Backup Software

[jamoritch]

Hi all,

 

Looking for recommendations for an online backup solution. We have been forced to use Redstor for our main server which does the MIS (SIMS) and key files from network shares. Now we are free I'm looking to see what are the best options out there.

 

Cheers

[CHiLL]

Veeam is likely to be the most commonly recommended, I've been using them for many years now. I've also heard good things about Altaro, though never used them.

[Aprice]

Veeam is my go to, as it just works.

 

I've used Altaro before in a few schools but found it a bit unreliable, the support from them was OK it just didn't seem to play ball with Hyper-V all the time.

[RLR]

We use Veeam that backs up to several different storage locations at different sites. We are also looking into using Backblaze with Veeam for an immutable cloud backup.

[jthompson]

Don't really have experience of the different providers, but we use Cove Data Protection (formerly N-Able, formerly Solarwinds iirc). It works without adding any sysadmin burden, so we're happy. We also use Veeam for onsite backups, so two different B&R systems in place. Belt and braces.

[ultimatepie]

Acronis cloud is awesome, IT give me my weekends back

[yac2016]

Altaro?Hornet VM Cloud backup to local and Wasabi. Very cost effective. 2 VM's for about £27 a month.

[Jcx500]

Veeam , also free if you have 10 vms or less!

[TwistedHelixis]

recently tested out Altaro as it has a free 'full features' option. Was extremely simple to setup. Will probably use this for our VMs very soon.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Veeam , also free if you have 10 vms or less!

Is that with full features, or cut down version?

[CHiLL]

Is that with full features, or cut down version?

It will do the main stuff, like scheduled backups (including incremental/reverse incremental), backup to target local repositories, deduplication, etc. Backing up to cloud repositories does require licenses.

[yac2016]

Free version does not encrypt the backups either, personally would not use the free version for anything critical or requires compliance:

 

https://www.altaro.com/vm-backup/pricing.php?LP=Gppc-m1xd-VM-Backup-Brand-SEARCH-Free-UK&Cat=ppc-search&adpos=&creative=611141979809&n=g&geo=1007121&i=&d=c&gclid=CjwKCAiA0JKfBhBIEiwAPhZXD30CByFU8n9jxgq5ML8POnCKsIGQLwAiFI3N_wkK3qw3yxd09woocBoCajAQAvD_BwE

[smarties11]

I'd 100% recommend Altaro in conjunction with Wasabi as the cloud storage. It works out very cheap, much more so than Veeam. You can also buy Wasabi now through the UK reseller, Autodata, to avoid having to pay by card. Autodata will invoice you and take payment by BACS.

 

I put quite a lot of detail about our Altaro setup in this thread http://www.edugeek.net/forums/security/223075-backup-strategy.html if you're interested.

[ThomL]

I'm also in the Altaro + Wasabi boat - there are (were?) some things that still need work; like immutable backups, and the last time I looked at the GFS settings they were limited. Oh, and issues with disk usage on backup targets and the software not clearing the data from old backups... or something... this is fuzzy I don't really remember our issue but it seemed silly at the time and there's wasn't much that could be done, it's just the way the software was designed... this might not be an issue now...

 

**EDIT** Looks like immutable backups/targets are coming in V9, which they are currently beta testing. https://www.hornetsecurity.com/en/services/vm-backup/vm-backup-v9-beta-download/

Edited February 9, 2023 by ThomL

[smarties11]

I'm also in the Altaro + Wasabi boat - there are (were?) some things that still need work; like immutable backups, and the last time I looked at the GFS settings they were limited. Oh, and issues with disk usage on backup targets and the software not clearing the data from old backups... or something... this is fuzzy I don't really remember our issue but it seemed silly at the time and there's wasn't much that could be done, it's just the way the software was designed... this might not be an issue now...

 

**EDIT** Looks like immutable backups/targets are coming in V9, which they are currently beta testing. https://www.hornetsecurity.com/en/services/vm-backup/vm-backup-v9-beta-download/

 

Immutable backups weren't a deal breaker for us as we do cold backups too, using an external SSD rotation which I change each week. But as you say, they are coming in V9 which is in beta.

 

GFS wise I guess it depends what you need to achieve? We retain all daily backups for 90 days (both on NAS and cloud storage) and then we use GFS to keep a monthly archive of the critical data (MIS, documents etc) and we've found that more than covers our needs.

 

Obviously now most Schools have a significant proportion of data in the cloud this needs to be considered too. We use Barracuda for M365 cloud->cloud backup, and then I also use the (free) Active Backup on our Synology NAS to keep an on-site copy of all our M365 data too. I use the same NAS for this as we use for Altaro.

[timbo343]

We have Veeam for OnPrem for our Secondaries with the addition of Acronis from the MAT.

 

Acronis for us took a while to get used to though it does what it needs and it's all centrally managed.

[PotNoodleTech]

Veeeam here. It's not expensive (in the grand scheme of things) , does everything we need, easily replicates backups to various different storage devices in various different places and can upload copies to the cloud too.

 

I dont really knnow what else you could want (other than the cloud storage being cheaper but that's not veeams fault that's just cloud in general)

[nicholab]

I found that data may need to go back a whole year for GCSE courses work. Anyone else found this?

[PotNoodleTech]

I found that data may need to go back a whole year for GCSE courses work. Anyone else found this?

 

I've been told work only needs to be kept by the letter of the law for the duration whilst the appeals process could be underway - i.e just a handful of weeks rather than years.

 

I was quite suprised as I'd been keeping everything for years!

[George_ARO]

Backblaze is an online backup service that offers unlimited cloud storage for a flat fee per computer. Fast loading speed and user-friendly interface

 

 

It's definitely worth comparing quotes for a per/TB solution and an per/user with unlimited storage with your suppliers.

 

For cloud backup projects, we favour Barracuda's Cloud-to-Cloud as similarly to Backblaze, they charge per staff user with unlimited storage. Whether or not its more cost effective will depend on the ratio of data stored to user count though!

Edited March 6, 2023 by George_Altinet

[nicholab]

I've been told work only needs to be kept by the letter of the law for the duration whilst the appeals process could be underway - i.e just a handful of weeks rather than years.

 

I was quite suprised as I'd been keeping everything for years!

 

Ok well tell that to kid that has put all the effort into the last year course work and it lost. I know they should have a backup but the teacher knew they had done it. This kid would not have been able to redo the work we where able to get the tapes back. This might have give the child the chance they needed to get on but sure I don’t have to bother.

 

I do not think keeping data for two years is unreasonable.

Edited March 6, 2023 by nicholab

[jmak]

Ok well tell that to kid that has put all the effort into the last year course work and it lost. I know they should have a backup but the teacher knew they had done it. This kid would not have been able to redo the work we where able to get the tapes back. This might have give the child the chance they needed to get on but sure I don’t have to bother.

 

I do not think keeping data for two years is unreasonable.

I would assume from the beginning of the assessed course until after the end of the period available to appeal, i.e. you're both right. It could be over two years as the course lasts that long, but once results are out and the student has not launched an appeal that data can go.

[nicholab]

This would suggest a multi tier strategic for data it easier if all A level and GCSE data is kept for 2.5 years.

 

I mean unless you have systems that are that up to date that you can invidulisie backups.

[PotNoodleTech]

Ok well tell that to kid that has put all the effort into the last year course work and it lost. I know they should have a backup but the teacher knew they had done it. This kid would not have been able to redo the work we where able to get the tapes back. This might have give the child the chance they needed to get on but sure I don’t have to bother.

 

I do not think keeping data for two years is unreasonable.

 

Don't worry, I have not deleted everything.

 

I am however a bit concerned as GDPR states you should only be holding data whilst it is required - so once those pupils leave and the coursework and the appeals process is finished - technically we should be deleting the data, right?

[msi_school]

I am however a bit concerned as GDPR states you should only be holding data whilst it is required - so once those pupils leave and the coursework and the appeals process is finished - technically we should be deleting the data, right?

 

I was going to say this, we don't know what is in the course work. There will be totally uninteresting content such as maths problems but almost any thing creative can contain data that should not be retained without a reason. A line in the retention policy worked out with the DPO and the input of the exams office is required.

[nicholab]

I was going to say this, we don't know what is in the course work. There will be totally uninteresting content such as maths problems but almost any thing creative can contain data that should not be retained without a reason. A line in the retention policy worked out with the DPO and the input of the exams office is required.

 

This becomes an absolute nightmare what about kids that leave part way through the school or GCSE’s or A-levels. Do you have an OU that a 1 year delete of data and another that’s longer? Or can you claim it part of an existing business process providing a service.