Backblaze offers a comprehensive server backup solution that protects your data against hardware failure, human error, and natural disasters.
Backblaze automatically backs up your data to the cloud, so you can access it from anywhere and rest assured that it's safe.
With Backblaze, you can schedule backups to run at regular intervals, ensuring your data is always up to date.
Backblaze stores your data in multiple data centers across the globe, providing redundancy and ensuring that your data is always accessible.
Backup Options
Backing up your files to an off-site cloud server is an easy, affordable, and safe way to make sure that your most important files are safe.
Backblaze is the easiest to set up and use among the popular services we reviewed. It's also quite affordable.
To get started with Backblaze, you simply download the app from their website, create an account, and then let the app do its thing.
Backup Features
Backblaze offers an easy-to-use and affordable way to back up your files to an off-site cloud server.
To get started, simply download the Backblaze app, create an account, and let the app do its thing.
Snapshots let you download several files in a zip format from a specified point in time, giving you peace of mind in case of data loss.
The "reports" tab shows you a graphical breakdown of your data transactions and storage, helping you stay on top of your backup activity.
Caps and alerts give you a breakdown of your daily caps, like storage, bandwidth, or transactions, so you can maintain a free account and avoid unexpected charges.
Cloud replication automatically copies data in your account from a specified bucket into another one you choose, creating data redundancy in case of unexpected data loss or corruption.
Direct
Direct backup to Backblaze B2 is a convenient option for protecting your data. You can send backups directly to Backblaze B2 storage from various environments, including VMware vSphere, VMware Cloud Director, Microsoft Hyper-V, and more.
The supported environments include:
- VMware vSphere
- VMware Cloud Director
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- Nutanix AHV
- Proxmox VE
- Amazon EC2 instances
- Windows servers and workstations
- Linux servers and workstations
- NAS data via SMB/NFS file shares
- Microsoft 365 apps and services
This feature allows you to protect your data from various sources in a single, efficient process.
Security and Encryption
Backblaze uses AES military grade encryption with 128-bit keys to protect your files, both on your Mac and on their servers. This ensures that your data is encrypted and secure from the moment it's uploaded.
To add an extra layer of security, you can create a private encryption key, which means that without it, nobody, including Backblaze, can decrypt your files. This key should be stored securely, such as in an app like 1Password.
Backblaze also offers two-factor authentication, which adds an extra step to the login process, requiring a code sent to your mobile device or an authenticator app. This makes it much harder for unauthorized users to access your account.
You can also enable server-side encryption on each bucket you create, which uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. This is a more secure option, but it requires creating an application key and connecting it to the bucket.
Backblaze uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption during file transfers, which protects your data from man-in-the-middle attacks. This is a robust security feature that gives you peace of mind.
Here's a quick overview of Backblaze's security features:
- AES military grade encryption with 128-bit keys
- Private encryption key option
- Two-factor authentication
- Server-side encryption with AES 256-bit
- TLS encryption during file transfers
Ransomware Resilience
Ransomware Resilience is a top priority for anyone who stores important files in the cloud. Backblaze B2 offers robust protection against ransomware attacks.
You can make backups stored in Backblaze B2 immutable using the write-once-read-many (WORM) technology. This prevents encryption or modification by ransomware infections.
Immutability is a powerful tool in the fight against ransomware. It ensures that your backups remain safe and intact, even if your computer is infected.
Here are some of the benefits of using immutability in Backblaze B2:
- Instantly boot entire VMs from cloud backups.
- Recover individual files and objects in Microsoft applications like Exchange Server, Active Directory and SQL Server.
- Perform instant physical-to-virtual (P2V) recovery or cross-platform recovery.
- Recover physical machines to bare metal, directly on hardware without reinstalling OS.
In addition to immutability, you can also set role-based access control and multifactor authentication to gain full control over access to data protection activities and backups. This ensures that only authorized users can access your backups.
By combining immutability with role-based access control and multifactor authentication, you can create a robust defense against ransomware attacks. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your backups are safe and secure.
Data Centers
Backblaze has a significant presence in the data center world, with five facilities spread across the globe. Four of these data centers are located in the United States.
Two of the U.S. data centers are situated in Northern California, near Sacramento.
One data center is in Phoenix, Arizona, and another is located in Reston, Virginia, at the CoreSite data center.
Backblaze also has a data center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, within the European Union.
