Backup vs Sync: What’s the Difference?
Cloud storage goes far beyond just uploading your files online and leaving them there. You can do much more with your files to protect, collaborate, and keep your files updated with the proper cloud storage.
Two popular approaches for file management are file syncing and backups, which are different methods that you should know how and when to use to get the best from your cloud service provider.
This article will explain what sync and backup are, how they work, which one to use, and how to sync and backup files using Internxt Drive.
By the end of this article, you should know the difference between cloud sync vs backup in cloud storage so you can make an informed decision about protecting your data.
Table of contents
What is data sync?
Data synchronization, or syncing, keeps your files and documents consistent across multiple devices or locations in real time whenever changes are made.
If you make changes to your files with the Internxt Drive app, for example, the changes will automatically be applied to the Web platform and other connected devices.
Syncing is helpful for teams or businesses as it keeps everybody up to date with the changes so everyone has the most current version of the files.
There are two different kinds of syncing:
- One-way sync, or mirroring, copies files from one location to another without altering the source document.
- Two-way or bidirectional sync means changes made on one device are applied to others.
You can use file-syncing when working with other users working on the same file to keep your documentation updated, improve productivity and efficiency, and get access to recent versions of files across different devices.
However, syncing is not the same as backup. If a file is deleted or changed and that change is synchronized, the same change may occur on all connected devices.
For protection against data loss, syncing should be used alongside reliable cloud storage backup solutions.
What is data backup?
The idea behind a data backup is simple: you make a copy of an important file on your desktop, tablet, or mobile and store it separately from the original data. You can make backups of documents, photos, videos, emails, or any other digital files.
Data backups are important because it it allows you to recover your data in an emergency. For example, if you have important documents and you accidentally delete the original, you can recover it from the backed-up location.
Another benefit is that cloud backups protect you from ransomware. If you lose photos, documents, or other files due to a ransomware attack, you can recover them from the backed-up location.
In short, backups add a layer of protection to prevent permanent data loss. It can also free up your storage if your cloud storage is full by deleting files you don’t access so often, and you can access the backed-up files should you need them later.
What is the difference between backup vs sync?
Below you can see a general overview of cloud sync vs backup in the cloud, and which is best depending on what you want to achieve.
| Feature | Backup | Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Protects data from loss | Keeps files up to date across devices |
| Creates a separate copy | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keeps multiple devices in sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automatically reflects file changes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Protects against accidental deletion | ✓ | ✗ |
| Helps recover older file versions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Useful for accessing files anywhere | ✗ | ✓ |
| Protects against device failure | ✓ | ✗ |
| Best for | Data protection and recovery | Convenient access and collaboration |
Advantages of backup vs sync
Advantages of backup
- Protects your files from accidental deletion
- Helps recover data after hardware failure
- Protects against file corruption or ransomware
- Keeps an additional copy of important files
- Useful for long-term data protection
- Allows you to restore lost or damaged files
Disadvantages of backup
- Backups can require significant storage space
- Files may not be immediately available on other devices
- Restoring large amounts of data can take time
- An outdated backup may not contain your latest files
Advantages of sync
- Keeps files up to date across multiple devices
- Makes files easily accessible from different locations
- Automatically reflects changes across synced devices
- Useful for working with files across computers and phones
- Makes collaboration and file sharing easier
- Reduces the need to manually transfer files
Disadvantages of sync
- Deleting a file can remove it from synced locations
- Changes can be synchronized before you notice a mistake
- Can use significant bandwidth when syncing large files
- May consume storage space on multiple devices
When to use backup vs sync?
When we look at the difference between sync and backup features in cloud storage, they seem similar, but you need to use them differently to get the best from each use.
Data syncing is about access and consistency, while backup is about protection and recovery
Use data sync when you want to make changes to files and keep them up to date in the cloud across multiple devices, and keep the version up to date, so data syncing is especially useful when editing documents and you want to keep the most recent version of your files.
Use data backup when your main goal is protecting your files against loss.
The main cloud backup advantages are that they allow you to recover files that have been accidentally deleted, corrupted, lost due to hardware failure, or affected by ransomware.
It is particularly useful for important documents, photos, archives, and other data that you cannot afford to lose.
How often should I back up my files?
The amount of data you manage and whether you have personal or enterprise cloud storage will likely help you decide how often to back up your files. We recommend the following:
- Critical data: It's recommended that highly important files, such as business records or sensitive personal documents, be backed up daily. This reduces the risk of data loss and captures the most recent changes in files.
