01 January 2024  —  Andy Kerr

Best Database Backup Software 2024

Acronis
Table of contents
What are the benefits of database backups?
What are the disadvantages of database backup?
What is the best way to back up databases?
What are the types of database backup?
How do I create a backup copy of a database?
How should I manage database backups?
How do I automatically backup my database?
What factors should be considered when choosing a database backup tool?
What is one of the best database backup solutions? (Acronis Cyber Protect)
Acronis Cyber Protect
formerly Acronis Cyber Backup
Other languages available: Deutsch Español (Spain)

Database backup solutions help businesses to protect their data with reserve database copies in event of corrupt data, physical hardware failure or user error. By utilizing database backup solutions, organizations and businesses can ensure their data is always protected and available in case their database fails. Having the right database backup software is one of the most important things for every business, because this can literally save your life in case of emergency.

IT departments configure and maintain backup programs and software, that can be used by any team and organization, that needs security and safe place to store their most important data, and provides them the best database backup software they have. In case of emergency and unpredicted data loss, data recovery will be executed and every file must be restored to it's previous state from a backup. This can take the form of incremental backup or differential backup and can apply it as frequently as needed.

There are backups solutions, that can be found supporting only certain types of databases, while other are created and can provide a broader approach, and can backup different types of data, including servers. As you know database software and the best database backup tools need to integrate with other software in IT company's infrastructure to become one of the most valuable assets.

How can you feel safe about your business, when there are countless threats waiting around the corner every day? One of the best decisions you can make is having both cloud backup and local backup. They are each backup methods in database security, but we would like to recommend cloud database backup as the best way to restore your database — rather than the traditional and well-known local backup method. Nowadays, cloud-based backup solutions have become a fundamental and very popular method for executing complete backup.

Cloud backup and recovery is very reliable and easy to operate; cloud backup software often has a desktop client; and its software is very easy to operate. The other critically important aspect of cloud data is protection of your entire database. In the case of a cyberattack, disaster or accident, your data will be stored in a safe place and protected in the cloud.

So, to have the best database backup software, you must implement all the protection approaches and latest updates of database management systems. The main purpose is to be reassured and safe with your important data and, in case you need it, to receive a full backup, because we all know the data of every company, no matter its size, is the most valuable and important asset they have. So, you should choose wisely: what does your business need, so it can operate normally without any concerns?

What are the benefits of database backups?

Backup is the process of copying real or virtual file databases to a backup location in case of equipment failure or disaster. Backing up this data is critical for a good disaster recovery strategy.

In case of data corruption, hardware failure, hostile tracking, user mistake or any other unexpected circumstances, businesses back up data they perceive to be vulnerable. Backups are synchronized on a backup strategy and desired frequency, which is subsequently used to restore data to its former condition.

Backup and recovery testing investigates an organization's data security and replication procedures and technologies, where the goal is to ensure that data can be retrieved quickly and reliably in the event a backup procedure is required.

There are many benefits to preventing data loss — both intentional and unintentional. Backup and recovery software is used to recover old data, when that data needs to return to its previously healthy condition. But the main focus here is on keeping customers’ data safe, because we all know how crucial it is for every organization. And one of the most important aspects of this is preventing storage media damage, virus infection, or theft of information and data.

Choosing the best backup software can provide you with a great safety net and significant benefits for your business. Those benefits include these key factors:

  1. Security, which is one of the most important aspects of data backup and recovery, using different backup strategies. As IT systems grow and integrate one with one another, the number of potential threats to a company’s information increases constantly. Maintaining a backup and recovery that has strong security management is one of the key features when looking for the best data protection.
  2. Ease of management. Especially when restoration of stored data is needed — which can be stressful and time-sensitive — ease of management creates consistencies in the process for backing up data and information.
  3. Reliable replication in backup process, which ensures accurate replication of your data and makes it disaster proof. This gives you the freedom and confidence to make as many database backups as needed without any concern about data loss.
  4. Maintain compliance standards. Here we are talking about collecting and preserving critical data, such as financial data and documents, through regular backup processes.
  5. Zero impact on performance. A lot of users out there don't realize that a solution of data backups is running in the background. That leads to fewer disruptions, which means more uptime and satisfied clients — one of the most important considerations of any business.
  6. Quick access to your data. This allows IT to easily recover files and information for the end users and to receive rapid recovery, when something unexpected happens, or operating system fails.
  7. Cost control, where losing vital organization data can put you out of business. Another catastrophic event is losing customer data or customers' sensitive information, which can lead to lawsuits. Furthermore, data loss can stall projects, cause a decrease in productivity and, of course, financial losses. So here we see the obvious need for backup storage options and faster data recovery.

