Quick answer: Backups of your data are your responsibility. Cloud2Y does not automatically back up the content of customer servers — RAID and infrastructure redundancy protect against some hardware failure, but not against deletion, ransomware, bad deployments or software corruption. Keep your own backups, ideally offsite (a Storage VPS works well).
Overview
This is the single most important policy to internalise. Infrastructure redundancy and customer backups solve different problems: RAID keeps a service running through a disk failure; only a backup brings back a database you dropped at 2 a.m. The rule of thumb is 3-2-1: three copies, two different media/locations, one offsite.
Before you start
- Inventory what actually needs backing up: databases, site files, configs, mail — not the reinstallable OS.
- Decide your acceptable data loss (how many hours/days of work you can afford to lose) — that sets backup frequency.
- Pick an offsite target now, not after the first incident; see backups to a Storage VPS.
Step-by-step guide
- Set up automated backups (rsync, restic, panel backups or application-level tools) on a schedule matching your data-loss tolerance.
- Send them offsite — a different server in a different location; a Storage VPS in another Cloud2Y region is a practical choice.
- Encrypt and access-restrict the backup target so an attacker on the source cannot destroy the copies.
- Test restores periodically — an untested backup is a hope, not a plan.
- Document the restore procedure so anyone on your team can execute it under stress.
Common issues
- "RAID is my backup": RAID survives disk death, not human error or ransomware — see the replacement policy for the hardware side.
- Backups on the same server: a full disk, a compromise or a reinstall wipes them together with the originals.
- Silent failures: unmonitored cron backups fail quietly for months — alert on job failure, not just success.
When to contact support
Support can help with a Storage VPS for offsite copies, reinstall/rescue during recovery, and platform-side questions — but cannot recover data you did not back up. If disaster strikes, open a ticket immediately anyway: rescue access sometimes saves partial data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cloud2Y back up my server automatically?
No. The content of customer servers is not backed up by the platform. RAID and redundancy protect against some hardware failures, but only your own backups protect your data.
Is RAID on my server enough to keep my data safe?
No. RAID keeps the service available through a disk failure but replicates deletions, ransomware and corruption instantly. Offsite backups cover the failure modes RAID cannot.
What is a good minimal backup setup on Cloud2Y?
Automated nightly backups pushed offsite to a Storage VPS in another location, encrypted, with restricted credentials and a periodic test restore. That covers the realistic disaster scenarios.
Related articles
- How to configure backups to a Storage VPS
- Dedicated server replacement policy
- Customer responsibility for VPS security
- Support scope: managed vs unmanaged services
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