Data is instrumental in websites, whether personal or organization websites. Losing data can result in revenue and file loss. Note that the loss can happen without your preparedness. Among the factors that can cause data loss are human errors, hardware failure, cyber attacks, and natural disasters. Fortunately, there are ways you can protect your data against loss – data backup and disaster recovery strategy. 

The best backup and disaster recovery strategies will give you peace of mind as you undertake your daily activities. If you don´t know how to do it, we are here to help.

This article covers everything you need to know about data backup and disaster recovery for data-driven businesses using VPS. Explore reliable solutions to safeguard your data here: https://beeksgroup.com/

VPS Data Backup and Restoration Tools

The following tools are vital for VPS data backup and restoration. 

cPanel Backup: cPanel Backup is a web hosting control panel you can consider for data backup. It is convenient for creating, scheduling, and restoring data backups. 

JetBackup: JetBackup is a cloud-based backup solution. It is the best solution for incremental backups. You can also restore your backed data quickly (file-level and point-in-time restores).

R1Soft: R1Soft is among the most reputable server backup solutions. You can opt for block-level or disk-based backups. This backup solution also allows you to compress data to minimize the storage space.

CodeGuard: CodeGuard is another cloud-based backup solution. It ensures automated backups daily. Also, data restoration is quick and offers website monitoring.

Types of Backup

There are two main types of data backup:

Full Backups

A full backup backs up all data on the server daily. They are ideally meant for full server backup, although you can back up selected data, files, or folders. The advantage of full backup is that the backed-up data is stored in one location for easy retrieval. However, backing up the whole server usually takes time. 

Incremental Backup

Incremental backups back up data more regularly. It updates changes made to already backed-up files and the system. The backup process takes a short time, making it ideal for regular data backup. The only drawback to this type of backup is the restore points. Since files are backed up separately, they are stored at different points, making it hard to restore data. It will take longer when you want to restore large pieces of information since they are spread across many restore points. 

How Can I Back Up and Restore Data on VPS?

Before backing up your data, ensure you have enough space. For instance, if you back up your VPS to local storage, your device should have enough space to maintain smooth operation. If the space is insufficient, you can compress your backup data to occupy less storage space. 

Note that the entire server is backed up by default during configuration. However, if you choose an incremental method, the backed-up files are the only ones with changes since the last backup. Therefore, when restoring your data, you may need to restore them at different restoration points. 

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Methods

Backup Automation and Scheduling

You don´t have to manually backup your data every time – you can automate the process to make it more convenient. The good thing about the automated backup process is that it minimizes human errors. You only need to set the start and completion times for the data backup. This way, you can schedule it at your most convenient time when you are not held up with other tasks. 

However, some files need to be backed up immediately after you modify them, meaning you won´t wait for your regular scheduled backup times. Experts at managed VPS hosting can advise you accordingly. 

Off-Site and Remote Backups

Off-site and remote backups are familiar with Managed VPS hosting plans. Some plans will have your data backed up automatically on backup servers in different data centers. This option increases the security of your data. 

The good thing is that you don´t have to do much here – the support team does everything pertaining to data backup for you. 

Backup Testing and Verification

Some backup solutions are corrupted and can mess up your data. So, it is a good idea to always test your backup integrity. Also, ensure your backup is consistent and complete. Ensure you verify that all information is updated to be restored without problems. 

Disaster Recovery Planning

Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) determine how quickly you can restore your system. On the other hand, Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) specify the acceptable data loss.

 In addition, you should prioritize data and critical systems so that you know what needs to be done first. 

Disaster Recovery Testing

This process involves confirming if your disaster recovery plan is working or not. Below are the types of disaster recovery testing. 

• Plan review: Checks for weak points and inconsistencies.
• Tabletop exercise: Confirm if everyone knows their role.
• Simulation: Test the effectiveness of the recovery plan. 

Monitoring and Alerting

You should monitor your network to ensure your data is safe. You can choose a specialized tool like SShield to check your server´s connection. The advantage of this tool is that it blocks data attacks. Besides, it notifies you of any issue which may need attention. In addition, it provides detailed information about the threat faced. 

Managed VPS hosting monitors your server to ensure everything is running as intended. 

Conclusion

With faster performance, isolated accounts, and tailored resources, Managed VPS hosting is the way to go. For your data, ensure you regularly back up and check to confirm the restore works as intended. 

Understanding the disaster recovery strategies, plans, and mechanisms for effective data management is vital. This way, you can protect your website and data effectively.