Backing up data is an insurance measure. Companies might never experience problems. However, they can get their data back immediately if a disaster occurs, and the business can carry on as usual. There are three significant threats to data, failure of the server that holds it, accidental or intentional deletion, or encryption by ransomware.

Here is our list of the six best AWS EC2 backup tools:

  • Vembu BDR Suite EDITOR’S CHOICE This package offers a range of editions to cover different platforms and there is a flavor for AWS EC2 instances that you can host on Windows or Linux or take as a SaaS package. Access the 30-day free trial.
  • Acronis Cyber Protect (FREE TRIAL) This cloud platform of security services is able to protect endpoints on site plus backup all data on premises and on the cloud in platforms such as AWS EC2. Start a 30-day free trial.
  • N-able Cove Data Protection Although this backup tool isn’t integrated into AWS EC2 or available in the AWS Marketplace, it is written to run on the platform, and it will install easily. With this system, you can back up to the N-able cloud storage server included in the price.
  • Clumio This service is offered through AWS Marketplace; it is cheaper than AWS Backup and includes ransomware protection.
  • Druva This is an integrated service that you can get through the AWS Marketplace. This service operates its own SaaS platform, but AWS provides its underlying resources.
  • N2WS Backup & Recovery Available through AWS Marketplace, this system backs up EC2 and associated EBS and is offered in free and paid versions.

Protecting data with backups

Backing up data is usually related to the field of business continuity. However, there are other perils to information, such as modification, which could benefit an individual. Examples of such surreptitious updates include the alteration of records, such as criminal records or academic results. In addition, an interloper can sometimes make data additions to add payment obligations to provide a way to manipulate the system to steal money.

Preventing data changes is not usually the remit of data backup systems. However, data integrity monitors can use backups to locate the original, authorized records in the company system. In addition, backups can be used to migrate data to a new server. This could be because the original host has been damaged or because the company has decided to change hardware strategy, such as moving to the Cloud. Finally, backups can also be used to replicate databases and distribute data.

Backing up EC2

The purpose of EC2 is to run the software. It isn’t usual to backup software, mainly services on cloud platforms, because they can be quickly reinstalled. Although extensive settings might drive the software, it is typical to extract a configuration file and store a copy elsewhere – settings rarely change.

When backing up an EC2 account, you need to focus on the data storage accounts on AWS associated with the EC2 virtual server. This data is going to be in EFS, EBS, RDS, Aurora, or DynamoDB accounts. In addition, you might have data feeding into EC2 processes provided from several different sources. So, you would be using an EFS account for your files and an RDS database instance working with the software running on your EC2 server.

You can take two strategies for backing up the data that feeds into your EC2 activity – back them up from the storage format, location by location or use a scan of processes and tracing through to all data stores to back up each.

AWS Backup

A backup system taken from the AWS Marketplace would also be fully integrated into the platform. These services compete with AWS Backup on price and facilities. There are four backup services listed in the AWS Marketplace: Clumio, Druva, N2WS, and Rubrik.

The best AWS EC2 backup tools

If you are looking for a backup solution, it is essential to get a single tool that can manage all of the platforms that you operate. The need to cover more than just AWS storage would be a significant reason you might not feel that AWS Backup is a good choice.

With this set of criteria in mind, we have identified a range of AWS EC2 backup and recovery systems suitable for all types of businesses.

Our methodology for selecting an AWS EC2 backup tool

We reviewed the market for systems to backup EC2 and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:

  • A service that can selectively backup specific applications as well as entire disks or servers
  • A system that can back up a range of operating systems as well as EC2
  • A method for storing backups on a second location
  • A choice of AWS data centers to hold the backup
  • A system that can integrate with AWS EC2
  • A free trial or a demo account so you can assess the service without risk
  • Good value for money, represented by a tool that covers all of your systems for a fair price

1. Vembu BDR Suite (FREE TRIAL)

Vembu BDR Suite is a family of backup and disaster recovery systems with editions that cater to specific platforms. There is a Vembu BDR version for AWS EC2. The software is free to use for up to 10 AWS EC2 instances.

EC2 backups can be set up automatically through a service that can be activated within your AWS account. The controller for the service can be a downloaded software package or the Vembu cloud platform., Repositories can be held on your own servers, on AWS itself or other cloud platforms, or on the Vembu servers.

You can host the Vembu BDR software on Windows, Windows Server, or Ubuntu Linux or take out a subscription to the Vembu SaaS platform. With the on-premises package, you can pay for a perpetual license or an annual subscription. Try out the package with a 30-day free trial.

Pros:

  • Verifies backup and reloads if a problem occurred
  • Encrypts and compresses transfers, also in storage
  • Choose to backup applications or the entire instance

Cons:

  • Each platform requires a separate BDR edition

2. Acronis Cyber Protect (FREE TRIAL)

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Vembu BDR Suite is our top pick for an AWS EC2 backup tool because it includes transfer verification processes, so you don’t get lumbered with a corrupted backup. Files are encrypted and compressed both during transfer and storage. You can store to your own drive, to another AWS instance, or to a different cloud platform and Vembu offers cloud storage space as a paid extra. Back up the entire instance or opt for application-centered backups. Use this system for free forever to backup 10 EC2 instances.