What are the disadvantages of database backup?

While database backup software can provide countless benefits, like protection against data loss and increased productivity, there are some disadvantages to consider. As you already know, one of the disadvantages is the cost of its backup services.

Depending on the size of the company and the volume of data you need to backup and transfer into the storage facility, the cost can escalate rapidly. It is accepted that you will be charged depending on the amount of storage space needed.

Another disadvantage of data backup is that it requires exorbitant amounts of time and resources, because data recovery and backing up your data can be a time-consuming process that takes you away from other important tasks — like customer service or product development. Additionally, maintaining and managing database backup requires constant attention and considerable resources to ensure that data remains updated and secure. But again, all of this can be handled by a third party that manages all the backup operations for your business.

But despite these disadvantages, there are many more advantages with using database backup that outweigh any potential disadvantages.

What is the best way to back up databases?

Through the last few years, the potential threads have doubled according to the latest surveys. So the need of upgrading and updating the backup software is fundamental, as to be one step ahead of the countless threads out there. There are different needs for the complete data protection like incremental backups, Commvault backup, backup SQL server and Windows Server Backup.

Nowadays, every business owner is familiar with backup services and the positive aspects of backing up data, as well as the necessity of constant protection for their organization. Understanding the importance of having the ability to restore databases from valid backups is a vital part of ensuring business continuity. First of all, you have to decide what needs to be backed up.

After making a solid backup plan, completing your initial work, and having chosen your cloud storage provider — as well as the best backup system for your needs — you now have to manage some very important aspects of complete database backups.

  1. Automating backups — For Oracle databases, either set backups through OEM or use an OS scheduling tool and spool output to log files that can be reviewed for any disruptions or errors.
  2. Monitoring database backups — The important thing here is to set up monitoring using appropriate tools so that you get email alerts, or cell phone SMS notifications for any failed database backup, so you will be certain you have continuous data protection.
  3. Cloud storage space is a very important part of the database backup service, and depending on the organization, the storage space can vary greatly. So, if you don't need a lot of storage, but you pay for it, you should review your plan and pay less for the exact amount of space that you need — not more or less. Another important consideration is choosing the most appropriate backup destination for your data.
  4. Cloud automation is the last piece of the puzzle for the best database backup, because there are professional database administrators who can manage the whole process for you and they are the best managed service providers (MSPs). You will get everyday support and automated processes — keeping your database backups and recovery at their best. Another very interesting and crucial aspect is that you should receive automated updates for improving service quality — not only after the primary backup, but on a daily basis.

What are the types of database backup?

There are three main types of backups: full, differential and incremental. Let's dive in to learn more about them and have a closer look at the differences between them, and which would be the best database backup for your needs and the advanced features it provides.

Full backup — A full backup, the most complete backup, is where you clone all selected data and receive backup demands for all the important information you have stored. This includes files, folders, SaaS applications, hard drives and more. The highlight of a full backup is the minimal time it requires to restore data and backup files.

However, since everything is backed up in one go, it can take longer to backup database instances compared with the other backup types. Everything about that sounds ok enough, but there is maybe just one negative aspect — the fact that running a full backup overloads storage space. Another negative feature is that you cannot request rapid recovery, because of the large volume of files and information found in the backup repository locations. That's why most businesses tend to run a full backup and follow it up with either differential or incremental backup. This reduces the burden on the storage space and increases backup speed.

Differential backup — A differential backup straddles the line between full and incremental backup. It involves backing up data that was changed since the last database backup. It enables  you to restore data faster than full backup with the database backup tools it uses, since it requires only two backup components — an initial full backup and the latest differential backup.

Incremental backup — The first step in the incremental backup process is the execution of full backup. Succeeding backups will only upload the changes that were made to the previous backup. This gives more flexibility to businesses in spinning these types of database backup as often as they want. Incremental backup requires space to store only the changes, which leads to lightning-fast database backups.

How do I create a backup copy of a database?

Google’s Cloud Spanner enables you to copy a backup of your Spanner database backup from one instance to another, from different regions, projects or remote locations, to ensure additional data protection and compliance capabilities.

The copied backup has the same functions as the primary backup, and does not execute any data replacement or database dump. At the beginning of the copy backup request, the backup resource will be made by the Spanner.

