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File Backup vs File Sync: How Does It Affect Your Business

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9 August 2022

As a business, you need to save data and share it securely with your employees at work. This means that you need to use a safe method to keep your data and restore it on a different device whenever necessary.
The most common way to do this is by syncing or backing up your files. Now, although they both sound similar, there are considerable differences between them that you need to take into account before choosing either of these approaches for your business. 
To help you out, the IT experts at Redpalm have put together this detailed blog explaining the differences between file backup vs file sync.
Read on to learn more about these solutions, how to apply these data restoration systems to your business and which one would work best for your company. 
Let’s get started!

File Backup Explained

File backup is a common practice that’s been followed ever since computers came into existence and it is a reliable way to protect the digital assets of your company while ensuring business continuity. 
In terms of how this works, the entire file backup operation on your computer is pretty straightforward.
During the process, the device essentially copies all of your data and transfers it from one location to another for future use. For instance, when you save a Word document, your laptop will duplicate the information and save it on your hard drive, cloud storage, flash drive, or another computer. This ensures that, even if you lose a file on your device, it can easily be restored from the location it was transferred to.

Pros and Cons of File Backup

Pros

Backup is the simplest and most traditional method of saving and protecting sensitive data on your computer and avoiding any possible leaks. Additionally, it’s the go-to approach to save large files from taking up space on your hard drive because it’s quicker when compared to syncing.
Some of the other benefits that you could reap include:

  • The process can take place automatically, so your information will remain safe, without any interventions 
  • Backup can occur several times in a day, which means you can access multiple versions of your files
  • By using cloud storage services, you don’t need an on-premise device, like computers or laptops, to check your backup status

Cons   

While file backup is useful, certain disadvantages can cause inconveniences while working on a project. The cons of using backup to store your files include: 

  • You can’t access your data on other computers without the Internet
  • You need great Internet speed to backup large files
  • Full data recovery will take up a lot of time

Given these disadvantages, it’s better to hire a professional IT team, like Redpalm, to provide you with seamless wireless networking services that can keep your business’s IT infrastructure flexible.

File Sync Explained

File sync is an incredible option to access and collaborate your work with your employees. Put simply, by using this method in your business, anyone can work on your file through their PC, laptop, or smartphone. However, this is only possible when you permit them to access the file or document.
What’s more, by using file sync, you and your employees can gain access to the most recent information that’s available on the document.
Some of the common examples of file syncing services include Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.

Pros and Cons of File Sync

Pros

File sync is the modern solution for businesses to store their data, as it is convenient and useful. Moreover, it helps your employees to access files easily from different devices.
Here are some more pros of using file sync:

  • Keeps your files up-to-date
  • Provides safe backups of data
  • Makes it easier to collaborate with employees
  • Accessible from PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets

Cons

Despite being a convenient option for collaboration, there are some disadvantages and risks of using file sync.
Here are some cons that you need to be aware of:

  • Syncing files can get misplaced, as data between machines can get misplaced
  • The setup for file syncing can be complicated
  • These programs can be vulnerable to ransomware attacks

Due to the above-mentioned cons, it’s highly recommended that you hire a trusted service, like Redpalm, to manage your file syncing services. Not only can we provide you with solutions for keeping your data protected but we can also help you with business continuity and disaster recovery.

Choose Redpalm for IT Infrastructure Services

Today, businesses can be vulnerable to various ransomware attacks and hackers. This is one of the reasons why you need to hire a trusted IT support provider who can keep your data secure, regardless of whether your business is running on a small or large scale.
With Redpalm, you can rest assured that you will be provided with the best IT solutions, from cyber security and managed IT services to business continuity and disaster recovery, along with several other services, like a free cyber risk score. 
To learn more about how we can help you, get in touch with us today!

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