Learn all of the backup lingo from the experts at Online Backup Search. We know a lot about the online backup industry and made a list of important terms that we define for you.
This article is where we have put together a robust glossary of terms and definitions. In order to help you figure out what you’re looking for.
General Online Backup Terms:
- Bandwidth – This is a measurement of how much data is transferred in a given amount of time. Useful to know when calculating backup times. The higher the bandwidth the faster a file can travel from one storage area to another. Example: 2MB/s is good ( 2 megabits/second). Space/Storage Size – One of the key factors in online backup. It is the measurement of space that a user can take up on a server. Measurement in the Online Backup industry is primarily in Gigabytes (GB). A large storage for online backup are more than 250 GBs while free storage will be less than 5 GBs.
- Encryption – Data should always be encrypted for protection. The standard for encryption is at least 256 bits. Some backup companies should give you the option to use your own encryption key and it should never be sent to the server. Network backup – This feature allows for online backups of multiple computers, servers or Network Attached Storage appliances on a local area network from a single computer.
- Continuous backup – Continuous Data Protection CDP – A feature that lets the server backup anytime or in a predefined schedule. It’s better to run a continuous backup if it will not tie up system resources or if there is not anything slowing down the procedure from the computer being used. Otherwise, the predefined schedule helps to organize the timing so that less system resources have to be used at once. Example: letting the computer backup over nights or on the weekends. This will only take long depending on how much data needs to be backed up.
- File-by-File Restore – This feature allows the user to grab individual files at a time. Access to the storage area is available so the user can search for the file they need. There is no need to go through the provider to get the files. Online access to files – This is a service in which the user can restore their files from signing into the service by a browser from any computer. A convenience feature that drives up cost.
- Data compression – This means that data is compressed using a lossless compression algorithm to save bandwidth and storage space. Differential data compression – A feature that backup companies use to minimize transfer bandwidth by only transferring the binary bits of information that have changed with a file. In other words, once the file has transferred to the servers, it will only send new information to the servers. Instead of resending the whole file.
- Bandwidth Throttle – A selectable option for users. It can be set to lower or higher your bandwidth usage when backing up data to the servers.
- Support – Support is a less technical term but is useful for help when understanding technical terms. This means the online backup company has help staff or knowledgebase ready to help users with their technical issues.
- Security – Is a measure taken in preventing damage, loss or theft of your online data. Online backup security means solid system design and encryption to ensure the data remains safe.
Advanced Online Backup Terms:
- Server Backup – Businesses often require backups of their servers along with the databases that are on them. This includes MS Exchange, SQL Server, Active Directory, System State, and open files.
- Multiple Versioning – A service that runs with all your files. It backs up the files then saves any new version of that file onto the server as well. This gives users multiple versions of the same file from different points of it’s existence. Centralized Management Console – Allows a single user or group of users oversee or manage the how all users store their data.
- Fully Managed Services – Instead of a technical support you can get help from this is a full managing service dedicated to your files. More like hired staff.
- Redundancy – Redundancy is having duplicate files. One is on a server and one is on another server or on a local storage device. Example: a user may have a computer with an external hard drive for backup, and that is all backed up onto the server. Geo-Redundant storage means your files are backed up in two or more physical locations outside of your own computer. This greatly reduces the chance of losing data by spreading to locations not effected by the same physical and environmental risks.
- Seed Loading – A company lets you send in an external storage device with USB connectivity to backup your data instead of sending data over the internet.
- Bulk Restore – Like seed loading, its how a user can retrieve massive amounts of information via USB drive in order to save time with lots of files.