Full Consistency Check

By creating backups, users expect that the backed-up data can be restored if required. Unfortunately, it does not always work this way. For example, backup data on backup storage can be corrupted for some reason. The occurrence of data corruption can have many reasons, ranging from technical problems with the cloud provider’s service to industrial sabotage.

The consistency check is a mechanism that prevents possible data losses. When discrepancies are found, the user is notified that some objects are missing in backup storage or that there is a mismatch between object sizes or modification dates.

Once a consistency check is started, an object list is requested along with metadata from backup storage.

In all cases, the user is notified about backup data damage. If some discrepancies are detected, Backup for macOS executes a full backup automatically. Possible damage in previous backup generations is also monitored.

A full consistency check checks all previous backup plan generations except the current generation, which is mandatorily checked by the regular consistency check. If a full consistency check is successfully completed, a user can be sure that backed-up data is guaranteed to be restored.

A full consistency check is configured on the Backup Consistency Check step of the backup plan.

Thus, with the consistency check completed, you are aware of any possible mismatches and are able to plan further actions to solve possible issues.