Using Syncovery as a WebDAV client allows for seamless and secure management of data on remote storage locations. Our software fully supports the WebDAV protocol, allowing you to perform backups, synchronization, migration, and automated uploads and downloads flexibly and reliably. In this article, you will learn how Syncovery offers an efficient solution for data management and backup with WebDAV.

What’s a WebDAV client?

A WebDAV client is a special application that uses the WebDAV protocol (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) to transfer and organize data on servers or cloud storage over the Internet. WebDAV is based on HTTP and enables you to edit, upload, and manage files on a server, regardless of its location. When using Syncovery as a WebDAV client, users benefit from the advantages of flexible, automated backups and synchronizations.

When Should You Use WebDAV?

You can use the WebDAV protocol if the server or cloud storage offers it. It is just one of several Internet protocols available in Syncovery. In many cases you will be more likely to use FTP, SSH/SFTP, S3 or the direct selection of the cloud provider in Syncovery. However, sometimes only WebDAV is available and it is a good choice as a TLS-secured protocol. For example, WebDAV is usually used in Nextcloud, ownCloud, MagentaCLOUD and the 1&1 cloud storage.

With the integrated WebDAV client of the Syncovery backup tool, both companies and individuals can efficiently and securely access remotely stored data or synchronize and back up large volumes of data over the Internet. WebDAV offers the following advantages:

  • for IT administrators and developers: Professionals need reliable tools to synchronize servers with local systems and to perform central data backups. WebDAV ensures a stable connection and provides access to files from different devices.
  • for companies and offices: As part of their daily business operations, companies and medical centers rely on effective methods to synchronize data between different locations or devices. WebDAV acts as an interface to external storage and enables a smooth backup of important data.
  • for freelancers and remote teams: People who want to access their data regardless of their workplace benefit from the option of using Syncovery as a WebDAV client for cloud access. This means that all documents always remain up-to-date and available.

The advantages of Syncovery over simpler WebDAV clients

Syncovery as a powerful WebDAV client offers numerous advantages compared to other data backup and synchronization tools:

  • Platform independence: Syncovery is compatible with various operating systems, cloud services and remote servers, so no additional software is necessary.
  • optimized stability and security: WebDAV is characterized by user-friendly handling and the use of HTTPs for encrypted transfer.
  • individually customizable profiles: Syncovery allows you to create detailed profiles that are tailored to the specific requirements of each synchronization task.
  • Automation: Routine tasks such as backups and synchronizations can be fully automated, saving you time and effort saves.
  • Increased efficiency: through multithreading, Syncovery processes multiple jobs, folders and files in parallel, so that the processes are completed more quickly.

Backup solutions with Syncovery and WebDAV

Regular and reliable data backup is crucial for companies. With Syncovery you can set up backups via WebDAV, which automatically backs up files on external WebDAV servers. Unlike many other tools, Syncovery supports incremental backups. This means that only changed files are transferred, which saves bandwidth and increases speed.

By creating tailor-made backup profiles, the backup can be optimally adapted to the specific workflows. The combination of WebDAV and Syncovery is particularly advantageous for companies that manage regularly updated data. The stable and secure connection ensures the greatest possible data security even in the event of interruptions.

Synchronization between cloud and local system

The bidirectional synchronization provided by our software ensures that files on both physical storage and WebDAV servers are continuously kept up to date. Changes in one system are automatically updated in the other system without the need for special cloud services.

In addition, Syncovery has effective conflict management for synchronization. The program detects potential problems early on and offers the user various options for solving them, such as keeping the most recent version or creating a copy.

Migrating data with WebDAV

For companies planning to migrate data to the cloud or to new servers, the combination of Syncovery and WebDAV is a reliable and secure solution.

Advantages of migrating with Syncovery and WebDAV:

  • Precise control: Syncovery enables precise definition of the data to be migrated through subfolder selection as well as masks and filters, so that you always have an overview.
  • Interruption-resistant migration: If the connection is interrupted during the transfer, Syncovery continues the migration at a later time. This is particularly important in unstable networks.
  • Special requirements: thanks to PascalScript, even unusual tasks such as renaming files or changing a folder structure can be implemented at the destination. Our support team will be happy to help you implement such requests.
  • Speed: With multithreading and HTTPS, you can make full use of your bandwidth with Syncovery. Alternatively, you can also limit the use of bandwidth so as not to affect ongoing operations in your company.

Upload and download files via WebDAV

With our backup software, you can automate uploads and downloads via WebDAV and plan them according to your needs using the integrated timer. The function is used to regularly update your data and to securely exchange large amounts of data. This gives you more flexibility because you can control the timing of the transfers.

Security and data protection with Syncovery

When using a WebDAV client, data protection and data security are top priorities. Syncovery has various functions that give you complete control over data transfer.

Connections are encrypted with SSL/TLS by default to protect your data from unauthorized access during transfer. You also have the option of setting specific permissions for each profile, which restricts access to authorized persons.

In addition, Syncovery has verification mechanisms. Files that already exist on both sides can be checked for 100% byte-by-byte agreement. Files can also be checked after copying. In addition, Syncovery knows the internal structure of numerous file formats and can verify the integrity of the files.

Disadvantages of the WebDAV protocol

Despite its security and reliability, the WebDAV protocol also has some disadvantages. We would like to briefly list these here:

  • Insufficient standardization: the WebDAV protocol is expandable thanks to its XML structure and definable “properties”. However, there is a lack of uniform standardization, especially when it comes to setting file properties such as the date of the last change. Syncovery supports the proprietary WebDAV extensions from Microsoft and other providers to process timestamps such as “last change” or “file creation”.
  • No resume capability: files can only be transferred as a whole. If an upload or download is interrupted, it must start again from the beginning.
  • Relatively slow listing: WebDAV’s XML file listings are large and take longer to download. In addition, a complete recursive listing cannot be retrieved, so Syncovery has to request each subfolder separately. There is also no option, as with modern cloud APIs, to only retrieve the changes since the last synchronization.

Syncovery as a WebDAV client for flexible data management

Using Syncovery as a WebDAV client is an efficient, versatile and secure alternative for companies and individual users in need of automated and reliable data management. By using profiles, scheduled jobs and extensive security features, our backup tool extends the functionality of ordinary WebDAV clients.

Explore the versatility of the Syncovery backup tool and try the 30-day trial version to experience its numerous benefits firsthand.