In a company's IT management, data protection cannot rely on approximations. Yet a common misunderstanding is believing that synchronization is equivalent to backup. Although their uses overlap, these two practices serve fundamentally different purposes.
In this article, we help you clarify these concepts and build a robust data protection strategy by intelligently combining both approaches.
Data backup: the foundation of any IT security strategy
What is cloud backup?
Backup consists of making a secondary copy of all the files, folders, or information systems you want to protect, and isolating it in another location – physical or, increasingly often, in the cloud.
It is not only intended to secure "active" data, but also covers historical files, archives, system configurations, databases... The goal is to guarantee the full or partial restoration of this data at any time, particularly in the event of:
- Accidental deletion
- Human error
- Hardware or software failure
- Cyberattack (ransomware, malware, etc.)
- Physical disaster (fire, water damage, theft…)
Why is backup essential?
Unlike synchronization, which replicates an active file, backup:
- Creates a point-in-time version of the file;
- Is automated, with no action from the end user;
- Allows recovery to an earlier state thanks to versioning;
- Keeps an immutable copy, even if the original is altered or deleted;
- Can be encrypted and controlled to meet confidentiality and compliance requirements (GDPR, ISO, etc.);
Includes integrity verification mechanisms to make sure files can be restored.
What backup does… and synchronization doesn't
Many users (and even administrators) think that placing their files in a synchronized folder is enough to protect them. It is a false sense of security. Here is what only backup can do:
