This page contains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about backing up your PC in general, as well as specifics on how cBackup performs its backup tasks. If you can't find an answer to one of your questions here, please contact our customer support at support@continuen.com or call us at (321)960-9780.

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Why Do I Need to Perform Backups?

Backing up your PC is your only defense against a variety of issues. From human error to viruses and all the way to hardware failure, there are a virtually unlimited means that could cause you to lose the information you've created.

What are the advantages of online backup?

There are several advantages of online backup solutions. One big advantage is time--you won't have  to take the time from your busy schedule to insert a tape, CD, DVD or other backup media. cBackup is an automated backup that will happen automatically whenever you want it to, so it doesn’t require any of your time. Email notifications can be sent to you and/or your support staff if there are issues.

One more advantage is accessibility. If you need to restore a file, you don’t have to go find the tape, CD, DVD or other device and then search through each one to find the file you're looking for. This could take hours of your valuable time. In fact, with cBackup, you don't even have to be physically at the PC, or even in the same office to perform the restore!

Yet another advantage is off-site storage of your backup archives. Many companies will put in the effort to backup their systems, only to leave the backup media right there by the computer. For optimal protection, you really need to store your backups in a separate location from the systems you backed up and online backup does this for you automatically.

How can I tell if my current backups are working?

You can always look at your logs and see if everything is being backed up but the only way you can really tell is by restoring a file. Make sure you have a current backup and then try to restore a single file. You will be amazed at how long it will take for you to locate a file and then restore it, using old fashion tapes or backup systems. With cBackup you can instantly see your files are being backed up and instantly restore a file.

How does the cBackup online backup solutions work?

Once enrolled, either yourself or your Continuen provider will need to install cBackup's PC Agent software on all PC's to be backed up. This software has a very small footprint and usually takes less than 5 minutes to install. Once you have installed the software, you will create jobs or backup sets. The jobs contain information on the files or folders that you want to backup and the days and times that you want to back them up. Backups will then occur automatically. When a backup begins, cBackup will search all of the folders targeted by your defined backup job and any new files or files that have changed since the last backup, will be compressed, encrypted and then transmitted through a secure Internet connection to Continuen’s servers.

How many different versions of the same file can I store?

cBackup can maintain up to 10 versions of your backed up files.

How Does cBackup Handle Deleted Files?

The system will always retain deleted files. For example, if you deleted a file several months ago and you later realized that you needed it, it will still be available on cBackup. Some online backup systems will actually delete your archive file after a short period of time, if it determines that it has been deleted.

How do I know if my backups are working?

cBackup will provide you email notification when errors occur and/or you can quickly view the online dashboard to see if any errors have occurred. Additionally a Continuen Partner will be monitoring your backups for you so that you don’t have to worry. They can correct any problems and take care of it all for you or you can do it yourself–-it is up to you!

How do I select which files to backup?

cBackup provides you several options for selecting files to be backed up. Using a graphical tree hierarchy you can easily select the folders that you would like to backup. You can exclude unwanted files by file extension or directory name. Once you have selected the files, you will tell the system when and how often to backup the files. You can also view statistics to see how much data will be backed up.

Can my data get a virus while it is backed up and stored on your servers?

No. Viruses cannot spread to files that are backed up for several reasons. First, every archive file has two different fingerprints (called a checksum hash) taken, one before and one after encryption, and these fingerprint values are confirmed at every phase of the archives existence. Any changes to the archive file (due to virus infection or corruption) would be detected and the archive file would be discarded. Secondly, Continuen's storage servers do not run Windows and are much more resistant to viral contamination.

Now, if one of the files on your PC contains a virus and that file is backed up, the virus will still be contained in that one file, but it would be completely dormant and unable to do any damage while being stored.

What are the minimum hardware requirements for cBackup?

The PC must be running Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 or Vista. If your PC hardware is currently running one of our supported OS levels, then that hardware should be able to run cBackup.

What operating systems will cBackup support?

The cBackup solution will work on Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 or Vista PC. We do not support Windows 95 or 98. You can backup files on a Mac or Linux or other operating system by mapping a network shared drive, but the software will not operate on these systems.

Will cBackup work with a firewall?

