What does continuous data protection (CDP) mean? How does CDP differ from traditional backup, snapshot, RAID, or mirroring? What are the popular CDP solutions?

1. Title:ContinuousDataProtection(CDP) Definition&Near-CDPSolutions
Keywords:continuousdataprotection,real time backup,continuousbackup, continuousdata
protectionsolutions,whatiscontinuousdataprotection, continuousdataprotectionbackup
Description:What doescontinuousdataprotection (CDP) mean?How doesCDPdifferfrom
traditional backup, snapshot, RAID, ormirroring?Whatare the popularCDP solutions?
URL: https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/continuous-data-protection.html
Summary: This article composedby minitool.comintroducesanew backuptechnology –continuous
data protection(CDP).Itelaboratesonthe definition,advantages,anddisadvantagesof CDP
comparedwithtraditional backups,snapshots,RAID,mirroring,aswell asreplication.Moreover,this
article teachesyouhow to setup near-CDPbackupwith 3 well-knownsolutions.
Overview of Continuous Data Protection
What Is Continuous Data Protection?
Continuousdataprotection(CDP),alsoknownascontinuousbackupor real-time backup,meansto
back up computerdataby savinga copy of everychange happenstothe data automatically.Thatis
to essentiallycapture everyversionof the involveddatathatthe usersaves.
In the true form of CDP, itenablesthe useroradministratortorestore the protecteddatato any
pointintime. Continuousdata protection technologywaspatentedbyBritishentrepreneurPete
Malcolmin 1989 as a backup systeminwhichacopy of everychange made toa storage mediumis
recordedas the change occurs.
In an ideal continuousdataprotection,the recoverypointobjective iszerowhile the recoverytime
objective isn’tzero.The recoverypointobjectivereferstothe maximumtargetedperiodin which
data (transactions) mightbe lostfromanIT service due toa majorincidentwhilethe recoverytime

2. objective meansthe targeteddurationof time andaservice level withinwhichabusinessprocess
mustbe restoredafteradisaster(ordisruption) inordertoavoidunacceptable consequences
associatedwithabreakin businesscontinuity.
CDP playsas a service thatcaptureschangesto data to a separate storage location. Multiple
methodscancapture continuouslive datachangesinvolvingdifferent techniquesthatserve
differentneeds.True CDP-basedsolutionscanofferfine granularitiesof recoverable objectsranging
fromcrash-consistentimagestological objectslikefiles, messages,logs,aswell asdatabase files.
Yet,thisis notnecessarily true fornear-CDPsolutions,whichwillbe discussedbelow.
https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/automatically-backup-user-data.html
Continuous Data Protection vs Traditional Backup
The true continuousdataprotectionisdifferentfromtraditional backupforit’snotnecessaryto
specifythe pointintime torestore fromuntil readytorecoverwhile traditional backupsonlyrestore
data fromthe time the backupwas made.
In some situations,CDPneedslessstorage space forimage filesthantraditional backup.Most
continuousdataprotectionsolutionssave byte orblock-level differencesinsteadof file-level
differences.
For example,if 1byte of a 1 GB file ismodified,onlythe changedbyte orblockisgoingto be backed
up. Yet, the traditional incremental anddifferential backupswill backupthe entire file.However,
since 2013, enterprise client-serverbackuptoolshave implementedacapabilityforblock-level
incremental backupdesignedforlarge fileslike databases.
Continuous Data Protection vs RAID, Mirroring, Replication
CDP isdifferentfromRAID(RedundantArrayof IndependentDisks),mirroring,orreplicationforthe
latterthree technologiesonlyprotectthe mostrecentone copyof the data. If data corrupts ina way
that can’t be detectedimmediately.Those technologiescannotprotectthe data effectively.
Continuousdataprotectionprotectsagainstsome effectsof datacorruptionthroughenabling
recoveryof a previousuncorruptingversionof the data.Yet,transactionsbetweenthe corrupted
eventandthe restorationare lost.Theycan be restoredbyother ways like journaling.
https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/raid-1-vs-raid-5.html
Continuous Data Protection vs Snapshots
Comparedtosnapshots,true CDP hasno backupschedules.Whendataiswrittentodisk,itisalso
writtentoa backup location(anothermachine overthe Internetoranappliance like cloud)
asynchronously. Thisbringssome inconveniencetodisk-write buteliminatesthe needforscheduled
backups.
Continuousdataprotectionisthe mostadvancedandcomprehensive dataprotectionforenabling
data restorationtoany pointof time.Yet,nearCDP technologiescangive enoughprotectionfor
manyorganizationswithlesscomplexityandexpense.
Snapshotscan offerareasonable near-CDP-level protectionforfile sharingandenable usersto
directlyaccessdataon the file share at regularintervals. Thisisahigher-level protectionthantypical
disk-basedortape-basedregularbackupsanditmaybe quietenoughforyou.
Nearcontinuousdataprotectiondoescopyingatpre-settime intervals,whichisessentially
incremental backupseparatelyforeachsource machine bytimerinsteadof script.

