Do I Need To Backup Google Drive? Yes.

Drive is another File Server, it doesn’t replace the need for a managed backup

  Data backup creates and keeps a second ‘safe copy’ separated from the ‘working copy’ of the data in the event of an accident (ex. a team member deleted the wrong file or folder or an application crashes and corrupts a file). This is a good idea for all businesses and required for many through industry regulations. This article covers: 1. The installation and configuration of Google Drive on Windows 10. 2. The creation of a Jungle Disk Backup Vault to encrypt and automate secure backups. 3. An example backup restoration of a file from Google Drive. NOTE: I also wrote about how to backup Microsoft OneDrive if your business uses it instead.  

Step 1: Download Google Drive & Install on Windows 10

First up, get the Drive download from Google. You’ll go through a simple installation process and connect it to your Google Account. (NOTE: If you have multiple Google Accounts Drive can only be connected to one account at a time.) After connection you should reach the screen in Diagram 2 where Google says, “Files kept in the Google Drive folder are backed up and safe.” If you have a copy of the file on your local hard drive in a separate folder and you manually create a second copy on your Google Drive that is a safe copy and a manual backup. If you move your working copy to Google Drive it is your only copy and it is then one accident away from becoming data loss. Now that you’re connected you’ll see your Google Drive in Windows Explorer as I do on my computer shown in Diagram 3.

Step 2: Create a Backup Vault and schedule automated off-site encrypted backup of Google Drive

We have great walkthroughs that explain how to configure a Jungle Disk Backup Vault and explain ‘What to Backup’ options to select all, some, or to exclude certain files or folders. Jungle Disk supports backing up Google Drive just as it does network shares, OneDrive, or any other location you keep a ‘working copy’ of your files. We’re here to make it easy to have a single secure backup service to store a ‘safe copy’ of all your data. Diagram 4 shows my Backup Vault.

Step 3: Example: Using Jungle Disk to Recover a Lost File from Google Drive

Let’s say I deleted the Encrypted Data Backup flyer shown above in Diagram 3 by accident. Recovering a copy is as easy as following our Backup Vault Restore walkthrough to select the file, select the local destination folder, and click ‘Start Restore’. This second ‘safe copy’ could also get used in the event of a criminal hacker running a crypto ransomware attack on my Google Drive or many other scenarios where your ‘working copy’ of a file is no longer usable.

Closing

Online storage is making data access and availability better than ever and this is wonderful for your productivity. A revolution in productivity does not need to be a revolution in risk. With Jungle Disk you can have both productivity and safety while unleashing the power of cloud computing on your business. Talk with one of our data security experts today or get started in 5 minutes for only $4 per month.