Chainless image backup, also known as a chain-free backup solution, is a modern data protection method that involves creating full image backups that are self-sufficient and do not depend on previous backup states.
What is chain-based backup?
Traditional backup infrastructures utilize chain-based backup wherein each sequence is dependent on the last.
There are two types of chain-based backup: forward chain and reverse chain. Forward chain backup begins with a full backup and then is followed by a series of incremental backups that capture only the changes made since the last backup. On the other hand, a reverse chain backup also starts with a full backup but is followed by synthetic full backups that incorporate changes directly into a new full backup.
Both types of chain-based backups are more susceptible to catastrophic data loss and longer downtime, which can significantly impact business operations. If one of the links in a backup chain fails due to a malware attack or data corruption, then all subsequent backups will be affected and can even be corrupted themselves.
In addition, chain-based backups require heavier storage requirements than modern backup methods. As the backup chain grows longer with each incremental backup, it increases the complexity of restoration processes which leads to slower data restoration.
How does a chainless image backup work?
A chainless image backup is a modern backup method that removes dependencies on previous backups and reduces the risk of data corruption. This modern method allows IT teams to recover data more swiftly and with greater reliability.
With chainless image backups, each backup is treated as an independent and complete image of the system at that point in time, making them more reliable. The method involves storing the data in a virtualizable state via a pointer array algorithm to track changes without linking sequential backups, ensuring that each backup stands independently.
What is a chainless image backup used for?
Chainless image backup helps ensure data integrity and rapid recovery and would benefit most businesses. Remote or hybrid workforces can deploy chainless backups to safeguard data across cross-platform systems in different locations.
For industries that handle highly sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and retail, having a reliable method of backing up files ensures uninterrupted operations and swift recovery from cyberattacks or disasters.
Chainless image backups also help ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as HIPAA. According to HIPAA data backup requirements, chain-based backups can only be used for up to 24 months before having to start a new backup from scratch. Managed service providers (MSPs) would need to redo all their backups for every client in order to maintain compliance, which can be costly and time-consuming.
What are the benefits of chainless image backup?
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Improved reliability
Since older types of backups depend on a sequence of previous backups, IT professionals might be unable to restore the entire backup when a part of the chain becomes corrupted. Chainless backups eliminate this dependency on previous backups, ensuring each backup is a complete snapshot that can be restored independently. This mitigates the risk of backup corruption and provides a higher level of reliability in the backup process.
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Faster recovery times
Chainless image backups enable quicker recovery processes since each backup is a complete entity. Traditional backup methods usually require piecing together multiple backups to recreate the desired state.
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Optimized storage
Chainless image backups minimize storage consumption thanks to deduplication and data compression technologies that prevent duplicate backups from being created.
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Scalability
Chainless image backup solutions can be scaled to meet the backup needs of fast-growing businesses.
Enhancing IT security with chainless image backups
Utilizing chainless image backup improves an organization’s resilience by making its backups more reliable compared to legacy backup methods. Chainless image backups also offer more cost-effective storage efficiency and recovery speed compared to legacy chain-based backups. For IT teams and MSPs, chainless image backups simplify backup management and enhance an organization’s security posture by protecting sensitive data and ensuring business continuity during a data breach, cyberattack, or natural disaster.
