Duplicati Backup: How to Back Up to Secure SFTP Cloud

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

If you’re searching for “Duplicati SFTP”, “Duplicati cloud storage”, or simply want a secure, GDPR-compliant backup target, this guide walks you through a complete setup using ftpGrid as your encrypted cloud storage backend.

Duplicati supports FTP, FTPS, SFTP, WebDAV, and many cloud providers, but SFTP is the most secure and reliable protocol, with encryption, integrity, and predictable performance.

Prefer hands-on instead of reading tutorials? ftpGrid is built to be intuitive, create a free account and start using it right away.

Why Use Duplicati With SFTP Cloud Storage?

Duplicati + SFTP is a perfect match for:

Small and medium businesses needing encrypted off-site backups
Developers backing up servers, logs, or application data
Privacy-minded users who don’t want Big Tech scanning files
GDPR-compliant cloud storage requirements
Cameras, IoT or NAS devices pushing files into cloud storage

Using SFTP ensures:

Encrypted transfer
Strong authentication
No vendor lock-in
Compatible with every OS (Windows, Linux, macOS)
Simple firewall requirements (one port only)

Step-by-Step: Set Up Duplicati With SFTP (ftpGrid)

We assume you have created your ftpGrid account, otherwise follow the quick start tutorial.

On the dashboard hit the "Generate Access" and store the credentials safely for later usage.

2. Open Duplicati

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:8200

Click:

Add backup → Configure a new backup

3. Encryption Settings

Duplicati encrypts your backup before files leave your computer.

Choose:

Encryption: AES-256
Enter a secure passphrase
Save it somewhere safe(ftpGrid cannot recover this for you, zero-knowledge).

4. Choose Backup Destination

Under Storage Type, select:

SFTP (SSH)

Fill in your ftpGrid access account information that you saved from "Generate Access":

Server:edgeN.ftpgrid.com
Port:22
Username:YOUR_USERNAME
Password:YOUR_PASSWORD
Path on server:/uploads/duplicati-backup

Click Test connection.

If it succeeds → you're good to go.

5. Choose What to Back Up

Select files or folders such as:

Website files
Databases (SQL dumps)
Documents
Code repositories
Media folders
Server config files

6. Set Your Backup Schedule

Duplicati supports:

Hourly
Daily
Weekly
Cron expressions
Manual execution

Most businesses choose:

Daily at night + real-time incremental uploads

7. Set Retention Rules

Example policies:

Keep backups for 30 days
Keep weekly backups for 3 months
Keep monthly snapshots for 1–2 years

Duplicati’s retention system is extremely flexible.

8. Run Your First Backup

Click:

Run now

Duplicati will:

Encrypt your files
Chunk them
Upload them securely over SFTP
Verify hashes and integrity

You’ll see backup logs in real-time.

Verifying Backups in ftpGrid

You can check uploaded files using:

🖥️ Web UI

🖥️ SFTP client (FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck)

Example SFTP command:

sftp YOUR_USERNAME@edgeN.ftpgrid.com

Everything should match Duplicati’s folder structure.

Troubleshooting

❌ “Permission denied”

Use a path inside /uploads.

❌ “Host key mismatch”

Your network security tool may rewrite SSH host keys.ftpGrid always uses stable host fingerprints.

❌ “Connection timeout”

Check that your firewall allows outbound port 22.

Why ftpGrid Is a Great Duplicati SFTP Backend

ftpGrid offers what most backup users need:

GDPR-compliant cloud storage hosted in Germany
Encrypted at rest & in transit
SFTP, FTPS, FTP, SCP, all included
Free tier available (256 MB)
Predictable pricing, no per-GB egress fees
Perfect for SMB backup workflows

Backup tools like Duplicati, Restic, and Duplicity integrate flawlessly.

Related Guides

Duplicati (full SFTP setup): You are here
Reolink SFTP cloud storage: https://ftpgrid.com/tutorials/reolink-e1-outdoor-ftp-setup/
Axis camera storage: https://ftpgrid.com/tutorials/axis-camera-cloud-storage/
Quick Storage API (Go): https://ftpgrid.com/tutorials/quick-storage-api-go-sftp-ftp/
Quick Storage API (Python): https://ftpgrid.com/tutorials/quick-storage-api-python-sftp-ftp/

Ready to Back Up Safely?

Try ftpGrid free (no credit card needed): https://app.ftpgrid.com/auth/signup/

If you want a deeper dive into secure FTP cloud storage: https://ftpgrid.com/ftp-cloud-storage/