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System Protection

BackupAssist System Protection backs up your data to an image file and is our recommended backup type because only System Protection bare-metal backup can be used to perform a system recovery.

How to create a System Protection backup job

Launch BackupAssist and follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Select the Backup tab
  2. Select Create a New Backup Job
  3. Select System Protection
    If this is the first time you have created a backup job, you will be asked to provide a Backup User Identity. To learn more, see Backup User Identity
  4. Selections
    This step is used to select the data and applications that you want to back up. Any VSS applications detected will be displayed here as application directory containers.
  5. Destination media
    This step is used to select the type of media that you want to back your data up to. This step’s name will change to the media type selected, when you click Next.
  6. Schedule
    This step is used to select when and how you want the backup job to run, and how long you would like the backup to be retained for. A selection of pre-configured schedules, called schemes, as well as a custom scheme, can be selected.
  7. Set up destination
    This step is used to configure the location of the media selected in step 5. The options presented will change with the type of media selected.
  8. Notifications
    Once a backup job has completed, BackupAssist can send an email to inform selected recipients of the result. This email notification is enabled during the creation of the backup job, but you must also provide your mail server settings so that the notifications can be sent. To learn how to configure your mail server for BackupAssist, see Email server settings.
  9. Prepare media
    If you selected a portable media as your backup destination, you will be given the option to prepare and label it. The label allows BackupAssist to recognize the media and check that the correct media is being used on the correct day. For example, if you put an RDX drive in on Tuesday but it was labeled Wednesday, BackupAssist will warn you that the incorrect media was detected.
  10. Name your backup
    Provide a name for your backup job, and click Finish.
    If you are using BitLocker encryption, the option will be Next.
  11. Next steps
    This step will be available if you selected Enable BitLocker encryption, so you can encrypt the removable drives. This step will also be available if you are making a backup of the entire system, so that you can make a bootable media.

Your System Protection backup job has now been created.

Note: BackupAssist's reports can be used to review the results of each backup job. Backups should also so be checked by performing a test restore. Regular test restores should be part of your backup solution.

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