A Comprehensive Guide to How Backblaze Works and Its Capabilities

Backblaze is a cloud backup service that's designed to be easy to use and reliable. It's a great option for individuals and businesses who want to protect their files from loss or damage.

Backblaze uses a network of data centers around the world to store its customers' data. This means that your files are duplicated and stored in multiple locations, making it highly unlikely that you'll lose access to them.

Backblaze offers automatic backups, which means you can set it up to run in the background without having to think about it. This is especially useful for people who have a lot of files to back up, as it can take a while to upload everything.

Backblaze offers a wide range of features to ensure your data is safe and easily recoverable. You can backup your files using various methods, including backup scheduler, continuous backup, and incremental backup.

One of the key benefits of using Backblaze is its unlimited backup feature, which allows you to store as many files as you need without worrying about running out of space. Additionally, you can backup an unlimited number of devices, making it a great solution for households or small businesses with multiple computers and devices.

Backblaze also provides a range of security features, including private encryption, at-rest encryption, and in-transit encryption, all of which use the AES 128-bit encryption protocol. This ensures that your data is safe and secure, even when it's being transmitted over the internet.

Here are some of the key features and benefits of using Backblaze:

Backblaze offers a range of backup features to ensure your data is safe. You can back up your computer data continuously and automatically with a monthly subscription service.

One of the key features is the ability to back up multiple devices, including unlimited devices. This means you can store data from all your devices in one place.

You can also choose from various backup options, including incremental backup, block-level file copying, and multithreaded backup. These features help ensure that your data is backed up quickly and efficiently.

Another important feature is the ability to restore your data. You can initiate the restoration process through the desktop app, which provides a dedicated interface for managing the process.

You can also download individual files, create a zip, or use the mobile app to restore your data. These options are all free, making it easy to access your data when you need it.

Backblaze also offers a range of security features, including private encryption, at-rest encryption, and in-transit encryption. The encryption protocol used is AES 128-bit, which is a high level of encryption.

Here are some of the key backup features offered by Backblaze:

You can also request a USB drive from Backblaze, though there is a one-time cost of $99 for a flash drive or $189 for a hard drive. This can be a convenient option for restoring large amounts of data.

Having a backup strategy is vital to protect your data from loss due to damage or theft. Data loss can be catastrophic, leading to irreplaceable documents, cherished memories, or critical work files vanishing in an instant.

Comprehensive protection is a key benefit of backing up your external drives. Backing up external drives ensures all your data, including files on those drives, is safe from loss due to damage or theft.

Complete recovery is another benefit of having a backup strategy in place. If your external drive fails, having a backup on Backblaze ensures you can retrieve your files without losing anything.

Having a backup strategy can also be a lifesaver in terms of convenience. It's easy to forget to manually back up external drives, but Backblaze automates this process, ensuring constant protection without extra effort.

Here are some of the key benefits of backup:

Backblaze offers a clear and upfront pricing structure. Each computer costs $9 per month to back up.

You can choose from monthly, annual, and two-year plans, which provide excellent value. The pricing structure is the same for both personal and business plans.

Backblaze does not offer a free plan, but it does offer a 15-day free trial. If you're not satisfied, you can request a refund up to 30 days after purchasing.

The cost of a year's worth of backup is $99, which represents a $9 savings compared to monthly payments. Two years of backup costs $189, which is a $27 savings.

Here's a breakdown of the costs:

Backblaze's file backup and storage is a straightforward process. You can initiate a full disk image backup when you first create an account and install the app, and then Backblaze continuously backs up your data.

The backup process is automatic, and you can't choose between different types of backups, such as incremental or differential, or create a hybrid that combines local and cloud backup. Devices like network-attached storage (NAS) and servers are also not supported.

You can restore your data through the desktop app, which has a dedicated interface for managing the restoration process. Alternatively, you can download individual files, create a zip, or use the mobile app, all of which are free options. Backblaze also offers a USB drive option for $99 for a flash drive or $189 for a hard drive, which includes shipping within and outside the U.S.

