Data Transfers · Data Transfers basics
Is a scheduled transfer the same as a backup?
Short answer: Not quite. A transfer keeps a copy or mirror — deletions and damage are carried across and there are no earlier versions. For restorable versions over time, use Data Backup; a scheduled sync makes a good extra copy.
Not quite. A transfer keeps a copy: Copy adds files, and a one-way sync keeps an exact mirror. If you delete or damage a file, the next sync faithfully copies that change across, and there are no earlier versions to go back to.
A backup keeps versions over time so you can restore a file as it was last week. For that, use Data Backup, which is built for versioned, restorable backups.
A scheduled Copy or one-way sync is still very useful as an extra, simple copy alongside a real backup.
Related: Backups · Does Sync (one-way) delete files?