A good backup solution should have the ability to provide efficient data transfer, and to do backups very quickly while not using too much bandwidth. If a backup takes too long or uses too much network traffic, then your files are at risk. When looking for a solution, see if their software provides a mechanism that achieves this.

For example, look for a backup solution which uses Rsync. Rsync is a utility that compares both files and then only backs up the changes. This saves significant network resources since only the small changes are backed up, instead of the entire file.

Security is a necessity when looking for a backup solution. There would be no purpose in backing up files if the solution does not provide a way to secure the transferred data. Some security features to look for in a backup solution are:

• SSL: Ensure the data being transferred is encrypted through SSL, which is a protocol to secure data on the internet
• Encryption: Have the ability to encrypt files, so that no one else except the person backing up can see them.
• Protection against attacks: Countless cyber attacks on the internet occur every second. A backup solution should provide a defense against these attacks. For example, ransomware is a dangerous malware that causes your data to be useless. Good backup software should have a solution against ransomware.

The speed and security of backup software are key points, but another point to factor in is automation. When using a backup solution, it would be very tedious to do manual backups, since it requires a user input. This costs time and can be very cumbersome.

A good backup solution should have the ability to do backups on its own after initial configuration. This way, no additional user inputs are required. This hands-off approach reduces the risk of human error and ensures backups are up to date without needing constant attention.

Extensive logging and reporting are crucial for not only backup programs but for every software. A good backup solution should send reports to the administrator, and the users to let them know if files were able to be backed up or not. Detailed logs aid administrators in troubleshooting issues by identifying problems easily.

A reliable backup solution should support creating multiple copies of the same data, which allows versioning. This enables users to restore files from a specific point in time, providing safety in case of accidentally deleting a file, or facing data corruption, or other issues. Versioning ensures snapshots of data are available and can be brought back.