# Backup S3, Google Drive, iCloud, Notion with Plakar

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/devops-and-docker-talk-cloud-native-interviews-and-tooling/backup-s3-google-drive-icloud-notion-with-plakar
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/devops-and-docker-talk-cloud-native-interviews-and-tooling/backup-s3-google-drive-icloud-notion-with-plakar.md
Podcast: [DevOps and Docker Talk: Cloud Native Interviews and Tooling](https://stenobird.com/podcast/devops-and-docker-talk-cloud-native-interviews-and-tooling)
Published: 2026-03-20T22:48:08+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.bretfisher.com/episodes/backup-s3-google-drive-icloud-notion-with-plakar
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/9bb9d630/14947845.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/devops-and-docker-talk-cloud-native-interviews-and-tooling/episodes/backup-s3-google-drive-icloud-notion-with-plakar
Duration seconds: 4150

## Resource

Explore the deep engineering required to build a modern backup system from scratch, focusing on deduplication, encryption, and client-side security. The founders of Plakar discuss how to move beyond simple cron jobs to create a resilient, chainless snapshot architecture.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Plakar uses client-side deduplication and encryption so cloud providers never see your raw data or keys
- Practical takeaway: A 'restore-first' mindset is essential; backups are only as good as your ability to recover them
- Failure mode: Relying on unverified scripts or unverified backups can lead to catastrophic data loss during server crashes
- Technical advantage: Plakar's snapshot model has no chain dependencies, allowing you to delete old backups without breaking newer ones
- Practical takeaway: Use off-site, network-isolated backups as the primary defense against ransomware attacks

## Topics

Backup Engineering, Data Deduplication, Cloud Native, Encryption, Docker, Kubernetes, Ransomware Protection, Open Source Software

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Vision for Plakar: An introduction to Plakar's ability to back up diverse sources including Google Drive, iCloud, and Notion.
- 11:25 — The Restore-First Mindset: A cautionary tale about the dangers of assuming backups work without regular restoration testing.
- 21:40 — Docker and Volume Challenges: Discussing the difficulties of moving and backing up Docker volumes and the need for better integration.
- 31:55 — Client-Side Security Architecture: Deep dive into how encryption and deduplication happen on the client before data reaches the storage provider.
- 37:30 — Enterprise Scaling and Orchestration: How to manage massive backup workloads using agent-based architectures and central orchestrators.
- 42:50 — Chainless Snapshots and Multi-Store: The technical benefits of independent snapshots and syncing data across different encrypted stores.
- 52:45 — Ransomware Defense Strategies: Implementing off-site, immutable, and network-isolated backups to ensure recovery after an attack.

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## Transcript

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