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Restic encrypts and authenticates repository data before storing it, but encryption alone does not protect backups from deletion. To make backups both private and off-site, protect the repository password, use a remote backend separate from the computer being backed up, and verify that you can restore files.
What Restic encryption protects—and what it does not
Restic’s design uses AES-256 in counter mode (CTR) to encrypt repository data and Poly1305-AES to authenticate it. The repository password is processed with scrypt to derive keys; key files store information needed to derive the repository’s master keys. Restic says stored file contents and metadata cannot be accessed without the repository password, apart from informational metadata in key files, and that tampering can be detected. The project’s threat-model guarantee is: “Unencrypted content of stored files and metadata cannot be accessed without a password for the repository.” Restic design and threat model.
That guarantee depends on the documented assumptions: the backup host is trusted, the Restic binary is authentic, and an attacker cannot obtain the repository password. Encryption does not stop someone who can access the storage location from deleting repository files. Restic is therefore not, by itself, ransomware-proof or deletion-proof. Separate control of the destination, restricted credentials, and provider retention features may help with those risks, but they are separate protections to verify with the chosen service.
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Keep the repository password recoverable
The password is not an optional convenience: Restic’s setup documentation warns that losing it makes the data irrecoverable. Store it in a secure password manager or another protected location that is separate from the repository, so loss of access to the backup destination does not also mean loss of the password. Restic: preparing a new repository.
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A password change should not be confused with revoking a leaked master key. Restic’s design explains that a leaked key cannot simply be revoked without re-encrypting the repository. Adding another password does not, on its own, repair that exposure. Restic design and threat model.
Choose a destination that is genuinely off-site
A local repository can be useful, but a copy on the same computer is not a separate off-site backup. Restic’s README puts it plainly: “Saving a backup on the same machine is nice but not a real backup strategy.” A remote repository puts the backup somewhere other than the machine being backed up; the project documents these backend categories and services. Restic backends.
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| Backend | What setup requires | When it may fit |
|---|---|---|
| SFTP over SSH | An SSH server and configured public-key access; unattended backups need passwordless login. | You already operate an SSH/SFTP host and can manage its access and storage. |
| REST server | A separately configured REST server. The setup guide covers HTTP or HTTPS and TLS certificate verification. | You can operate or arrange a REST endpoint and manage its security. |
| Amazon S3 or S3-compatible storage | Storage credentials and the correct endpoint, region, or provider-specific settings. | You want object storage and can configure credentials and endpoint details for automated jobs. |
| Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, Google Cloud Storage, or OpenStack Swift | Provider-specific account and backend configuration; consult the current Restic setup instructions. | You already use one of these services or have a reason to select it. |
Restic’s documentation establishes backend support, not which service is cheapest or best for a particular reader. Compare your ability to operate the backend, automation credentials, current storage and retrieval charges, geographic separation, deletion or retention controls, and the bandwidth available for restoring data. Verify prices, regions, egress charges, and retention terms directly with the provider; they are not established by Restic’s backend list. The supported-backend setup details are in Restic’s repository setup guide and the Restic backends list.
Set up a repository and make a backup
The exact configuration depends on the backend and Restic version. Use the versioned setup instructions for your destination rather than treating these orientation steps as a complete provider configuration.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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- Prepare the destination. For SFTP, configure SSH access and a public key; for REST, set up the server; for S3 or compatible storage, obtain credentials and determine the required endpoint and region settings.
- Initialize the repository. Run
restic initwith the repository location and any backend configuration required by your setup. Restic prompts you to enter the new repository password twice. - Create a snapshot. Run
restic backupfor the files or directories you intend to protect, supplying the repository configuration and password securely as described in the relevant setup instructions. - Practice retrieval. Use
restic restoreto recover selected files or a snapshot to a safe location. Restic also documentsrestic mountas a way to access previous snapshots. Test the kind of recovery you would actually need; the documentation does not prescribe one universal test schedule.
See the repository preparation guide for backend setup and the Restic quick start for the basic backup and retrieval workflow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check repository health and understand extra data
restic check examines repository data. If it reports unreferenced pack files, that does not automatically mean the repository is broken: Restic’s FAQ says extra packs can remain after an interrupted backup or upload, and restic prune can remove such unreferenced data. Read the command output and the FAQ before cleanup, especially if a backup operation was interrupted. Restic FAQ and working with repositories.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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