Backblaze stores your data redundantly across 15 drives in a RAID6 configuration, ensuring that your files are safe even if one or two drives fail. The company also replaces drives before they die based on tests that predict when one might fail.

Backblaze offers a simple file backup service with limited control over how the backup operates, except for speed throttling and backup exclusions. You can choose to have your data backed up continuously, with the latest version of Backblaze implementing a restoration app within the desktop client.

The default backup process conducts a full disk image backup when you first create an account and install the app, after which it continuously backs up data. This means you can't choose between different types of backups, like incremental or differential, or create a hybrid that combines local and cloud backup.

Backblaze's block-level backup feature only updates the changed parts of a file, which is a convenient and efficient way to manage backups. This means you don't have to worry about large files taking up too much space in your backup.

Devices like network-attached storage (NAS) and servers are not supported by Backblaze, so you'll need to explore other options if you have these types of devices. However, this shouldn't be a major concern for most users.

Restoring your data with Backblaze is a straightforward process, with the latest version of the desktop client offering a dedicated interface for managing the restoration process. You can also access restoration options from the web interface, except for the restoration app itself.

If you need to recover your files, you can log in to the Backblaze website, enter your Private Encryption Key, and choose what you want to recover. Backblaze keeps your data until you say otherwise, so you can recover files at any time.

Backblaze offers various options for retrieving your data, including a USB flash drive (up to 128 GB for $99), an external Hard Drive (up to 3 TB for $189), or simply downloading a ZIP file (no cost to download).

Backing up external drives is a crucial step in protecting your important files and data. Data loss can be catastrophic, leading to irreplaceable documents, cherished memories, or critical work files vanishing in an instant.

Backblaze stands out as an efficient cloud backup service, renowned for its user-friendly interface and robust security measures. It provides seamless backup solutions for various storage needs.

Having a backup strategy is vital, especially for external drives, which are susceptible to damage, theft, or malfunction. Comprehensive Protection is one of the benefits of using Backblaze to back up external drives.

Here are some key benefits of using Backblaze to back up external drives:

You can try the following 2 methods to achieve backup between Backblaze and external drives.

Backblaze gets high marks from a security perspective, as you can enable two-step authentication on your account.

The company uses AES 128-bit encryption to protect backed up files on your machine, with a randomly generated key for each backup session.

You can choose between EU and US data centers, and the data is sent securely via an SSL connection to avoid interception.

Backblaze also uses OpenSSL for generating encryption keys, and you can set up a private encryption key for an extra layer of protection.

However, keep in mind that if you forget the key, you won't be able to recover your data, and you'll need to share it with Backblaze if you want to restore your files.

Before uploading your files, Backblaze encrypts them on your Mac using AES military-grade encryption with 128-bit keys.

Your encrypted files are then uploaded over a secure connection to be stored on the Backblaze servers, which are also encrypted.

This means your files are protected in transit and at rest, and you can rest assured that your data is safe.

Backblaze keeps a copy of your files for 30 days, so if you delete a file on your computer, it will also be removed from Backblaze's servers in a month.

This 30-day limit is a trade-off for keeping costs down, as Backblaze only keeps a copy of your active data, not all the data you've ever had.

If you leave an external hard drive unplugged from your computer for longer than a month, Backblaze will delete it from their system, requiring you to re-upload the data when you return.

Backblaze keeps versions of your files during those 30 days, so if you edit a file multiple times, you'll have multiple versions stored.

For example, if you start a text document on Wednesday, add to it on Thursday, edit it on Friday, and add to it again on Saturday, you'll have four different versions on Backblaze.

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're in the Restore view.

Backblaze gets high marks from a security perspective, with the option to enable two-step authentication on your account.

The company uses AES 128-bit encryption to protect backed up files on your machine, with a randomly generated key for each backup session.

You can choose between EU and US data centers, and data is sent securely via an SSL connection to avoid interception.

Backblaze also uses OpenSSL for generating encryption keys, and you can set up a private encryption key for an extra layer of protection.

However, this means you're on your own if you forget the key, and you'll need to share it with Backblaze to restore your data.

Before uploading your files, Backblaze encrypts them on your Mac using AES military grade encryption with 128-bit keys.

