rsync can be used for remote backups and syncing files. It is efficient in that it copies only changes in subsequent updates.

For using rsync from windows, install cwRsync. cwRsync works well with cmd than with cygwin bash or similar terminals under Windows.

rsync -zvr -e 'ssh -p 2222' sourceDir user@ip:/home/user/dir

-z compress
-v verbose
-r recursive
-e remote shell
-p can be used if ssh runs on a different port