and easy backup is great for most people. For those who find configuring and managing backup challenging, it can mean the difference between having a computer regularly backed up and doing nothing at all.<\/p>\n

For others, simple and easy doesn\u2019t cut it. They have needs that go beyond install and forget it, or have platforms and devices that aren\u2019t handled by a program like Backblaze Computer Backup.<\/a> Backing up Windows Servers, Linux boxes, NAS devices, or even VMs all require specialized software. Beyond a device or platform need, there are advanced users that want to fine tune or automate how backup fits into their other IT tasks.<\/p>\n

For these people, there are a number of storage solutions with applications and integrations that will fulfill their needs. Backblaze<\/a> B2 Cloud Storage,<\/a> for example, is general purpose object cloud storage that can be used for a wide range of uses, including data backup and archiving. You can think of B2 as an infinitely large and secure storage drive in the cloud that\u2019s ready for anything you want to do with it. Backblaze provides the storage, along with a robust API, web interface, and a CLI for the do-it-yourself crowd. In addition, there\u2019s a long list of partner integrations<\/a> to address specific market segments, platforms, use cases, and feature requirements. You just bring the data, and we get you backed up securely and affordably.<\/p>\n

Advanced Backup Needs & Solutions<\/h2>\n

There’s a wide range of features and use cases that could be called advanced<\/em> backup. Some of these cases go beyond what we define as backup<\/em> and include archiving<\/em>. We distinguish backup and archiving in the following way. Backup<\/em> is making one or more copies of currently active data in case you want to retrieve a previous version of the data or something happens to your primary copy. Archiving<\/em> is a record of your data at a moment in time. Backblaze Computer Backup is a data backup solution. Backblaze B2, being general purpose, can be used for either backup or archiving, depending on the user\u2019s needs. Recovery<\/em> is another possible use of object cloud storage that we\u2019ll cover in future posts.<\/p>\n

A Dozen Advanced Cloud Backup Use Cases<\/h2>\n

Below you’ll find a dozen capabilities, use cases, and features that could fall in the category of advanced<\/em> cloud backup and archiving. All twelve can be addressed with a combination of Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage and a Backblaze solution, or in concert with one of our many integration partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
1 — File and Directory\/Folder Selection<\/dt>\n
The vast majority of users want all their data backed up. The Backblaze Computer Backup client backs everything up by default and lets users exclude what they want. Some advanced users prefer to manually select what specific drives, folders, and directories are included<\/em> for backup and\/or be able to set global rules for inclusion<\/em> and exclusion<\/em>.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n

Read more about it:<\/p>\n