Backup to Cloud Pro for Plesk VPS & Dedicated Servers

What is Backup to Cloud Pro?

Backup to Cloud Pro is a Plesk extension that simplifies and enhances your website and server backup capabilities. It integrates with major cloud storage providers, allowing you to schedule and automate backups to secure off-site locations. This feature is included for free with all of our VPS and Dedicated Server solutions.

How Does Backup to Cloud Pro Work?

1. Installation: The Backup to Cloud Pro extension is included and enabled with your server. You can choose to use it in conjunction with the specific cloud storage extensions (e.g., Amazon S3, Google Drive) you want to use.

2. Set up your cloud storage: You must provide your own cloud storage service. This is not included. We recommend using Google Drive to store your backups. 101domain is an authorized Google Workspace partner and offers this for sale. https://www.101domain.com/google_workspace.htm

3. Configure Storage: Connect your Plesk server to your chosen cloud storage account(s). https://help.101domain.com/kb/mail-migration-and-backups

4. Create Backup Plans: Define backup schedules, choose what to back up (entire server, specific domains, databases), and set retention policies.

5. Automate Backups: Backup to Cloud Pro handles the rest, automatically executing backups based on your schedule and securely transferring them to your cloud storage account.

Key Benefits

• Off-Site Security: Protect your backups from hardware failures, natural disasters, or security breaches by storing them securely in the cloud.

• Scalability: Easily adjust your backup storage as your needs grow.

• Simplified Management: Centralized backup configuration and monitoring within the Plesk interface.

• Multiple Providers: Choose from a variety of cloud storage options to find the best fit for your needs and budget. Supported cloud storage providers include Google Drive, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox.

• Restoration Ease: Quickly restore your websites or server from backups with just a few clicks.

Limitations

• Additional Cost: You'll incur costs from your cloud storage provider if you already do not have one.

• Provider Dependence: Your backups are dependent on the reliability and availability of your chosen cloud storage service.

• Bandwidth Considerations: Large backups may consume significant bandwidth during transfers which may slow website performance. Schedule your backups during slower periods for your website.

Technical FAQs

• Can I back up to multiple cloud providers simultaneously? Yes, you can create separate backup plans for each provider.

• What happens if my cloud storage account gets full? Backups will fail if there's not enough space. Consider setting up alerts from your cloud provider.

• Can I include specific files or exclude certain directories from backups? Yes, Backup to Cloud Pro allows for granular backup customization.

• Is my data encrypted in the cloud? This depends on the cloud provider and your configuration. Many providers offer encryption options.

• What is the recommended backup frequency? This varies depending on how often your website content, databases, or configuration files change. Daily incremental or differential backups are often a good starting point, in conjunction with weekly full backups. Retain backups for an extended time, such as one month, to ensure you have multiple recovery options in the event you need one.

Additional Tips

• Test Restorations: Regularly verify that you can successfully restore from your cloud backups.

• Bandwidth Monitoring: Backups require bandwidth which should be monitored to not affect the performance of your website for your users. Your bandwidth is limited depending on your server and generally more than enough for most applications.

• Backup Alerts: Set up email notifications for backup successes or failures.