Data Protection
Data protection is a top priority when it comes to cloud backups. Backblaze offers robust ransomware protection by making backups stored in Backblaze B2 immutable, preventing modification or encryption by ransomware infections.
Immutability uses the write-once-read-many (WORM) technology to lock recovery points for a specified period and cannot be lifted or shortened by any user. This ensures that your backups are safe from ransomware attacks.
Role-based access control and multifactor authentication are also essential for gaining full control over access to data protection activities and backups. You can also configure network and storage encryption to guarantee no data breaches.
Here are some key features of Backblaze's data protection:
- Instantly boot entire VMs from cloud backups.
- Recover individual files and objects in Microsoft applications like Exchange Server, Active Directory and SQL Server.
- Perform instant physical-to-virtual (P2V) recovery or cross-platform recovery.
- Recover physical machines to bare metal, directly on hardware without reinstalling OS.
The Case for Offsite
Having all your files backed up offsite is like having an insurance policy for your most valuable data. Thousands of photographs of our family, hundreds of hours of music, and all our tax records for the past several years are just a few examples of the kind of irreplaceable data we store on our computers.
It's unlikely, but possible that our home could be destroyed in a fire or a tornado, or that someone could break in and steal our computer and backup hard drive. If that happens, it's not just the physical items we'd lose, but also the memories and important documents stored on them.
By signing up with a service like Backblaze, you're taking out an insurance policy on all the most valuable and irreplaceable data on your computer. This means that a secure and encrypted version of all your files are stored in a data center somewhere far from your house.
Here are some examples of the kind of data you'd want to protect with offsite backups:
- Thousands of photographs of our family.
- Hundreds of hours of music.
- All my tax records for the past several years.
- Many more vital documents, notes, and passwords.
Having all your files backed up offsite gives you peace of mind, knowing that if disaster strikes, you'll still have access to your most important data.
How Can I Protect My?
Protecting your backups in the cloud is a top priority. You can make backups stored in Backblaze B2 immutable using the write-once-read-many (WORM) model, which prevents encryption or modification by ransomware infections.
Immutability is a powerful tool in keeping your backups safe. To further restrict access, you can apply role-based access controls (RBAC) to prevent unauthorized users from carrying out operations with your backup data.
Encrypting backups at source, in transit, and at rest adds an extra layer of security. This ensures that your data remains secure even if it's accessed by unauthorized parties.
Running a backup scan before restoring data to a production environment is crucial in guaranteeing that your backup data is malware-free. This simple step can save you from a world of trouble down the line.
File Versioning and Protection
File versioning is a crucial aspect of data protection, and Backblaze B2 offers a robust feature to manage file versions. You can modify the file versioning policy of each bucket you create to suit your needs.
Backblaze keeps a copy of your files for 30 days, which means if you delete a file on your computer, it will also be removed from Backblaze's servers after a month. This is to keep costs down and only store active data.
To navigate to specific versions of a file or folder on the Backblaze site, simply choose the date range for files backed up when you are in the Restore view. This makes it easy to revert to a previous version of a file if needed.
You can choose from only keeping the last version, keeping prior versions for a specified number of days, or setting custom rules for file versioning. Creating custom lifecycle rules has three required fields: file path name, days till hide, and days till delete.
Here are the options for file versioning policies:
By setting up file versioning and protection, you can ensure that your data is safe and easily recoverable in case of any issues.
Multiple Recovery Options
With Backblaze Server Backup, you have multiple recovery options to choose from.
You can instantly boot full VMs directly from Backblaze B2 backups, making it a great option for quickly getting your systems up and running again.
Full recovery is just one of the many options available. Here are some of the key recovery options you can use:
- Full recovery: Instantly boot full VMs directly from Backblaze B2 backups.
- Granular recovery: Restore individual files and app objects to original or custom locations.
- Platform migration: Recover physical Linux/Windows servers and workstations as VMware vSphere VMs with instant P2V Recovery.
- Bare metal recovery: Recover physical machines directly on the same or identical hardware.
This means you can choose the recovery option that best fits your needs, whether you're looking to quickly get a full VM up and running or need to restore individual files and app objects.
Product Comparison
Backblaze B2 offers a secure service for low prices, but it's not the only option. Carbonite is another online backup service that provides unlimited storage and AES 256-bit encryption for data protection.
