Europe’s got your back(up)
My email about backups yesterday triggered a couple of replies asking for European backup service suggestions.
It’s a little complicated to offer solutions without going into detailed comparisons. Everyone has different needs. But, I’ll list a few options I know to work quite well for most.
There are two parts to any backup system: the client (the backup software running on your computer) and the server (the place where the data is stored). They can be from the same service or different.
If you have enough technical knowledge, you’ll generally be better off using a separate client and storage service. The issue with most all-in-one services is they’re either sync services or network folders (at least when using their clients).
Let’s start with the all-in-one solutions:
Jottacloud are based in Norway and, in my opinion anyway, one of the easier to use solutions. The data stays in Norway and it’s encrypted. They can even backup your NAS (Network Attached Storage) as part of a dual system. They also do sync, so you need to be careful about how you use it.
There are plenty of other services, but most of them aren’t really ideal for incremental backups unless you’re willing to tinker or, in some cases, use a separate client. A few to look into: Infomaniak kDrive, Proton Drive, Filen, pCloud.
If you can use separate clients and servers, my suggestions for clients are:
Arq for Mac or Windows. It’s the one I use and I’m very happy with it. It works with all kinds of services including S3 (created by Amazon but now used by many others) and you can choose where, when and how files are backed up.
Kopia. An open-source solution available for most platforms and as both a graphical client or a terminal-based one if you’re a power user. Like Arq, it works with a plethora of storage services.
Restic. One for the power-users but also a very good solution.
Server-wise, there’s a lot of choice. It’s going to depend a lot on your needs, but here are a few:
Hetzner Storage. In Germany or Finland. Good value for money. Works with many protocols.
Scaleway Object Storage or Glacier (for long-term storage) in France. It’s compatible with S3 and can be a good option too.
Many other services are S3-compatible, including a few mentioned above like Filen or Infomaniak (you need a pro account at Infomaniak for S3, though).
This is far from complete, I don’t want to write an essay, but it should get you started on your backup quest. Email-me if you have questions.
Colin