Is it necessary to perform backup data and stored them in non Google server

[yccheok]

Currently, I had built several apps on the top of Google App Engine. I'm pretty happy with it, as it requires 0 sys admin effort, to achieve such scale.

In term of storage, I'm using

- High Replication Datastore
- Cloud SQL with backups enabled (Binary log disabled)

I know Google infrastructure is pretty reliable. However, for paranoid reason, I was wondering, is there any need for me to export both Datastore & Cloud SQL data, and store in either in my local machine, or non Google server?

Or, my current app settings (high replication on datastore, and backups enabled in Cloud SQL) are good enough for me to be in peace of mind, and requires 0 action from my side?

Thank you.
Cheok

[Jim]

Cheok,

I had the same question, so I thought about the scenarios which might lead me to need to restore from backup.  I'm sure there are other scenarios, but my list includes these:

1) Development / testing purposes moving data from one environment to another

2) A failure in the GAE environment requires me to restore data to new hardware

3) A human error results in the loss of data which requires me to restore data

4) Malicious actions of my employees or others require me to restore data

Google's operational environment and processes, and the architecture of GAE and the HRD in particular, give me a high degree of confidence that I'm not going to need to restore data due to issue #2 above.  But the other scenarios still potentially exist.

Jim

[Nick (Cloud Platform Support)]

+1 to Jim's points. 

We work quite hard to ensure the availability and persistence of your data. Important data is duplicated and persisted in several ways, such that an entire data-center failing need not be a major disruption - this is the power of massively-deployed distributed computing and storage (AKA the "cloud"). Jim brings up user-space issues which would require you to rely on back-ups, and thankfully there are many facilities available for this. If you're truly "paranoid", you can of course always move backups (in csv, json, sql dump, etc.) off the infrastructure and into another storage solution of your choice. 

If you have any other questions, feel free to continue this thread with them.