Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage

Brian Long

Introduction

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is S3-compatible object storage in the cloud. For our clients, its main job is to hold the offsite copy of server, NAS, and virtual machine backups, so a fire, a theft, or ransomware in the office doesn’t take every copy of your data with it.

With Object Lock turned on, those backups are immutable: once written, they can’t be changed or deleted until their retention period ends, even by someone with stolen administrator credentials.

Features
  • S3-compatible: Works with the backup software and NAS devices that support Amazon S3 storage.
  • Object Lock: Write-once, read-many (WORM) immutability that protects backups from ransomware and deletion.
  • Cloud Replication: Copy data automatically to a second location.
  • Generous free egress: Downloads are free up to three times your average monthly stored data, so a large restore doesn’t come with a surprise bill.
  • Free API transactions: No per-request charges for everyday use.
  • Server-side encryption: Data can be encrypted at rest.
How We Use It
Use What we set up
Veeam repositories B2 as an immutable offsite backup target, or as the capacity tier that older Veeam backups move to automatically
NAS replication Scheduled, encrypted cloud sync from TrueNAS, Synology, and QNAP to a versioned B2 bucket
Archive Long-term storage for finished projects, media, and records you’re required to keep
Disaster recovery Offsite copies of system images and configuration exports

Your B2 storage is set up in its own Backblaze Group, which we manage from our partner console.

The 3-2-1 Rule
A sound backup plan keeps 3 copies of your data, on 2 different kinds of storage, with 1 copy offsite. Your local backup server or NAS covers the first two. B2 is the offsite copy, so a fire, theft, or ransomware attack at the office can’t reach every copy.
Security and Compliance
  • SOC 2 Type 2 audited
  • HIPAA: Backblaze signs Business Associate Agreements
  • PCI DSS compatible
  • GovRAMP and TX-RAMP provisional authorization

Contact us for how B2 fits your industry’s requirements.

Part of the Cyber Protection Package

B2 holds the offsite, immutable server backups in our Cyber Protection Package. It’s what lets us answer “yes” when a cyber insurance application asks whether your backups are offsite and protected from ransomware.

Not sure your server backups would survive ransomware? Contact us and we’ll take a look.