In our day-to-day tasks we have many devices integrated with which we generate a large number of files: we make videos with the camera, we record audios with our mobile phones, we save files with our computer programs … At some point we usually create a backup copy of all that on a hard drive, usually connected to the computer. But what if the disc falls to the ground? Here Duplicati comes into play .
Duplicati is a tool that, on the one hand, will facilitate the process of recording our backup and, on the other, upload it, encrypted and protected , to the cloud from where we can download it. We also include two alternatives in case you are looking for something different, although we have already warned you that this program is very useful and can become essential for many of you due to its free, easy handling and high reliability.
Duplicati main features
The first thing we highlight about this program is that it is free and open source . In addition, we can use it for commercial purposes in case we have a business whose data we must keep safe.
Another good news is that it is cross-platform so we can use it in Windows, Linux and MacOs interchangeably, so it will be very useful in the event that we have several devices that do not share the same operating system.
Very easy to use web-based software
The user interface is very simple and makes the tedious, and sometimes complex, backup process lighter. In the left column we have the main controls to create and restore backup copies. In addition, through the configure option, we can add a password to the user interface -very useful if we share a computer with other people-, change the appearance of the interface -blue on white or dark- and activate or deactivate the sending of reports of use to Duplicati, with which we can protect our privacy a little more.
In the center, we have a text box that warns us of scheduled tasks and, on the right, a control to pause it in case we want to manage the files that are part of the backup. The second control of the central part will allow us to limit the internet speed both up and down. This option is very useful to avoid exhausting our bandwidth and to continue using the internet without connection problems.
Finally, on its right side, it includes the possibility of voluntarily donating an amount of money via PayPal or other platforms to pay for the program. Remember that this program is free and free.
Save your data from anywhere, anywhere
Duplicati is a program whose user interface is web-based , that is, it is designed to be used on the internet. This is extremely useful since, when operating in any browser (either from a computer or from a mobile) it is also accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
An additional advantage of the above feature is that it allows you to run on online storage servers.
Thanks to this program, we can manage the recording of our backup on a physical medium that we have at home, such as a pen-drive or a larger capacity hard drive.
However, what makes Duplicati special is that it works with protocols such as FTP and SSH in addition to the most common servers such as Microsoft One Drive, Google Drive and Mega. This will allow us to keep our backup copies in the cloud , avoiding physical damage that our devices may suffer.
Excellent task scheduler
The programmers have thought about the number of tasks we carry out each day and, to make life a little easier, they have designed the tool so that it can be programmed . This way you will not have to worry about making your copies periodically nor will you doubt if you actually did it or not. Just choose the day and time you want your backup to be made and Duplicati will do it for you.
Your data, encrypted and protected with Duplicati
The software uses the most secure version of AES encryption , the 256-bit based one, which was accepted as standard protection by the United States Government in 2001. Duplicati will use this calculation method to protect each and every one of your files and folders .
An additional advantage of this choice is that you will save storage space since it eliminates redundant files at home backup.
In case you need additional security, you can use GPG to encrypt your backup.
Installing Duplicati to secure your files
Integrating Duplicati on your PC is a process that will require a little attention. In the event that you decide to burn your backups on physical hard drives, you will have to indicate the source disk and the destination disk.
To find out if you have enough free space, press “Disk usage” during installation.
Once selected, the installation will finish quickly.
And making your first backup
The backup of all your important files is very easy to do thanks to Duplicati . Select “add backup” from the left menu and you will see how the program guides you through a four-step process. First you will choose the destination of the copy and you can ensure that the path is correct. Then you can modify the advanced security settings. Third, you will select the source of the files and folders that will make up your backup. And fourth and last, you will have the option to schedule the successive backup copies that will be made automatically.
Other free and open source backup software
Areca
This program has two substantial differences from Duplicati. First, it is not web based so you will have to run it on your computer, be it Linux or Windows. And second, you will need to save your backup on a physical storage drive since it does not work in the cloud.
The advantage over Duplicati is that you can use it at any time, even if the internet connection fails. Another added advantage is that it compresses your backups using the .zip extension . In addition, you can send an email with a report confirming that the process has been carried out correctly.
Download this software from their website
Comfortable
The advantage of this tool over Areca is that, once registered, it will allow you to save your files and folders in the cloud for free up to a limit of 10 GB. However, you will have to adapt to its storage system: images, documents, music and videos. The user can choose which folder on their computer goes to one of these four destinations, but if you do not share the Comodo folder structure, it may not be very useful for you.
An advantage over Areca is that, like Duplicati, it allows you to make scheduled backups, which is an advantage since you will not have to keep track of the calendar.
Sign up to access the first free 10GB
