Backup options

[agregson]

Hi,

I am looking to enhance my backup system. I have iMac 5k 500GB SSD, macOS 11, iCloud Drive 2TB, Google Drive 2TB and 1TB SSD via USB3 (Samsung T7). I don't use any apps for Google and just use Transmit.

I have Time Machine enabled to volume on T7 and using APFS snapshot backup from APFS filesystem on macOS. Works very well indeed.

No real idea how to use iCloud Drive 2TB other than it holds my documents. macOS configured to keep full sync of iCloud Drive and photos. I use around 120GB of 500GB.

I would like to enhance the backup along lines of "321" rule - 3 copies of data, 2 pieces of media and 1 external. At the moment I suppose I have 3 copies of data - local, iCloud and Time Machine. I suppose I have 2 pieces of media - internal and external. I suppose I have 1 external. However only one has version support.

I am testing Arq at the moment and works well to a 1TB SSD connected via Windows machine. Also works well to Arq storage and it is not badly priced so minded to keep it. Arq also seems to work well to Google Drive which is cheap enough for backup. Any external via Arq is encrypted at source so happy enough with that. Also supports versions and decent app.

I have previously used Carbon Copy Cloner and ChronoSync and can upgrade licenses on each. I don't really mind the bootable clone as I just reinstall OS and restore from iCloud when needed. I just want to have files and ideally photos with versions. I also want to try and keep it simple or at least as simple as I can.

Would anyone want to offer an opinion or share what they use?

Thanks in a advance for any help and comments.

 

[Apple_Robert]

From I see, you have everything almost covered. I don't use TM now that use Arq (which is backed up to an external drive, Arq Premium Cloud, and Wasabi Cloud). I also use Carbon Copy Cloner to an external drive for my M1 MBA and also do a CCC M1 MBA backup to one of the external drives attached to my Mac mini. I also have some items stored the cloud.


One thing I strongly suggest is encrypting items you have in iCloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive etc. Cryptomator is an excellent app to use. You created a folder on your respective drive and then place important items (that are also backup elsewhere) in the Crytomator folder. If someone where to get access to your cloud, they would not be able to read any of the files without the proper key.

Cryptomator - Free Cloud Encryption for Dropbox & Co

Encrypt Dropbox, Google Drive, and any other cloud. Cryptomator is free and open source.

cryptomator.org

 

[agregson]

Thanks for the comments.

I like to try and cover the 321 principle and also the KISS principle as I tend to find things work better when, to paraphrase Einstein, are as simple as possible but not too simple.

Arq is a super product and I will find it hard to go past it. I think I prefer it to Time Machine though the move recently to APFS snapshots dramatically enhanced Time Machine. Arq works well and covers many bases. The fact that it has a super cloud storage at a decent price (and option for storage in Finland) and support for other clouds with client-side encryption is handy. Google and Amazon are decent for price and as I have 1GBps connection they are pretty fast.

You mentioned Wasabi cloud. That is not one I have looked into much. I did look at pCloud and a few others and I do like security - hence I use Tresorit for more sensitive, favour Apple over MS/Google/Amazon and use Proton mail for sensitive email such as financial accounts.

The suggestion for Cryptomator is welcome. Not one I had tried but now will have a proper look.

Just thinking on email and I must look into an email backup and archive option. I have Mail Archiver and will look to add it into solution.

 

[piattj]

+1 for Arq. Works well to cloud, to NAS, to local USB SSD etc. Very reliable & easy to set up / use.

 

[richmlow]

Hi,

I am looking to enhance my backup system. I have iMac 5k 500GB SSD, macOS 11, iCloud Drive 2TB, Google Drive 2TB and 1TB SSD via USB3 (Samsung T7). I don't use any apps for Google and just use Transmit.

I have Time Machine enabled to volume on T7 and using APFS snapshot backup from APFS filesystem on macOS. Works very well indeed.

No real idea how to use iCloud Drive 2TB other than it holds my documents. macOS configured to keep full sync of iCloud Drive and photos. I use around 120GB of 500GB.

I would like to enhance the backup along lines of "321" rule - 3 copies of data, 2 pieces of media and 1 external. At the moment I suppose I have 3 copies of data - local, iCloud and Time Machine. I suppose I have 2 pieces of media - internal and external. I suppose I have 1 external. However only one has version support.

I am testing Arq at the moment and works well to a 1TB SSD connected via Windows machine. Also works well to Arq storage and it is not badly priced so minded to keep it. Arq also seems to work well to Google Drive which is cheap enough for backup. Any external via Arq is encrypted at source so happy enough with that. Also supports versions and decent app.

I have previously used Carbon Copy Cloner and ChronoSync and can upgrade licenses on each. I don't really mind the bootable clone as I just reinstall OS and restore from iCloud when needed. I just want to have files and ideally photos with versions. I also want to try and keep it simple or at least as simple as I can.

Would anyone want to offer an opinion or share what they use?

Thanks in a advance for any help and comments.

I'm a big fan of Backblaze.


richmlow