“The hard disk drive will be replaced now that sync is the new save”—at least according to Dropbox. Last week, the “Dropbox Platform”—a set of developer tools that make it easier to sync non-traditional files (such as application data, contact lists or to-do lists)—made its debut. While it’s certainly beneficial to use these new tools to make more data accessible in the cloud, you still need endpoint backup.
Enterprises can’t afford to take a “sync is good enough” approach to data protection. Think of sync and backup as completely separate applications that meet very different needs for enterprises:
- File syncing and sharing applications are used to access files across different devices and between different people—whether they’re inside or outside the organization.
- Endpoint backup, on the other hand, protects data by creating a second copy of data stored on endpoint devices (laptops/desktops), enabling quick recovery of the data should the primary copy become lost, unusable or—in a common sync scenario—accidentally deleted.
So even if sync is the new save, it’s definitely not the new backup. Code42 recently published an executive brief on this topic, and it highlights in more detail the differences between sync and backup: “Top 3 Iron-Clad Reasons Why Sync/Share is Not Endpoint Backup.” Or, take a moment to watch the recent webinar, “Danger Ahead: Why Sync is Not Endpoint Backup.”