Data Backup Digest

Some of the terminology around data storage has become difficult to understand. One example is the use of the terms ‘sync’ and ‘backup.’ Both of these terms present the idea of taking data from a single device and copying it or storing it in a remote location. But is there a difference between sync and backup strategies?


To understand how syncing may be different from backup, it’s necessary to take a close look at the word ‘sync’ and what it means. Taking the unabbreviated form of the word, synchronize, is helpful here. IT professionals typically understand ‘syncing’ as making sure that two different sets of files are completely identical that the information within them is synced up. It’s important to note that this overall use of the word ‘sync’ is different from the sync command that is offered within programs like Windows media player for copying music files to an MP3 or a remote device.


Another way to explain the IT use of the term ‘sync’ or ‘synchronize’ is by using the database management term ‘consistency.’ Data consistency means that multiple sets of data in different places are eventually made identical through sophisticated data handling processes. When electronic systems handle redundant data, this consistency is critical in order for the systems to work accurately and well. That’s what’s behind the idea of syncing two different sets of information that may be updated at different times.


By contrast, backup tends to refer to systems where individual files or changes are routinely delivered to a storage area that doesn’t necessarily get synced up with the original device data. Instead, backups are added at routine intervals that are determined by the specific type of data backup strategy used. Different kinds of backups are engineered specifically to update files with the least amount of energy and computing power, and to provided “consistency” across multiple platforms or archive records.


This difference between sync and backup may be largely semantic. In either case, the objective is basically the same: to get changing data permanently recorded to a storage location. However, understanding the nuances of both of these terms can help with data storage and data backup efforts that need to be specifically engineered for a given IT architecture. Professionals need to understand the key requirements for practical data engineering: when will the data be able to be accessed for updates? when does sensitive data typically enter the system? What kinds of user events generate changes to a database? All of these kinds of questions and more inform the efforts of data administrators to find effective and efficient solutions.

Adding a sync or backup strategy involves looking closely at a project plan. Those in charge of data safety need to know which data sets are important. They need to know exactly how data flows through a pipeline, and where any “weak points” might be. They also need to anticipate challenges like system outages and more. By building a comprehensive picture of how data is handled, planners can choose an appropriate sync or backup plan for making sure that sensitive information will always be available.