Download: Start 30-day FREE Trial

Official Site: https://www.vembu.com/aws-backup/

OS: Windows, Windows Server, Linux, or SaaS

Acronis Cyber Protect is a cloud-based service that includes a bundle of security services. The tool can be used to protect endpoints owned by the business with an antimalware system. The other main strand of the Acronis service is its backup system. The Acronis Backup service can also back up cloud-based applications, such as Microsoft 365, and cloud file systems, such as OneDrive. The tool can also be used to backup Azure, GCP, and AWS accounts.

The Acronis backup system allows administrators to decide where backups should be written. They can be stored on site, on a private cloud, on a public cloud platform, such as AWS or Azure, or on the Acronis Cloud servers. So, it is possible to backup cloud-to-cloud, meaning that you could backup your AWS EC2 to Azure.

Acronis Cyber Protect is available in five editions and it has specialist versions for virtualizations and databases. You can assess Acronis Cyber Protect with a 30-day free trial.

  • Cloud-based backup management service

  • Cloud-to-cloud backup

  • Infection scanning of all files before backing up

  • Cross-cloud traffic can become confusing

3. N-able Cove Data Protection

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is able to backup your other could systems and your on-site endpoints as well. The packages available with Acronis Cyber Protect plans allow you to get specialized services that tailor the backup system to your business’s unique needs. The system scans for malware on all servers and particularly roots out malware infection from files before moving them to a backup repository. The different recovery options from Cyber Protect Cloud mean that you are covered against accidental deletion as well as malicious damage.

Download: Get a 30-day FREE Trial

Official Site: www.acronis.com/en-us/products/cloud/trial/

OS: Cloud based

N-able Cove Data Protection is a SaaS service that includes space for backup storage. The service can be used to extract backups from AWS EC2/EBS accounts by installing a client on your virtual server. N-able performs the same type of backup routines implemented on physical servers on your site, and you can cover your on-premises servers and AWS EC2 instances with your N-able account.

The backup strategy that this service will perform depends on the choices you make in the console settings. Just about all of the elements of the N-able Cove Data Protection are hosted on the N-able servers. All of the data held for an account is mirrored at a separate data center. The account storage space is protected by encryption, as are all data transfers.

N-able Cove Data Protection is reliable as an AWS EC2 backup tool because it can work to hybrid backup systems, covering on-site servers as well as AWS resources. The N-able system is available in a multi-tenanted version for MSPs. Plans include cloud storage space for backup file storage, and all data is mirrored on a second site.

The N-able Cove Data Protection system can be configured for use by managed service providers, creating a multi-tenanted system that keeps the clients’ data of account holders completely separate. The system can backup servers running Windows Server or Linux and also virtualizations. In addition, it can backup Microsoft 365 applications and also MySQL and Oracle databases. N-able Cove Data Protection is available for a 30-day free trial.

  • Operates through a client program installed on EC2

  • Can backup physical and virtual servers or individual applications

  • Can cover multiple locations in one account

  • Includes storage space for backups

  • An MSP configuration is available

  • Can’t store backups directly on AWS

4. Clumio

Clumio is accessible directly from AWS Marketplace, which makes it very easy to start using this service. The service isn’t free, but new customers get a $200 credit to try the system before paying for it.

The system will backup EBS data stores associated with an EC2 account and work for RDS and S3 systems. So if you have accounts in these services, you can manage their backups through a single Clumio console.

The backups are stored at a different AWS data center; however, that target is treated separately. Transfers are conducted across the internet and not through internal channels. The data for each AWS service is also kept apart. This is a very similar scenario to the performance of AWS Backup.

Clumio competes with AWS Backup by being cheaper and including ransomware protection. It is straightforward to set up an account and get started with Clumio.

  • Immediately available and easy to set up

  • Includes ransomware protection

  • Cheaper than AWS Backup

  • Only backs up AWS – not any on-site servers

5. Druva

Druva offers efficient and speedy processes on AWS because it is built on AWS services itself, so its data movements don’t need to leave the AWS environment. The service can be subscribed to through AWS Marketplace. The price model is based on data throughput volumes, which means that the system is equally suitable for businesses of any size.

The backup process offers a range of scenarios, including full and incremental backups and application or system-wide actions. Similarly, recovery can be performed per object, within an application context, or for an entire account. In addition, the Druva console includes a service that can automate the backup, and more importantly, the recovery process.

Druva is available for a 14-day free trial.

  • Easy to install and fully integrated with AWS

  • A range of backup strategies

  • Complete coverage for all AWS services

  • Only available for AWS

6. N2WS Backup & Recovery

N2WS Backup & Recovery is a cloud-based service is built on the AWS platform itself. It is available through the AWS Marketplace. The system is straightforward to get set up. This system offers a range of backup strategies, including whole drive backups, application backups, and object-level backup and recovery. In addition, it can back up a list of AWS services, including EBS, S3, and RDK.

The flexibility of the N2WS service ranges from a free service for small businesses to a complete AWS backup system for large companies. In addition, the console gives a range of options over which region backups should be stored in – is based on AWS, N2WS can offer metered storage on any AWS server anywhere in the world.

The N2WS Backup & Recovery system offers integration with Splunk for monitoring purposes. It is also possible to choose an Azure backup service and combine data management on that platform with AWS storage.

In short, this is a very comprehensive service that provides backups for just about every AWS service in every possible strategy scenario. However, apart from the new, straightforward Azure backup system, this service cannot back up any other platform.

The free version of N2WS Backup & Recovery is limited to backing up five EC2 instances. The regular edition of the service can be assessed by accessing a 30-day free trial.

  • Entirely run within the AWS platform

  • Free version available

  • Easy to install

  • It doesn’t cover on-site systems