3. https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/shadow-copy-windows-10-017.html
Continuous Data Protection vs Near Continuous Data Protection (Near CDP)
Since true continuousdata protectionbackup write operationsare executedatthe basicinput/out
system(BIOS) of the microcomputerinsucha mannerthat normal use of the computeris
unaffected, true CDPbackupmustpracticallybe runin conjunctionwitha virtual machine or
equivalent.Thismakesitnotproperforcommonpersonal backupapps.
Some backup applicationsmarketedascontinuousdataprotectionmayonlyallow recoveryatfixed
intervalslike 10minutes,one hour,orone day(24 hours).Those programstake incremental backups
at the intervalsautomatically. Suchascheme iscallednearCDP or near continuousbackup andnot
universallyrecognizedastrue continuousdataprotectionforitisn’table torestore toany pointin
time.
Whenthe interval isshorterthan1 hour, typically,nearcontinuousdata protection products are
basedon periodicsnapshotstoavoiddowntime andallow appstocontinue writingtotheirdata.
Yet,for high-availabilitysystems,theymayinsteadcreate the backupbasedonaread-onlycopyof
the data set frozenata pointintime.
Nearcontinuousdataprotection,except forAppleTime Machine,intent-logseverychange onthe
hostsystem,usuallybystoringbyte orblock-leveldifferencesinsteadof file-leveldifferences. Itis
differentfromsimple diskmirroringforitallowsaroll-backof the logandthus a recoveryof old
imagesof data. Intent-loggingallowsprecautionsforthe consistencyof livedata, protectingself-
consistentfilesbutrequiringapps“be quiesced andmade readyforbackup”.
A debate inthe industrydiscusseswhetherthe granularityof backupmustbe “everywrite”tothe
continuousdataprotection,orwhetheranearCDP solutionthatcapturesthe data everyfew
minutesisgoodenough.
The debate hingesonthe usage of the term“continuous”.Whetheronlythe backupprocessmustbe
continuouslyautomaticallyscheduled,whichisusuallyenoughtogetthe benefitsmentionedabove,
or whetherthe abilitytorecoverfromthe backupalsomustbe continuous.
Tip: The StorageNetworking Industry Association (SNIA) usesthe“every write” definition.
Disadvantages and Risks of Continuous Data Protection
Besidesthe drawbacksmentionedabove,there are some othershortcomingsof CDP.Whenreal-
time editsare backedoffsite overthe upstream channelof the installation’sbroadbandnetwork,
networkbandwidththrottlingmaybe neededtoreduce the impactof true continuousdata
protection,especiallyinmultimediaandCAD(Computer AidedDesign) environments.Alternatively,
youcan back upto a separate FCSAN (Fibre-Channel-connectedStorage AreaNetwork) appliance.
Perform Near Continuous Data Protection with MiniTool ShadowMaker
Since true-CDPbackupisnotsuitable forordinarypersonal backup,youare recommendedtotake
advantage of the near-CDPscheme toprotectyour computerdatafrom loss. Also,aprofessionaland
reliable near-CDPbackupprogramisneededsuchas MiniTool ShadowMaker,whichenablesyouto
carry out backuptasks at a short interval andinincremental type automatically.
SM-Trial
Step1. Download,install,andlaunchMiniTool ShadowMakeronyourcomputer.
Step2. If it asksyouto buy itspaidedition,justclick KeepTrial on the upperrightof the screen.

4. Step3. Then,it will getintoitsmainuserinterface (UI).There,clickthe Backuptab in the top menu.
Step4. In the Backup tab, specifythe Source item(s),nomattertheyare files/folders,
partitions/volumes, operatingsystem (defaultselection),orthe entire harddiskdrive.
Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakerselectbackupsource
Step5. Withinthe same tab, select Destinationtochoose where you’dlike tosave the backup
image,a local location,external storage space,orNAS?

5. Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakerchoose backupdestination
Step6. Clickon the Schedule buttoninthe lower-leftandswitchonthe schedule settingsinthe pop-
up window. Inthe Schedule Settingwindow,selectthe default Dailybackup,clickthe Start every
option,andchoose 1 hour frequency.Finally,click OKtosave the changes.

6. Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakersetupbackupschedule
Step7. Clickthe Scheme buttonnextto the Schedule button andswitchon scheme settings.Within
the Backup Scheme window,keepthe default Incremental backuptype andcustomize how many
latestbackupimage file versionstoretain.Or,youcan justleave itas the default3 versions.

7. Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakersetupbackuptype
Step8. Eventually,backtothe Backup tab, there,click Back up Now. You will be promptedto
confirmthe operationbefore itreallystartsup.

8. Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakerfilesbackup
Besidesthe above specifications,there are alotof othersettingsavailable foryou.Justclickthe
Optionsbuttonin the lowerrightof the Backuptab and personalizeyourbackuptask. You are able
to determine whichkindof sectortoback up (onlyusedonesorall),whethertoback up Windows
Page Files andHibernationFiles ornot,image filessize,image compressionlevel, whethertoverify
backupimage whenitis createdor not…
Set up Near-CDP with Windows 10 File History
Also,youcan carry out near continuousdataprotectionplanwiththe helpof systembuilt-inservice
– File History. The guide isasbelow.
1. Navigate toSettings> Update & Security > Backup.
2. Under Back up using File History,clickAdd a drive and selectone asyour backup destination.If
there isno available drive,youneedtoconnectanexternal disktoyourPCand try it again.

9. Alt=backup usingFile History
3. Then,youwill see the Automaticallyback up my files isOn.
4. Clickthe More optionsbelow andspecifysome backupsettingsinthe popup.Indetail,under
Back up my files,selectbackupfrequency;under Keepmybackups,choose how long to keepthe
backupimage;and underBackup these folders,pickup the foldersyouwanttoprotect.

10. Alt=specifybackupoptions
5. Scroll downand underExclude these folders,if youdon’twantto back up some specificfolders,
youcan addthemthere. Or, if youwant to change yourbackup destination,just clickStopusing
drive underBack up to a differentdrive andresetyourbackup planfromthe verybeginning.

11. Alt=File Historyexcludefolders
Or, youcan click See advanced settings underRelatedsettings to go to File HistoryinControl Panel.
There,click Selectdrive inthe leftmenu.Onthe new screen,youare allowedtoselectanetwork
locationas the backupdestination.

12. Alt=addnetworklocationtoFile History
Also,youcan exclude unnecessaryfilesfrombeingbackedupbyclicking Exclude folders inthe left
menu.Or change backupfrequency andbackupimage maintenance timebyclicking Advanced
settingsinthe leftpanel.
Deploy Near Continuous Data Protection in Windows Backup & Restore
Moreover,you can conduct nearCDP strategyusingthe Backupand Restore (Windows7).
1. ClickGo to Backup and Restore (Windows7) underLooking for an old backup.
2. Then,you will getintothe Backupand Restore window inControl Panel.There,clickthe Setup
backup option.

13. Alt=BackupandRestore inControl Panel
3. Next,selectabackupdestination,local internal orexternalharddrive ornetworklocation.

14. Alt=selectbackupdestinationinBackupandRestore
4. Under What do you want to back up, eitherLetWindowschoose or Let me choose.For
continuousdataprotection,you’dbetterselectthe latter.
5. Now,you can choose the specificfoldersorfilestobackup.Also,youcan decide whethertoback
up systemornot.

15. Alt=choose whattoback up inBackup and Restore
6. Next,clickon Change schedule.Inthe new popup,select DailybehindHowoftenandpick a
specifictime behind Whattime.ClickOKto save the schedule.
Alt=setupbackupschedule inBackupand Restore

16. 7. Finally,click Save settingsand run backup. If itpops upaskingfor yourconfirmation,justdoit.
Whenthe backup process completes,you will see aquite differentappearance inthe maininterface
of Backupand Restore inControl Panel.There,youcanmanage the backuptask by usingManage
space optiontomanage backup destinationstorage space and the Change settingsoptionto alter
backupdestination,source,aswell asschedule.
Alt=manage backuptaskin Backupand Restore
Near Continuous Data Protection Solutions Comparison
Until now,we have introducedall three near-CDPsolutions,MiniToolShadowMaker,FileHistory,
and Backup& Restore.Now,let’smake acomparisonof themandhelpyouto choose the one that
suitsyoumost!
SM-Trial
Near-
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Softwar
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