Data Backup Overview

Data Backup (KDB) is an add-on module that backs up selected files and folders either to the Amazon S3 cloud or to your own private storage. Private storage can be configured locally or as private cloud storage. The Amazon S3 cloud-based backup service eliminates the cost and maintenance of self-owned backup solutions that provide either too little or too much storage capacity. The private storage option gives you the flexibility to leverage existing investments in storage.

Fee-Based or Private Storage Locations

You can use the storage provider Amazon S3 for an additional billing charge or you can designate agent managed machines as private storage locations for your backups. There is no file size limit to use either type of storage. The private storage server does not have to be on the same local network as the machine being backed up. A private storage server can specify a local drive or a UNC path to external storage such as a NAS device. You only need to specify a DNS name or IP address, port number, and local drive and folder path to access a private storage server. Private storage servers have no associated licensing fees.

A private storage server is configured using the Private Storage page.
The Amazon S3 server is enabled using the Kaseya Cloud Storage page.

Cloud Billing Service

The Data Backup service is initiated and billed using the Kaseya cloud billing service. Billing information is available on the Kaseya Portal. The service includes scheduling and bandwidth options that reduce or prevent backups during peak working hours.

Retention Policy

30 days of backup data are retained in the online storage space.
Incremental backups are only stored if the file has changed.
If more than 30 incremental backups have been stored, the next backup after the last 30th incremental is a mirror backup (full).
If an incremental is 80% or more of the size of the file being backed up, a mirror backup (full) is created.
If a file has not changed for more than 30 days, only the latest version is retained.
If a file is deleted from the agent, the latest version will be kept offsite indefinitely unless deleted using the Manage function.
For both cloud and private storage, if Data Backup is uninstalled from an endpoint, then all backup data for that endpoint will be removed from the storage server.
For cloud storage, if the Kaseya agent is uninstalled before uninstalling Data Backup on an endpoint, the data will remain on the Amazon S3 server and you will continue to get billed.

Install/Remove

The Install/Remove page does not install anything on the agent machine being backed up. Rather it enables management of that machine by Data Backup. Installation is required to display the machine ID on other Data Backup pages.

Backup Profiles

The Backup Profiles page defines backup configuration profiles. Each backup profile represents a different set of enabled or disabled backup options, including file types and file locations to be backed up. Include and exclude rules can be defined by file type. Files and directories are included/excluded using a fixed order of precedence.

Changes to a profile affect all machine IDs assigned that profile. Typically different types of machines require different backup profiles. A sample profile is provided for you. You can't change a sample profile, but you can save it under a new name and make changes to the copy. Backup profile options include bandwidth throttling and CPU throttling performance options.

Backup profiles are optional but highly recommended. The other only method of scheduling an backup requires you to select individual files on a machine. Backup profiles are assigned to a machine ID account using the profile selector in the upper right hand corner of the Schedule page.

Profile Variables

When specifying objects to include or exclude in a profile, enter a % character as the first character to display a list of profile variables. Not all profile variables apply to OSX operating systems.

Creating Backups

Use the Schedule page to create backups.

Select one or more machines IDs.
Select a storage server. An Amazon S3 storage server is available if enabled using the Kaseya Cloud Storage page. A private storage server only displays if you have designated it using the Private Storage page.
Select either Backup Profile or File Selection or both. You must select at least one of these options.
Click Schedule or Backup Now to schedule the creation of backups for selected machine IDs.

Restoring Backups

The Restore page restores selected folders and files from a backup to either the same machine it was backed up from, or a different OS compatible machine. You can choose to overwrite files or create copies of files with the same name. You can choose to restore the files and folders to their original location or to a new location.

Alerts

The Alerts page creates alerts in response to the success or failure of Data Backup events.

Storage Status

The following pages and reports help you track the status of storage servers and backups.

Note: See Data Backup System Requirements.

Functions	Description
Status	Provides a dashboard view of the status of machine IDs using Data Backup.
Schedule	Schedules backups for selected machine IDs.
Logs	Displays logs of all backups and restores you have performed for the last 90 days.
Restore	Restores selected folders and files from a backup to a selected machine ID.
Manage	Enables deletion of folders and files from an backup for a selected machine ID.
Summary	Displays storage statistics for each machine ID being backed up.
Overview	Displays storage statistics, grouped by private storage server first, then by machine ID.
Install/Remove	Enables or removes Data Backup for selected machines IDs.
Backup Profiles	Defines backup configuration profiles.
Alerts	Defines alerts for backup events.
Private Storage	Specifies managed machines as private storage servers.
Kaseya Cloud Storage	Enables Amazon S3 cloud storage.