Yes. If you have a physical firewall (a hardware device), you should not have to make any changes to your firewall configurations. If you have personal firewall software, such as Norton Internet Security, Norton Personal Firewall, Black Ice, Zone Alarm, etc., you must make sure that your firewall software allows cBackup software to run and access the Internet.

How secure is my data?

Your data is encrypted before it leaves your computer. Each data file has it's own unique encryption key. The data is then encrypted again for its transit over the Internet. Your files are then stored, in encrypted form, on multiple servers in high security facilities.

What kind of encryption is used?

cBackup encrypts each file using 1536 bit RSA asymmetrical encryption technology. RSA encryption is widely used in electronic commerce protocols and is often referred to as “public-key” encryption. Each file is encrypted before it leaves your system and then remains encrypted on the Continuen’s servers, providing complete privacy for your data. Each file has its own encryption key, which is in turn encrypted when stored in the database.

In addition, cBackup software uses SSL (Secure Socket Layers) technology which is the same encryption technology used by Internet browsers when a user enters a secured site. As a result, during transmission your data is encrypted twice. It is encrypted at all times using the 1536 bit RSA encryption, and it is encrypted again while it’s being sent over the Internet.

Can anybody else access my files?

No, your data is encrypted before it leaves your computer and while it is being sent, where it remains encrypted.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored on state-of-the-art file servers in multiple secure data centers. Each facility has advanced security features such as controlled access, 24/7 monitoring, backup generators and redundant connections to the Internet.

Can I manually start a backup?

Yes, you can start a backup at any time. You can backup a single file or a complete directory or start an already existing job to perform the backup.

What happens when I exceed my storage space?

When you signed up for the service a Continuen Partner helped determine the amount of storage space you would require to backup your data. When you start to come close to that limit you and your Continuen Partner Provider will receive an email with a warning. You can then decided if you would like to remove directories from the backup set/job or increase your storage requirements. When you exceed your data storage limits, you will receive email notifications that you have exceeded your storage limits. The system will only backup data up to the storage limits you have signed up for. We will never automatically bill you.

How long will my backups take?

The time it takes to perform a backup will depend on the number of files you are backing up, the size of those files and the upload speed of your Internet connection. For many Internet connections, upload speed is considerably slower than download speed. When you perform your initial backup it could take several days to backup all your data the first time, but once that initial backup is completed it will only backup the changes and new files.

What types of files should I backup?

It is recommend that you back up important data files such as Microsoft Word and Excel documents, and financial information. If you are using Microsoft Outlook, you may also want to backup your emails, contacts and calendar by including your ".pst" file. For many situations, this can all be accomplished by backing up your “Documents and Settings” directory. But, there are times when valuable data files are located in other directories, so it is very important that you have a trained expert, such as one of Continuen's Certified Partners, review your systems setup.

What types of files should I not backup?

It is recommend that you don’t backup any programs or system files such as your Microsoft Windows system files, applications, and temporary files (including temporary Internet files) and in fact the initial default settings are already setup to exclude these locations and files.

What happens if a backup is interrupted while it is in progress?

If a backup is interrupted because the Internet connection was lost or the PC is rebooted, all of the files that had been backed up successfully before the interruption are valid and available to be restored, if needed. Additionally, for scheduled backup jobs, once the PC connects back with the Internet, it will immediately start back where the job left off and begin backing up more files. Backup jobs can also be canceled by the user in the middle of operations and in this case the job will simply quit backing up more files.

Can I use my computer while a backup is in progress?

Yes. You can use your computer normally, including accessing the Internet while a cBackup backup is running. For most PC's, backups should not significantly affect your system’s performance.

Will a backup occur if my computer is not on?

No. Your computer must be on in order for a backup to occur.

Will a backup occur if my computer is in sleep, hibernate or power save mode?

Some laptop or even some desktop PC computers have sleep, hibernate or power save modes enabled that shutdown or hibernate the PC system after being idle for a period of time. These settings may have to be modified to ensure the PC has enough time to perform its backups. We provide a “Backup & Shutdown” option that allows you to manually kick off a backup and then once completed, power off the PC.

Will a backup occur if my screen is locked or if I am not logged in?

Yes. You do not need to be logged into your computer for a backup to occur. You may also lock your screen.

Can I back up a mapped drive?

Yes, cBackup fully supports mapped drives.