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Business owners often wonder, \u201cCan\u2019t we just store all our files on Google Drive or Dropbox and call it a day?\u201d The short answer? No. Not if you want to properly protect your business from data loss.<\/p>\n
Many services out there offer businesses a way to store and protect files online, and it might seem like they accomplish the same task. While many of these cloud-based sync services seem to operate with backup-like functionality, they will not protect you from total data loss.<\/p>\n
This post explains the difference between cloud sync, cloud backup, and cloud storage, so you can make the most informed choice for your business when it comes to taking care of your data. Plenty of business owners only learn the difference between backup and sync services in the most painful circumstances: after<\/em> data loss. <\/p>\n Read on to understand how to best use sync, backup, and cloud storage services together to ensure that your business\u2019s data is stored both securely and in the most optimal way for productivity.<\/p>\n It\u2019s helpful to understand how cloud sync, cloud backup, and cloud storage services differ from each other, and how they complement one another. Each performs a unique, helpful service, but learning the differences will help you more effectively put them to work for your specific use case.<\/p>\n You\u2019re probably familiar with services like OneDrive, Dropbox Business, or Google Drive. These services sync (short for \u201csynchronize\u201d) files or folders on your computer to your other devices running the same application, ensuring that the same and most up-to-date information is merged across each device.<\/p>\n Sync services allow multiple users across multiple devices to access the same file, making it incredibly useful for collaboration and for sharing information with others. But because these services are designed for syncing, if your coworker deletes a shared file, that change will be reflected across all devices, and you may lose access to that file forever. Though most sync services offer a limited way to restore changed or deleted file versions, they aren\u2019t true backups and remain susceptible to major data loss.<\/p>\n For Pierre Chamberland\u2014founder of NetGovern, an informational governance solution\u2014making this distinction between sync and backup was a vital realization for his company\u2019s information security. A cloud backup tool takes all of the data on your computer and stores it safely somewhere remote from your work environment. It works similarly to a traditional backup which would catalog and save all of the files on your computer to an external hard drive or a storage server<\/a> on your local network. Except, in this case, your data is stored in an off-site server\u2014also known as \u201cthe cloud.\u201d<\/p>\n Cloud backups are optimized to allow businesses to easily recover their data in case a computer is lost, stolen, or compromised. Backups offer various options for data recovery allowing users to quickly access files via web and mobile applications or have their data directly shipped to them<\/a> via a USB hard drive<\/a>. The point is, cloud backups ensure complete protection from data loss and are meant to help your business recover swiftly.<\/p>\n For the College of Humanities at a leading research university<\/a> in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, finding a backup solution to replace software developed by graduates became more urgent over time, as troubleshooting took time IT didn\u2019t always have, and their backups of faculty and staff computers were outgrowing their on-premises capacity. Cloud storage is what makes cloud sync and cloud backup possible. Cloud storage providers like Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage<\/a> offer the backend infrastructure for the storage of data, which services like Dropbox or Backblaze Business Backup are built on top of. It is the physical location where backups are stored and syncing occurs.<\/p>\n And yet, while a simple definition of cloud storage is that it is the raw storage that these other services are built on top of, it is also true that you can utilize cloud storage to build a unique service or application.<\/p>\n Most cloud storage providers offer an application programming interface (API) that lets you directly connect to the cloud storage of your choice, giving you the ability to create a service that does exactly what your business needs it to do. Alternatively, you can choose an integration partner that pairs with the cloud storage provider giving you the same direct connection to the cloud without having to do any technical development.<\/p>\n Sync services were not built with backup in mind. They often rely on the user having a folder on their computer that is designated for OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Users place files into that folder when they want their data to appear on other devices via the sync service.<\/p>\n This is an excellent way to avoid having to email yourself or your team files that need to be shared or worked on together. However, it\u2019s important to remember that files outside of your team\u2019s designated folders, e.g., in Documents, Downloads, Photos, etc., will remain locally stored on your device, and not synced to the cloud.<\/p>\n Just as sync services aren\u2019t the same as cloud backup services, the reverse is also true. Though backup services may allow you various options to remotely access your data and share individual files when you need to, they are not suitable for use as collaboration tools. Instead, cloud backups ensure that all data on one device is backed up safely elsewhere. Instead of having to manually drag and drop files into designated locations, a backup will typically work automatically and in the background of your computer, backing up any new or changed data on the device. In the event of a computer crash, data loss, or ransomware attack<\/a> these backed up files will be available for recovery.<\/p>\n When recovering files from a business cloud backup service<\/a>, it\u2019s important to understand the versioning options they provide. Say you accidentally delete a file, but don\u2019t realize it until a few months later. You may be unable to access the file if versioning limits apply, or you may only have access to the most recent version of the lost file. However, many services now offer features like extended version history<\/a>, which allows you to recover files from past points in time, so you can easily restore older work.<\/p>\n Here is a table that provides a quick overview and comparison of cloud sync<\/a>, cloud backup<\/a>, and cloud storage<\/a>:What\u2019s the Difference Between Cloud Sync, Cloud Backup, and Cloud Storage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cloud Sync<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nCustomer Story: NetGovern<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nInitially, Chamberland designated Microsoft OneDrive as the central source for storing his team\u2019s files and projects. This served as an excellent tool for collaboration and quick and easy access to files. But, Chamberland suspected that not everyone was keeping copies of their data in OneDrive, so he decided to conduct an audit. He found that only 20% of his staff had properly backed up their work.
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\nChamberland rolled out a proper cloud backup solution<\/a> for his business so that he could ensure all of his company data was protected.<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/bb-bh-Why-Choose-Backup-Over-Sync.png\")
<\/p>\nCloud Backup<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nCustomer Story: Leading Research University<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nTheir IT team implemented Backblaze Business Backup, cutting their team\u2019s backup management effort by a factor of five. The IT manager can view all backups from the portal and migrate data from machines remotely, restore files seamlessly, and balance day-to-day responsibilities with more focus on serving users.<\/div>\nCloud Storage<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cloud Sync Is Not the Same as Cloud Backup<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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