If you read this article you probably use GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket and you must agree that git hosting services brought software development to a very new level. Today we will focus on its security. More particularly – on data protection in GitHub and GitHub Enterprise Server Backup Utilities. Then we will compare it with a dedicated GitHub backup solution like GitProtect.io.
GitHub Enterprise Backup Utilities
According to GitHub, GitHub Enterprise Backup Utilities is a “complete GitHub Enterprise Server backup and recovery system via two simple utilities: ghe-backup and ghe-restore”. In other words, is a set of tools that makes regular application-aware snapshots of GitHub Enterprise Server instance over SSH. It performs fast incremental snapshots that reduce storage usage and make sure of snapshots’ integrity.
GitHub treats it as a disaster recovery tool that can restore your GitHub instance to the prior state and keep on working.
Technicals of GitHub Enterprise Backup Utilities
Backup Utilities must be run on a separated host, that has a long-term storage option, network connection and as you can guess, GitHub Enterprise Server appliance. You have to install it on a modern Unix or Linux operating system.
Please remember that according to 3-2-1 backup rule you should have at least two different data storages with at least one in the cloud so in case of any disaster you can instantly restore your GitHub data and keep on coding.
Third-party GitHub backup software – should I have it?
Now, let’s take a look at available alternatives – a third-party GitHub backup solution like GitProtect.io. First difference? It’s compatible with all GitHub accounts, even free ones. So, you don’t have to use GitHub Enterprise Server to keep your data backups safe and sound. Go to the GitHub Marketplace, find this solution, and just connect your GitHub account to start performing automated backups of your repositories and metadata. Such a solution brings all professional backup software features – full and incremental copies, backup plan customization, flexible scheduling, long-term retention and GFS scheme, strong AES encryption, compression, multi-level central management, and much more. It can be deployed as a SaaS service or on-premise solution. No matter which model you choose – you always get free could storage and can bring your own – on-premise or any S3 compatible storage to easily fulfill the 3-2-1 backup rule.
Moreover, it’s a complete backup and Disaster Recovery software – you don’t need any separated restore app or add-on. You get it In one solution with one central management console. If any service outage, cyberattack, or human error occurs, you can restore your entire GitHub environment to the same or new instance, on your machine or cross over to another git hosting platform – Bitbucket or GitLab. But of course, if you need to recover only particular data, take advantage of fast, granular, and point-in-time data restore.
