I have asked AI for that. This is the result.
Me:
shouldn't proxmox pve get an encryption feature for classical vzdump full backups? as i see, most hypervisor backup solutions have support for online encryption.
ChatGPT:
You're absolutely right—encryption for backups is a feature that many modern hypervisor backup solutions already support, and it's something that would definitely make sense for Proxmox VE (PVE) to include for vzdump full backups.
Currently, Proxmox does allow for some basic encryption features in backup processes, but the encryption is more limited in scope, and there’s no built-in option for online encryption directly via vzdump. However, there are a few things to consider here:
1. Backup Storage Encryption:
While Proxmox doesn’t provide full vzdump backup encryption out of the box, it’s possible to use encrypted storage volumes (such as LUKS or ZFS encryption) to secure the backup destination. This adds an encryption layer to the backup storage, but it’s at the storage level rather than during the backup process itself.
2. Custom Backup Encryption:
Some users have resorted to manually encrypting backup archives using tools like gpg or openssl after the backup completes. This does require additional scripting and doesn’t offer the convenience or tight integration you might expect from a native solution, but it is a workaround that many in the community use to get that encryption feature.
3. Performance Considerations:
Real-time encryption during the backup process (especially for full backups, which can be quite large) could introduce performance overhead. While this is less of an issue on modern hardware, there may be trade-offs when it comes to backup speed and resource usage. Proxmox might prioritize minimizing backup time and system load, which is why the feature isn’t implemented yet.
4. Future Plans:
Proxmox is known for adding features and responding to community feedback. It’s possible they might integrate full online encryption into vzdump in a future release, given the growing demand for security and encryption features in backup solutions. If you’re interested in this feature, it’s worth checking out the Proxmox forums and suggesting it as a feature request, as they actively consider community input.
Until then, the best approach would be either using storage-level encryption or integrating a manual encryption process via scripts, as mentioned above.
Do you have any specific use cases or security concerns that are prompting you to look for this feature in particular?
Me:
yes, i have need for that, as the place where our backup server resides is not perfectly secure.
ChatGPT:
That makes a lot of sense, and it’s definitely a concern that a lot of organizations face—backup security is often overlooked, but it’s crucial when the backup server is in a less secure location. Encrypting backups directly is a great way to mitigate risks, especially if physical security is a concern.
In your situation, the lack of native encryption in Proxmox’s vzdump backups could leave your data vulnerable in case the backup server itself is compromised or accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Here’s what you can do to improve security:
Encrypted Storage for Backups: You can encrypt the storage that holds the backup data itself. For example, using LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) to create an encrypted disk volume on your backup server ensures that, even if someone gains access to the server, they can’t easily access the backup files without the encryption key. This is a good first line of defense.
Manual Post-Backup Encryption: You can implement a script to automatically encrypt your backups after they’re created by vzdump. For example, using gpg or openssl to encrypt the backup files as soon as they’re finished can ensure that they remain protected.
Here’s an example of what a simple post-backup encryption script might look like:
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/path/to/backup"
ENCRYPTED_DIR="/path/to/encrypted/backup"
BACKUP_FILE="backup_name.vma"
PASSPHRASE="your_secret_passphrase"
# Encrypt the backup using GPG
gpg --batch --yes --passphrase "$PASSPHRASE" -c "$BACKUP_DIR/$BACKUP_FILE"
# Move encrypted file to the secure location
mv "$BACKUP_DIR/$BACKUP_FILE.gpg" "$ENCRYPTED_DIR"
# Optionally remove the unencrypted file after encryption
rm -f "$BACKUP_DIR/$BACKUP_FILE"
This script would take your backup, encrypt it with a passphrase, and move it to a secure location. You can set it up to run automatically after vzdump completes. It's not quite as convenient as having built-in support for encryption, but it does get the job done.
Offsite or Cloud Backup: If the local backup server is physically vulnerable, another option is to push the backups to an offsite or cloud storage solution that supports encryption. Many cloud providers (like AWS S3, Google Cloud, or Backblaze B2) support server-side encryption, so your backups are encrypted at rest. You could automate this with something like rclone to push your backups to cloud storage securely.
Backup with Encryption via SSH Tunnel: If you're backing up to a remote server over SSH, you could use an encrypted tunnel to protect the backup during transit. Tools like rsync or scp can work well for this. To add an extra layer, you can also apply encryption on the backup before transferring it.
Monitor Access: Make sure you are logging and monitoring any access to the backup server. If someone does try to access the server, logs will give you a trail to follow. Proxmox provides logs of backup tasks, and you can combine this with system-level logging to ensure any unauthorized access attempts are flagged.
Request for Built-in Encryption:
Given the importance of data security and the growing demand for features like this, you could also bring it up as a feature request on the Proxmox forums. Proxmox is very responsive to the community and often implements features based on user feedback, especially when it comes to critical security improvements.
Conclusion:
While waiting for a potential native feature from Proxmox, using manual encryption (via gpg, openssl, or cloud backup solutions) would be the best way to secure your backups. Encrypted storage and offsite backups would also be excellent complementary strategies to ensure your data is protected in case of physical compromise.
If you need help setting up any of these solutions or need a more specific script, feel free to ask!
