What is the difference between Sync and Backup?

Syncing and Backing up files are usually used interchangeably when it comes to the protection of data. Syncing and Backing up of data help up to have extra copies of data. Back up can be defined as copying data from one place to another. You can back up the file by having a duplicate in another computer, flash drive, or even in a hard disk.

There is four commonly used backup method which includes full backup, full virtual backup, differential backups, and incremental backup. Syncing is mostly used with public cloud-based that have storage limits; syncing allows you to have the same data in a different location. Syncing can be set up to be device and internet, device and local area network, and computer and external devices.

Sync copies files in both directions while backup pushes data in one direction. Losing information from your electronic device can be somewhat daunting. Syncing and backing up your machine can save you from the frustration. Information synchronization will guarantee that data leaves a system storage entity and will not fall out of coordination from the source. The objective of synchronization is to modify and update information.

If the information is altered on the application, you should make sure that the adjustments are communicated to the other systems and have access to the data. Backing up information is a process of duplicating data. The replicated information can be recovered after losing information. Data backups assist organizations and enterprises in ensuring that their data is secure, and that crucial information can be procured after, for example, a natural disaster or theft.

Backup refers to a copy of a file, stored separately from the original source, which can be used to recover or used in place of the original in the event that the original is damaged or destroyed. Mostly, you will be copying from one physical drive to another, and you can as well copy to an online location.

On the other hand, you are syncing means to copy or delete files either manually or automatically, in a bid to ensure that two locations have the same files. As for backup, you will be having the same files at the source and the target locations until there are changes to the original or source files. This will make the target files not to look the same with the original file.

At this point, a new backup will need to be done in order to have the same files at both locations. With syncing, you won't need to copy again if the source files are altered. When you sync, it takes care of any difference in the two files at both locations, thereby making them be the same.