If a zone is temporary unavailable, the requested copy does not complete until the zone comes back online. The time it takes to copy a backup really depends on various factors, such as the size of the source backup, the destination region and the key features, which are chosen for the copied database backup so there won't be any data extraction.

How should I manage database backups?

Proper management in database backups is crucial factor when you want your business to operate properly without any major problems and disruptive events. Thus, you can guarantee a customer’s satisfaction and generate the expected profits and results for every organization.

Let's enumerate the most important things you must consider when managing and choosing the best database backup practices.

  1. Develop a comprehensive backup plan.
  2. Perform effective backup management.
  3. Perform periodic databases restore testing.
  4. Have backup and recovery SLAs drafted and communicated to all stakeholders.
  5. Have the disaster recovery plan for unexpected and unwanted events.

If you take closer look at these key factors, your life will be much easier, because this will ensure fewer problems for your organization, less downtime, easier recovery in case of natural disaster, and unwanted, harmful events.

How do I automatically backup my database?

Data might become unusable due to a variety of hardware or software problems. Automatic database backup simplifies and eases database backup management tasks by always guaranteeing a full backup that’s recently been made. Protect your data by implementing and planning a disaster recovery strategy for unexpected disaster scenarios.

If suitable for your business’s needs, you may consider incorporating database backup software and features as part of your recovery strategy so you will be able to recover your business, no matter what happens — because as we know, unexpected events happen occasionally.

The biggest advantage of an automatic database backup is that everything is done automatically for your convenience, so you shouldn't worry about losing any data and wasting valuable time. There is not only one single backup point, but multiple locations to store your most important data.

What factors should be considered when choosing a database backup tool?

Everybody asks one main question: how do you choose the right database for every business’s needs and requirements. Today, we are going to look at some additional factors and details that everybody should consider when selecting a database backup tool.

ACID versus BASE — Relational database systems and engines do Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation and Durability (ACID), whereas NoSQL engines use BASE (Basic, Availability, Soft-state, and Eventual consistency) to reach and achieve performance though horizontal scaling and fault tolerance.

Availability is another fundamental factor here. Your database backup tools and engines should have the ability to be highly and constantly available — despite the fact that it may come at a high price, where clustering or adding notes and Microsoft Exchange databases increases hardware and software costs.

Disaster recovery is the other key piece of the puzzle when choosing a database backup tool. You have to make a disaster recovery plan to feel confident that your database engines and tools meet your requirements of having a safe place to store your data in the event an emergency recovery is needed. If it takes too long to recover, back up and operate normal functions again, then you may not want that engine.

Infrastructure options are critical for a properly functioning business, because the database engine may require you to provide the infrastructure necessary for needed operations. Or, it could be part of a larger data recovery platform offered by a major cloud provider. Data migration is as important as the whole infrastructure itself; but you have to spend time evaluating and researching the effort required to move your data backups as needed.

What is one of the best database backup solutions? (Acronis Cyber Protect)

At the end of the day, everyone wants to have the best database backup software and solutions. And this is where Acronis Cyber Protect has taken the lead in the market for so many years. With our constant updates and upgrades, we have established ourselves as a leader in providing the best possible database backup and disaster recovery solutions.

We know how annoying and catastrophic downtime can be for your business. With the wide gamma of cybersecurity services Acronis Cyber Protect gives you, and the constant upgrades we’ve made to it, the only sensible decision is to choose our product.

Choosing Acronis Cyber Protect ensures complete protection for your organization, because we know how important is to feel safe about your data and keep operating normally with fewer problems and bigger profits.

We want to safeguard your data from all cyberthreats, and the only cyber protection solution that natively integrates data protection and cybersecurity is Acronis Cyber Protect — that provides a full range of security features for your business. And by running Acronis Cyber Protection in the Acronis Cloud, we deliver advanced cyber protection to every endpoint in any location, which makes it the best fit for today's remote and mobile environments.

Acronis
Author
Andy Kerr
Senior Product Marketing Manager - Backup & Recovery
Andy Kerr is an accomplished marketing professional with over a dozen years of experience in the cyber resilience industry, with particular focus on Backup and Disaster Recovery. As Senior Product Marketing Manager at Acronis, he gains valuable insight into business data protection challenges and the best solutions to overcome them. Andy's exceptional ability to convert complex IT solutions into easily understandable concepts enables organizations to thrive amidst increasing data security challenges.

About Acronis

A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 20,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses.