Backup vs Sync

Users often confuse the two distinct operations of backing up and synchronizing, both of which are used to protect and manage data.

In this post, you will learn about the difference between backup and sync, when to use which, and their benefits. So without wasting any time, let's get started!

Since you haven't provided a specific Chinese text, I can't translate it directly. However, I can guide you on the general rule: when translating HTML code, keep the HTML tags unchanged and only translate the text content within the tags. For example: English original: ```html

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to our website!

Feasible Solutions Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Use a backup

Tap "Start" > "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Backup"..Full steps

Use Todo Backup Tools Launch Todo Backup Tools > Click "Create Backup" > Select "Backup Content"..Full steps
Use Sync Tap "Start" > "Settings" > "Accounts" > "Sync your settings"..Full steps

What is a backup? A backup refers to the creation of a copy of data or files as a precaution against loss, damage, or unforeseen circumstances. This process is typically used to protect essential information, ensuring that it can be restored to a normal state in case of hardware failures, software errors, virus infections, or other potential threats. In the realm of computing, backups can be performed manually or automatically through software programs. Common types of backups include: 1. **Full Backup**: This is the most basic type, which copies all selected files and data, creating a complete dataset replica. 2. **Incremental Backup**: After a full backup, incremental backups only record files and data that have changed since the last backup. 3. **Differential Backup**: Similar to an incremental backup, but it backs up all files that have changed since the last full backup, not just since the last incremental one. 4. **Cloud Backup**: Utilizing the internet to store data on remote servers, providing extra security and ease of access. To ensure data safety, it's generally recommended to employ a combination of backup strategies and regularly test the recoverability of backups. This allows for swift and accurate data recovery when needed, minimizing downtime for businesses.

A backup involves copying files and folders from one location or device to another.

This is the process of copying files from your device, such as a computer, to any other device, like an external hard drive, USB, cloud storage, a flash drive, or another computer.

Related Articles

The Complete Guide to Backing Up Your Computer (Windows & Mac)

Follow this guide to learn about backup types, smart backup strategies, and how to back up your computer.

Incremental Backup

What is synchronization?

Synchronization means that two locations or devices have an identical copy of a file at the same time.

When documents are synced, the data is stored in an accredited repository and can be remotely accessed from anywhere with proper permissions.

Synchronization is crucial to business management and processing.

It helps users share their ideas and information easily with multiple customers and companies.

You can share information with anyone outside the company or in your location without any physical equipment.

We've listed the most popular sync and share services:

    • Dropbox
    • Box
    • Google Drive
    • OneDrive
    • Evernote
    These are names of popular cloud storage and note-taking services: 1. Dropbox - A file hosting service that offers cloud storage, personal cloud, file synchronization, and client software. 2. Box - A cloud content management and file sharing service for businesses and individuals. 3. Google Drive - A cloud storage service provided by Google, which also includes collaboration tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. 4. OneDrive - A cloud storage and file hosting service from Microsoft, integrated with their Office suite. 5. Evernote - A note-taking application that allows users to create and organize notes, save web pages, and attach files across multiple devices.

The Difference Between Backup and Sync

The main difference between backup and sync is that backup is a one-way process, whereas sync is a two-way copying process.

Backup refers to automatically or manually copying files from one source to another device, while synchronization means having them exist in two different places at once.

With synchronization, when you delete data from one location or address, it's also deleted from the other. This is not the case with backups – if you delete a file from one location or address, it isn't removed from the others.

You can directly examine, monitor, and edit the synchronized set of files, but you must restore a backup file before you can open it.

When to Use a Backup

Backups ensure data safety in case it is deleted, damaged, or lost due to a virus, malware, or any cyberattack. They are invaluable in case of accidental deletion and hardware failures.

For data recovery, backups are your best bet. You can access and restore your valuable assets, such as sync-and-share services, only over the Internet. Without it, your files and folders do not sync.

And, if you're talking about restoring gigabytes of data, it gets even messier.

Synchronization is a time-consuming and inconvenient method for data recovery. You might encounter difficulties with file and data transfer due to unstable internet connections and network issues. Most often, data loss occurs as a result of viruses, malware, and other cyberattacks.

But restoring deleted data from a backup is easier and safer.

If you're using Windows 10, you can back up important files to any external location.

Back Up Important Data with File History in Windows 10

Step 1: Click the "Start" button to open the menu, and then choose "Settings."

Backup important data with File History in Windows 10 – Step 1

Step 2: Go to Update & Security, and then choose Backup.

Backup important data with File History in Windows 10 – Step 2

Step 3: Click “Add Disk,” and then select an external drive or network location to save your backup files.