In the event of a disaster, Carbonite's courier recovery service can help you get back up and running. However, Backblaze offers a few more features than Carbonite.
Direct to NAKIVO
If you're looking for a hassle-free experience, you can try NAKIVO Backup & Replication for free with a 15-day trial. This allows you to test the full range of features without any limitations.
The trial includes all the necessary tools to protect your data and send backups to cloud storage. You can even book a free deployment session with NAKIVO experts if you need help getting started.
With NAKIVO, you can easily deploy the solution on your own or take advantage of their free deployment session.
IaaS Comparison
When choosing an IaaS service, you have several options to consider. Backblaze B2 is one such option that offers a secure service at low prices. It competes with some of the biggest IaaS services out there.
Carbonite is another online backup service that's easy to use. It doesn't limit how much storage you get.
Backblaze B2 offers a few more features than Carbonite.
Carbonite
Carbonite is a well-known cloud backup service that offers unlimited space for about $5/month.
Its price is a major advantage, making it a good alternative to Backblaze. However, the Mac app has been troublesome in our experience, causing hang-ups due to high CPU usage.
Mozy
Mozy has been around for a long time, but its personal backup offering just doesn't live up to the competition. The basic plan costs $6/month, which only gets you 50 GB of space. You can upgrade to 125 GB for $10/month, but it's still not the best value. Additional space can be purchased, but at those prices, you're better off with Backblaze.
Product Information
Backblaze server backup is a robust solution designed to protect your data.
Backblaze offers a comprehensive backup solution for servers, with a focus on ease of use and reliability.
With automatic backups, you can rest assured that your data is always up to date.
Backblaze supports a wide range of server types, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.
This means you can use the same backup solution across all your servers, regardless of operating system.
Arq
Arq is a cloud backup and disaster recovery solution that uses military-grade encryption to protect your data.
Arq is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to set up and use.
Arq offers automatic backups of your files, which can be set to run at specific times or intervals, ensuring your data is always up-to-date.
Arq can also be used to restore files from previous backups, which can be a lifesaver in case of data loss or corruption.
Arq is available for both Windows and macOS, making it a versatile solution for users of different operating systems.
API Transactions
Backblaze B2 offers free transactions for uploading data into your account, as well as for bandwidth used during uploads.
Class A transactions are free and include uploads or deleting files, which is a huge plus for users who need to transfer large amounts of data.
Class B and Class C transactions, on the other hand, incur a cost, including downloading, creating buckets, and creating keys or copying files.
Once you exceed 2,500 transactions in a day, you'll start being charged for Class B transactions, which cost $0.004 per 10,000 transactions.
Class C transactions are even more expensive, costing $0.004 per 1,000 transactions, making it essential to keep an eye on your transaction count to avoid unnecessary fees.
iPhone App
The Backblaze iOS app is a convenient tool for file recovery on the go. It allows you to access a copy of your Mac's files from Backblaze servers.
You can log in to the app using TouchID for added security. The app supports private encryption keys for extra protection.
An index of all your backed up files is downloaded to your device after entering your private encryption key. This index mimics the file structure of your Mac.
You can quickly navigate the file structure to find the file you need. Tapping the file downloads it to your iPhone.
Once downloaded, you can save the file to your device, open it in another app, or email it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I backup my server data?
To ensure your server data is safe, identify critical data and schedule regular backups to a local or cloud-based destination, minimizing disruptions to your operations. Learn more about creating a backup strategy that suits your needs.
Can I backup a NAS to Backblaze?
Yes, you can backup your NAS to Backblaze, as we support a wide range of NAS devices, including popular brands like QNAP, Synology, and more
Does Backblaze backup the entire computer?
Yes, Backblaze automatically backs up your entire computer, no manual selection required
How do I backup my Backblaze B2?
To start backing up to Backblaze B2, create a Backblaze B2 account and connect your backup software to the service. Designate Backblaze B2 as your storage target and start backing up your data.
How much does Backblaze B2 upload cost?
There is no charge to upload data to Backblaze B2, but storage fees apply after the first 10GB.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backblaze
- https://www.nakivo.com/backup-to-backblaze-b2/
- https://thesweetsetup.com/apps/best-cloud-backup-service/
- https://www.zinstall.com/backup/how-to/how-to-backup-windows-server-to-backblaze-b2-including-applications-shares-files
- https://www.cloudwards.net/backblaze-b2-review/
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