Reliable backup is a critical part of any modern IT infrastructure. For VPS owners, physical server administrators, or cloud environment users—where every failure can cost a business money, reputation, or even complete data loss—implementing an automated backup system is not a luxury, but a necessity. In this article, we’ll explore how to build a flexible and reliable backup backend using Proxmox, BorgBackup (BorgArchive), and rclone.

Why Automated Backup Is Essential

Automated backups help:

  • eliminate human error — backups run on schedule without manual intervention;
  • reduce the risk of data loss;
  • quickly restore the system in case of failure or attack;
  • create a platform-independent, scalable backup system;
  • centrally manage backups across multiple environments.

These benefits are especially important for projects hosted on virtual private servers that require high availability and security.

Components of the Backup System

1. Proxmox VE — Virtualization with Built-in Backups

Proxmox VE is a powerful virtualization platform that supports both KVM and LXC containers. It includes a built-in backup mechanism with automation, encryption, and deduplication features.

Advantages of Proxmox:

  • scheduled task support;
  • ZFS snapshots;
  • backups in vzdump format;
  • REST API for backup automation.

Proxmox is ideal for managing highly controlled virtual environments. Combined with a VPS or dedicated server, it enables the creation of scalable infrastructure with centralized management.

2. BorgArchive — Efficient Incremental Backup

BorgBackup (also known as BorgArchive) is a CLI-based open-source tool focused on fast, incremental, and encrypted backups.

Key features:

  • client-side encryption (AES-256, HMAC);
  • file deduplication to save space;
  • automatic compression;
  • easy integration with automation scripts;
  • convenient file-level or full-system restore.

BorgArchive is excellent for backing up files, databases, and configurations on a VPS. With systemd or cron, you can automate a backup policy—for example, daily incremental backups while retaining only the latest 7 days.

3. rclone — A Bridge Between Local and Cloud Storage

rclone is a synchronization tool for data transfers between local storage and cloud services (Google Drive, S3, Dropbox, Backblaze B2, WebDAV, etc.). In the context of backups, it serves to upload copies to an external storage destination.

Capabilities:

  • encrypted data transfers;
  • compatibility with most cloud APIs;
  • checksum verification;
  • bandwidth throttling and logging support;
  • optional rclone mount for direct cloud storage access.

Usage example: BorgArchive backups are automatically uploaded to S3 or Google Drive using rclone, creating a multi-level backup system (local + cloud).

Example Backup Architecture for a VPS

Server hosted on Proxmox: daily container backups scheduled via the built-in system.

On the VPS level:

  • daily incremental backups of data and configuration using BorgArchive;
  • encryption and local storage of backup files;
  • regular synchronization of the archive to a remote S3 storage via rclone.

Monitoring: success or error notifications sent via email or Telegram.

This architecture minimizes risk, ensures fast access to backups, and provides resilience even in the event of physical VPS or hosting failure.

Best Practices for Automation

  • Encrypt and password-protect archives before saving;
  • Regularly test recovery, especially for databases;
  • Use multiple storage locations (local + cloud);
  • Set up monitoring and backup status alerts;
  • Periodically purge old archives based on a retention policy.

Final Thoughts

Backup is not just a technical requirement—it’s a fundamental element of business security. By using modern tools like Proxmox, BorgArchive, and rclone, you can build an efficient, reliable, and fully automated backup system. And if your project is hosted on a VPS, a proper backup strategy can help you avoid disaster at the most critical moment.

If you’re looking for a reliable solution for server hosting or colocation with the ability to implement your own backup system, explore the services offered by Server.ua. Their flexible infrastructure and technical support will help you build the solution that fits your business needs.