Back up important data with File History in Windows 10 - Step 3

If you've lost backed-up files, you can quickly restore them using the File History feature in Windows 10:

Step 1: Go to the taskbar and enter Convert file in the search box.

Step 2: Choose Restore my files from File History.

Step 3: Locate your file and its version.

Step 4: After finding the correct version, select “Recover” to save it back to its original location.

If you want to save it elsewhere, click “Recover,” then “Recover To,” and choose where you'd like to save it.

In addition to these features, you can also find backups that were created in an earlier version (Windows 7) of Windows:

Step 1: Go to the taskbar, and type Control Panel.

Locate Backup - Step 1

Step 2: Click on “Control Panel,” and then click on “System and Security.”

Find your backup - Step 2

Step 3: Go to Backup and Restore (in Windows 7).

Find Backup - Step 3

What backup options are available in Windows 10?

There are two types of file backups:

    • Image backup, to save all files on drives C, D, and E
    • File backup, to save individual files and folders

Back Up Data with Todo Backup Easily

If you find backing up and syncing your data difficult, then Todo Backup could be the tool for you!

Todo Backup is a comprehensive and integrated solution for all your data recovery and synchronization needs.

Tools provided by Todo:

    • System Image Backup
    • Disk Cloning
    • Bootable Backup
    • File Backup and Recovery

Moreover, backup services provide plenty of storage for data, but sync is a cloud service with more limited storage capacity.

OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox are the most popular cloud services used for data backup and synchronization.

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.

They offer limited storage for backup and sync, which you have to pay extra for. But don't worry! Todo Backup by Tools offers 250GB of free cloud storage for its users!

Here are the steps to use Todo Backup:

**Step 1:** For your first backup with tools Todo Backup, click "Create Backup" on the main screen, then click the big question mark to **select what to back up**.

Next up, we just need to translate this into American English: "Create Backup Step 1"

**Step 2:** Since you're planning to back up files and folders on your computer, proceed by choosing the “Files” backup mode, where you can pick photos, videos, documents, and all other types of files for backup.

3. Navigate to the files, folders, or directories you wish to back up, select them, and click “OK.”

Backup your files, Step 3

**Step 4:** You'll now need to choose a location to save and keep the backup.

Create backup step 3

**Step 5:** With AnyBackup Family 7, you can save your backups to any device that is convenient for you to access, including local hard drives, external USB devices, SD cards, network drives, NAS storage, or the Aifbackup Cloud Storage. We recommend users prioritize cloud storage for important data, as it is more convenient, flexible, and secure.

All you need to do is register and log in with an email account to access it.

6. If you want to set up an automatic and intelligent backup schedule for future file backups, proceed with the “Options” settings. Here, you can encrypt your sensitive files for backup, compress the backup image size, or customize a backup scheme to tell the software when to start the next backup.

Here, you can configure advanced and automatic backup tasks:

Step 7: Click “Back Up Now” to start the backup process. The backed up files will be displayed in the left panel in the form of cards.

When to Use Sync

Synchronizing keeps your colleagues, partners, and others in your organization up to date, which helps you manage your business.

This makes it easy and efficient to work together. If you are part of a team working on a document, for example, your colleagues see your edits within seconds.

During the sync, the older file data is replaced by the new update, thus causing an overwrite.

It allows teams spread around the world to manage a business together, with people communicating and sharing information effortlessly, no matter where they are.

Data synchronization increases the vulnerability to ransomware, since an attack on one site can compromise the others.

Windows 10 provides valuable syncing capabilities. To find your sync settings, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click the "Start" button and choose "Settings."

Find 'Sync your settings' – Step 1

Step 2. Click “Account.”

<img src="/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/click-on-accounts.png" width="700" height="327" alt="Click on "Accounts"">

Step 3: Choose “Sync settings” to start syncing your core files.

Select to Sync Your Settings - Step 3

The benefits of using Backup and Sync

Backup and sync have their separate benefits, but using both together can be highly efficient.

Backup services provide you with the original information in case of data loss, while sync services ensure that you have the latest updates. Used together, they can help you manage your data more safely and efficiently.

The benefits of backup:

    1. It safeguards your data – if one location is compromised, the backup remains secure. 2. For large files, a full backup is the fastest and most reliable form of protection. 3. You can schedule backups to suit your needs. 4. Backups can minimize the impact of ransomware and other malware.

The benefits of synchronization:

    • Simplify workflow management.
    • Enable real-time updates.
    • Optimize the remote management and control of valuable assets.

To protect your business from data loss, mismanagement, and cyberattacks, you can turn to backup and sync.

Are you looking for an affordable solution that covers all your backup needs?

Check out Todo Backup, which can efficiently back up your important data and allow for quick recovery.

For details, visit Todo Backup!