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Cloud Era Tests Old-School Data Backup
3 Jul
Summary
- Cloud sync services reduce interest in traditional computer backup.
- Backblaze's backup service has more customers than its cloud storage.
- Human error causes more data loss than technical issues.
- Backup revenue is lower than cloud storage revenue for Backblaze.
The shift towards cloud sync services is diminishing interest in traditional computer backup. Backblaze, a veteran backup provider, notes a decline in this sector, attributing it partly to the prevalence of robust solid-state drives and the perceived redundancy offered by cloud sync. While Backblaze's 2008-launched backup service boasts over 400,000 customers, its newer B2 cloud storage, introduced in 2015, has fewer users but generates more revenue.
Human error is cited as the primary driver of data loss, surpassing technical obsolescence. Backblaze records a significant increase in user restores, with 183,000 initiated in 2025 compared to 107,000 in 2021. The company enhances security with encryption and offers users private key management via passphrases, though passkey authentication remains a long-term goal.
Backblaze is actively improving its handling of cloud storage and sync services, addressing potential issues where backups might miss actual files. The company is also cautiously exploring AI, focusing on integrating its solutions into AI workflows rather than immediate operational use. Despite AI driving up some consumer storage costs, Backblaze's bulk purchasing insulates it from these price hikes.
