Duplicati FTP Backup: Beginner vs Expert

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

Let's face it, getting your data safely offsite is crucial. Many folks turn to Duplicati for this, and FTP (or SFTP!) is often the destination. But how do beginners and seasoned developers approach this task differently? This article breaks down the process and highlights those key distinctions.

Beginner's Path: Simplicity and Password Authentication

For a newcomer, the initial setup is about getting something working. They’re likely to:

• Choose FTP over SFTP: Plain FTP is simpler to configure initially. There’s less to understand about keys and SSH.
• Use Password Authentication: This is the easiest method. The Duplicati configuration will simply ask for a username and password for their ftpGrid account. While easy, it’s important to understand the security implications – we strongly recommend against it, as outlined in FTP 101 Authentication is Unsecure.
• Accept Default Settings: They’re focused on successful backups, not optimizing performance or security.
• Limited Error Handling: If the backup fails, they might not have a robust system to alert them. A simple error log is sufficient.
• Utilize the FTP Grid Free Tier Overview for initial setup. It’s a quick way to get started with 512MB of storage.

Expert’s Route: Security and Automation

Experts prioritize security, automation, and reliability. Here’s what sets their approach apart:

• SFTP is Mandatory: They always opt for SFTP. The added security of an SSH tunnel is non-negotiable.
• SSH Key Authentication: They're using SSH keys for authentication - no passwords! This drastically improves security. Refer to Create SSH Keys for SFTP, SCP Authentication to get started.
• Advanced Configuration: They’re diving deep into Duplicati's configuration options – compression levels, encryption algorithms, and scheduling.
• Robust Error Handling: They implement custom scripts to monitor backup status, receive immediate notifications of failures (email, Slack), and automatically retry failed backups.
• Automated Key Rotation: They’re setting up a system to automatically rotate SSH keys for enhanced security.
• Leveraging the Quick Storage API Series SFTP/FTP for custom scripting and automation. This lets them integrate backups into their CI/CD pipelines or other automated workflows.
• Consider Managed FTP Hosting to offload management overhead.

Bridging the Gap: Best Practices for Everyone

Regardless of skill level, these points are vital:

• Understand the Risks of Plain FTP: If you're using FTP, understand it's the least secure option.
• Regularly Review Configuration: Keep your backups running smoothly by checking settings and logs periodically.
• Explore SFTP: Even if it seems intimidating, SFTP is worth the effort for the security benefits. We have a helpful Duplicati SFTP Cloud Storage Tutorial.
• Think about encryption: ftpGrid encrypts data at rest and in transit using industry-standard encryption.

By understanding the differences in approach and implementing best practices, you can ensure your data is safely and securely backed up using Duplicati and ftpGrid. Ready to give it a try? Sign up for a free account at edgeN.ftpgrid.com!