- A weekly backup may be sufficient if you make changes less frequently to less critical data and your files don’t change often.
- Large databases or system Backups: For larger systems or databases that change frequently (e.g., websites, application data), multiple backups per day may be necessary. This can include hourly or real-time backups to ensure no data is lost during active periods.
For large databases or system backups, we recommend Internxt S3 storage for enterprises as it allows you to manage and back up large datasets from data stored in buckets for ease of access.
How to sync and backup files with Internxt Drive
You don’t have to choose between sync vs backup services; with Internxt Drive you can sync and backup your files directly from your preferred Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
Internxt also offers cloud NAS backups for QNAP and Synology devices, as well as WebDAV and rclone support, so if you’re choosing between backup vs sync, Internxt offers everything you need to make managing your files in the cloud easily and accessible on all apps and devices.
Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage, syncing, and backups for all file formats, and for secure cloud storage for photos, Internxt also offers Internxt Photos to automatically back up your photos in the cloud, preserving your memories in the cloud and securing them against data loss.
Internxt Photos, Drive, and other products of Internxt pricing plans include post-quantum, zero-knowledge encryption. This means nobody can access your photos, backups, or synced files, offering the best encrypted cloud storage to keep your files protected from hackers, data loss, and cyberattacks.
How to sync files with Internxt Drive
To sync your files from your Internxt account across your devices, follow these steps:
- Ensure you have the most recent version of the app installed.
- Create a file and upload the files you want synced to your cloud.
- Two blue arrows show that syncing is in process.
- A green arrow will show that your files have been synced to your web account from the app or different devices.
- You can check the status of file syncing from the app on the bottom left, which will show “Syncing files” or “Fully synced.”
If you accidentally make changes to a synced file, Internxt Drive also includes file versioning, so you can restore your files to a previous version before the changes were made.
How to backup files with Internxt Drive
To back up your files to ensure their future availability and protection, follow these steps:
- Make sure you have the most recent version of the app installed.
- Go to Settings > Preferences > Backups
- Select Backup now
You can then schedule your backups to automatically update every 1,6, or 12 hours, or manually back them up whenever you need.
Whenever you need to access your backed-up files, simply log in to your Internxt account, go to the “Backups” section, where you can view your devices and download your chosen files.
To back up your files with your NAS Synology or sync files to your QNAP device, follow the instructions in our help center.
Internxt automatic backup for Photos
Internxt automatic backup is available with Internxt Photos, a secure cloud storage for photos service to back up your photos and protect them in the cloud.
To use the Internxt automatic backup feature, ensure you have the latest version of the iOS or Android app installed on your device, and follow these steps:
- Log in to your account
- Navigate to Photos in the bottom right corner of the app
- Allow full access, or select the photos you want to back up to the cloud
- Once backed up, your photos are stored in the cloud, accessible at any time
Internxt Photos is the best alternative to Google Photos if you want to stop Google Photos backup and switch to privacy.
Photos is available for the Ultimate monthly or Internxt lifetime plan, which gives you 5TB of secure cloud storage and access to all of Internxt’s features, which you can view below.
| Plan | Storage | Features | Annual (Paid monthly) | Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 1TB | €1.99/month | €380 | |
| Premium | 3TB |
|
€3.99/month | €580 |
| Ultimate | 5TB |
|
€5.99/month | €780 |
| *Prices are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. For latest prices, check https://internxt.com/pricing | ||||
For an exclusive 85% discount on all Internxt plans, claim your offer by clicking the link below.
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Frequently asked questions: Cloud backup vs sync
What is the difference between cloud sync vs backup?
Cloud sync keeps your files updated and accessible across multiple devices, whereas cloud backup stores copies of your files online so they can be recovered if the originals are lost or damaged.
What is the main difference between sync and backup?
Sync is for accessing and updating files across devices; backup is for protecting and recovering files.
Can I use sync and backup together?
Yes. Using both provides convenient access to your files and an additional layer of protection.
Does cloud sync require an internet connection?
An internet connection is generally required to synchronize changes between devices and the cloud.
Do cloud backups use storage space?
Yes. Backup copies consume cloud storage according to the amount of data being backed up.
Which is better, cloud sync or backup?
Neither is universally better. Sync is better for everyday access, while backup is better for data protection and recovery.
What’s the difference between file sync and file transfer?
File sync keeps files updated across multiple devices or locations, so changes made in one place are automatically reflected in the others. Secure file transfer simply moves or copies files from one location to another without keeping them synchronized afterward.