Do we have any Mac IT users? I always try to simplify my IT. I have a fairly new Macbook running Ventura. Ideally, I want to be able to create a system backup along the lines of what Time Machine does but save it directly to a cloud service. I have recently shut down my home server so now it means once a month or so I have to plug in an external hard drive when I remember and do it the old fashioned way. There must be a better solution!

If you are looking for Apple native solution then, you have to combine Time machine for system backup (to local storage only) and ICloud/IDrive for your docs, settings, passwords. Or you can go for third party cloud solution, I believe the most popular one is backblaze. This should tick all your boxes.

dfk41 My daughter uses a Mac Pro. I have set up to sync all her data, doc and photos direct to MS One Drive as it is less than a TB of storage. The programs and apps are not backed up at all. She is happy with this. Once in a few months, I back up the entire drive on an external drive, using time machine, to minimise the time spent in reinstalling the software / apps. There is a discussion on storing them on icloud using time machine. It can be expensive if you have lots of data. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251256047 Otherwise, you need to look at the likes of iDrive, Backblaze. If you have office 365 subscription (family plan), it offers 1TB of one drive space per user.

Backing up a Macbook

MediumRoastSteam

dfk41 - Time Machine is your friend. just let it do its thing. There are others, but if you are into the Apple Eco System, there’s no point going against it. It will simply makes things more complicated.

Gagaryn

You need to decide whether you really need a full system backup or whether you just need a backup of files. If your preference is a system backup then Time Machine probably remains your best option. Many routers allow you to plug in a USB drive that Time Machine can backup to. Using Time Machine with cloud backup can be done but it’s a hacky workaround that’s more complicated than plugging in a USB drive once a month - sounds like you are hoping to simplify the solution rather than complicate it.

File cloud storage is much easier - iCloud, One Drive etc…

dfk41

Okie dokie, to explain. Now I am retired, I have very little data that is not already safely backed up elsewhere. What I want, is to create a backup that I can easily reach and restore from in the event of needing to rebuild the pc. I had a NAS Disk Station that I used as the destination Time Machine back up drive (now switched off and put to sleep) but I cannot see (though thats probably me!) a way of pointing TM to a cloud system! A cloud system should allow a 24/7 backup rather than me trying to remember to plug in an external drive!

Gagaryn

dfk41 You cannot point TM to the cloud. Time Machine is an onsite backup solution. I read somewhere about someone who ‘almost’ got TM working with mounted cloud storage but it required a bit of hackery and still didn’t work well as the method TM uses to minimise backup size by only updating incremental changes doesn’t work well with cloud storage and the backup size quickly got unmanageable. Can’t find that article now though.

You could use a service like Backblaze though, or you could just plug in the USB drive once a month for TM Backups if you don’t want to reinstate the network storage.

Out of curiosity, why did you take the NAS offline? If you have the hardware it seems like the obvious solution. I use a cheap 2 bay Synology and works perfectly with TM.

dfk41

Gagaryn I guessed TM was not compatible with the Cloud but am happy that you have confirmed it matey. I used to work from home as an Independent Financial Adviser and it is an inde=ustryn where data has to backed up and kept securely. I was forced into retirement 42 months ago and closed my office down. The result was that the NAS was placed behind the tv in the lounge where it whirred away with the fans collecting dust at a rate of knots. The NAS had a mixture of work and personal data on it which is all backed up securely in multiple locations. I have absolutely nothing on my macbook except for settings like safari and chrome etc, Whatsap and the like. I back up every month or so now to an external usb 3.0 drive which is ok but I have memory issues and although I mean to do it monthly, rarely do. As long as I have a copy a couple of months old I am fine. It just makes it easier doing a restore from TM than having to reinstall the OS then start adding everything in. A cloud based service would have been ideal and maybe in years to come it will be available.
Many thanks for your help!

dfk41

Gagaryn Also, I have taken a 15 day trial with Backblaze it looks interesting!

Gagaryn

dfk41 Simple iCloud backups would probably be handy too - might not backup everything but can include documents, emails, safari settings etc. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206985

wilburpan

dfk41 I’ve restored a laptop from a Time Machine backup before. The good news is that it works great. The bad news is that it’s a somewhat slow process — slow enough that even if it were possible, trying to do that from a cloud-based Time Machine seems not to be feasible.

In addition, trying to backup to a cloud-based Time Machine would require the ability to upload a large amount of data at times. When I check in on what my Time Machine is doing during a backup, it’s not unusual to see over 1 GB of data going to Time Machine. My internet service has great speeds for downloading, but uploading is quite slow.

Personally, I have Time Machine set up to back up to a NAS, like you described. As far as the noise goes, it’s down in the basement, so I don’t hear it. Maybe another location is an option if you don’t want it behind the TV anymore.

dfk41

wilburpan I was just looking for an easier option. A desktop is easy as it is always connected until unless you switch it off but with a laptop you open it, you close it. The simplest thing once you’re have done the initial back up to your external hard drive is to set a reminder for say the 1st of each month to do the incremementaes. Think I will just have to start setting reminders!

wilburpan

dfk41 From my experience with our Mac laptops, the Time Machine backup happens automatically when you’re using it. From what I’ve seen, the first backup takes time. But after that, our Mac laptops are pretty good at getting the incremental backups done in the time that they are being used. So you don’t have to really worry about that issue with Mac laptops.

Worst case scenario, you can just leave the laptop open when you’re done using it. The screen will go to sleep automatically, but whatever backup that’s happening will complete, and then the laptop goes to sleep entirely after that.

Gagaryn

dfk41 Your Macbook will still do Time Machine backups when it’s asleep with the lid closed. :-)

wilburpan

Gagaryn Even better! 😄

dfk41

Gagaryn That I did not know!

Verion

I’m going to through my hat into the ring being a long time Mac user.

I’ve seen https://www.arqbackup.com that gets mentioned on a well known alternative Mac forum that I have been a member of since 2002.

Comes with a 30 day trial, backs up to quite a range of storage locations and comes in a bit cheaper for a yearly subscription than Backblaze. Might be worth a trial after your Backblaze one finishes.