is cloud sync backup

[pcpete]

Would you consider using Cloud Sync with your Synology NAS true offsite backup? The reason I ask is if you get your files changed by crypto, all those are synced to the cloud backup. But, any good cloud backup allows you to roll back versions. To me this seems simple, inexpensive, and reliable backup. Am I missing any downside?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

It's another level of protection....sure.

One might argue that some ransomware or malware would evolve to be able to "whack" retention/versioning of some popular cloud sites....if it could touch it....cross the backup agent.

 

[Markverhyden]

In my book a backup is defined as a data set that is completely independent of the underlying infrastructure.

 

[brandonkick]

Offsite and offline.

Simplest method, make a full backup onto an external HDD and unplug nightly to take offsite with you. Puts the human in the loop as a point of failure, but to the point of evolving malware... it's likely going to remain a necessary point of failure.

Easiest method, some type of online storage where the creds aren't saved / the push to update the online data store has to be done manually.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Cloud sync is not a backup, any changes to the live dataset results in a change in the cloud stored copy. To be a backup, you need some sort of versioning or archiving.

Onedrive has complicated this further by having a versioning system that engages only when it detects a crypto.

Offline copies are just a manual archive, and that does work but it's hard on the humans involved.

So the question becomes, are the anti-crypto features of cloud storage systems "enough"... I don't really think so, but I'll sure take advantage of them if that's all I've got!

 

[Your PCMD]

Cloud sync is not a backup

^ This +1

I had a client using Synology NAS + Cloud Sync and this stores your so-called backup in a same file/folder format. This is fine IF you're just using it to store files from a computer to the NAS. But to backup, I installed Duplicati as the actual backup program and connected it to a B2 bucket. It does versioning and all the backup is encrypted. You can go into Duplicati under Restore and see the actual file/folder (because it de-crypts it) and restore a single file or the whole folder either to the same location as the original or a different one. You can even restore everything (I only have it backup docs, pics, desktop, favorites, downloads) even if the machine takes a crap and dies, you just have to keep the config file (which I have on my server for every client).

For file/folder "storage", I'm currently testing OpenDrive because of limitations for OneDrive do to manage cloud storage I offer my MSP clients because my Synology box is at 96% capacity (four 2TB drives). Sure I could put bigger drives in it, but I don't have the time to do that and sit for days having it rebuild.

 

[GTP]

Cloud sync is not a backup

+1 This ^
I have to keep reminding clients that cloud backups are only mirrors of the existing data on your local drives.
Delete something from your local drive and its gone from the cloud as well....unless you have a cloud backup provider that has versioning and retention.
Luckily the provider I use and recommend to clients has both for 30 days.
Saved a lot of heartbreak for some.
But there is no substitute for multiple copies of backups of critical and important data to offline and off site storage.

 

[pcpete]

it may be called cloudsync

+1 This ^
I have to keep reminding clients that cloud backups are only mirrors of the existing data on your local drives.
Delete something from your local drive and its gone from the cloud as well....unless you have a cloud backup provider that has versioning and retention.
Luckily the provider I use and recommend to clients has both for 30 days.
Saved a lot of heartbreak for some.
But there is no substitute for multiple copies of backups of critical and important data to offline and off site storage.

exactly, but using Synolgy's CloudSync allows Dropbox as one of the providers. They keep all of your file versions back for 6 months. They have a cool rewind feature, which allows you to rewind to any point in time, up to six months back. The only two failure points is it saves the credentials and if for some reason if the Synology box is owned and the credentials are grabbed, in theory they could delete your files from the cloud. Even if they did that Dropbox would keep a copy anyways. The second failure point is dropbox not doing what they say they are. Like any backup you should be periodically checking to make sure it is backed up.

You could make the point that dropbox alone without using a NAS is rock solid for file sharing and backup, so long as you trust them as a company with your files. I would not and occasionally just back them up to a usb drive

The downside to dropbox is kind of the price. at about $45/month for a three person minimum, then about $15/person after that.

 

[pcpete]

Even if it took a full day for Dropbox to figure out some issue, that would be too long without your files. This could be rectified by just having a USB drive plugged into one computer and have it nightly sync your dropbox files to it

 

[Sky-Knight]

Even if it took a full day for Dropbox to figure out some issue, that would be too long without your files. This could be rectified by just having a USB drive plugged into one computer and have it nightly sync your dropbox files to it

If your cloud sync software requires a connection to the cloud to provide access to your files... it sucks... Dropbox is the poorest at this, and even it doesn't work that way. The device that has the files on it still has them, it just can't sync them upstream to get to other devices without the cloud service.

 

[pcpete]

If your cloud sync software requires a connection to the cloud to provide access to your files... it sucks... Dropbox is the poorest at this, and even it doesn't work that way. The device that has the files on it still has them, it just can't sync them upstream to get to other devices without the cloud service.

I was assuming worst case that all of your files were deleted or then propagated to the others computers so you had not files in your dropbox folder locally. Then you would still have them from your nightly backup to an external drive

 

[Sky-Knight]

I was assuming worst case that all of your files were deleted or then propagated to the others computers so you had not files in your dropbox folder locally. Then you would still have them from your nightly backup to an external drive

That's a DR state, and it's a rather large stretch to find yourself not only losing the machine with the data on it, and not having Internet access at the point of restore.... Sure it could happen, but I can get all my files on my phone... so... I don't think that's a real risk anymore. It certainly used to be!