Your encrypted files are then uploaded over a secure connection to be stored on the Backblaze servers, which are also encrypted.

You can add an extra level of security by creating your own private encryption key, which means nobody, including Backblaze, can decrypt your files without it.

If you forget your private encryption key, your files are unrecoverable, so it's essential to store it securely – an app like 1Password is a good place to stash it.

The Backblaze app allows you to exclude folders from backup, giving you more control over what you store in the cloud.

This is a great option for those who are extremely security-conscious or prefer to keep certain files offline.

The Backblaze desktop client is designed to be simple and straightforward, focusing on getting your files backed up in the background. It has limited options, which actually helps it do its job well.

You can exclude certain files and folders from a Backblaze backup, but the process isn't always intuitive. I've found it's often easier to just let Backblaze backup everything, just in case.

Transferring data from an entire computer to the web can be a lengthy process, but Backblaze's speeds are impressive. You can also pause or throttle the upload process if needed.

The web interface is cut down and minimal, making it easy to review backed up files and restore them if needed. There's also a mechanism for sharing stored files to others, exclusive to the web interface.

The Backblaze desktop client is designed to be simple and straightforward, with limited options that let it focus on backing up your files in the background.

The options are indeed limited, but this simplicity makes it easy to use and understand.

You can exclude certain files and folders from a Backblaze backup, but it's not the most straightforward process.

Considering you get an unlimited amount of space in the cloud, it's easier to just let Backblaze backup everything, just in case.

The web interface is also cut down and minimal, letting you review backed up files and restore them if needed.

There's also a mechanism for sharing stored files to others that is exclusive to the web interface.

The Backblaze control panel can be launched via a handy system tray icon in Windows, making it easy to access and manage your backups.

In terms of web functionality, Backblaze falls short of Dropbox, Google Drive, or Apple iCloud when it comes to sharing files, but it's ultimately a different proposition.

The desktop client has an integration within the operating system that helps to simplify the backup process, and it sits neatly in System Preferences within macOS for instance.

Transferring data from an entire computer to the web is potentially a lengthy process, but the speeds Backblaze managed were impressive.

The Backblaze iOS app is great for file recovery when you're out and about.

You can use it to retrieve a specific document or photograph that's on Backblaze, even if you're away from your computer.

The app supports TouchID for secure login, and you'll also need to enter your private encryption key.

Once logged in, an index of all your backed up files is downloaded to your device, allowing you to quickly navigate the file structure.

The file structure is a mirror of your Mac's, making it easy to find what you need.

Tapping a file will download it to your iPhone, and you can then save it, open it in another app, or email it.

Backblaze's upload speed is impressive, especially on a good internet connection. It can upload 50+ GB per day.

The time it takes to upload all your files depends on your internet connection speed. On a slower connection, it could take as little as 5-10 GB per day.

I can attest to this, as it took me 96 hours to upload ~200 GBs of data on a 5Mbps upload speed Time Warner internet connection.

Jason is an expert in cloud storage and online backup software, and he recommends Backblaze as one of his favorite cloud backup services.

It's a no-fuss product that you can fire up and forget about, knowing your data is safely backed up.

Its reliability is a major plus, making it a great choice for those who want a hassle-free backup solution.

Optional private encryption is another feature that Jason likes, giving users an extra layer of security for their data.

However, Backblaze may not be the best fit for those who want greater control over and customization for their backups.

Backblaze costs $5 per month or $50 per year, per computer. This is a relatively affordable option for cloud backup services.

The initial indexing process can take about 2 weeks for all your files to be uploaded, assuming a decent internet connection. On a slower connection, like DSL, it could take even longer.

Backblaze can upload 50+ GB per day on a good internet connection, which is impressive. However, on a slower connection, it's as little as 5-10GB per day.

I've personally tested Backblaze on my Time Warner internet connection with a 5Mbps upload speed, and it took me about 96 hours to upload ~200 GBs of data. This gives you an idea of what to expect.

Backblaze's reliability and optional private encryption make it a great choice for those who want a hassle-free cloud backup experience.