How does CrashPlan work?

CrashPlan provides a cloud-based “continuous backup” which is different from other, more traditional backup applications. Rather than kick off a resource-intensive backup session once or twice a day, its operation is more lightweight and unobtrusive.

Is CrashPlan safe for my confidential data?

Yes. Because the backup process is encrypted and transmitted to a secure site, your backups are protected during backup and recovery operations, and while they are stored in the CrashPlan cloud.

Won’t backing up my files 24/7 slow my system down?

No. Once CrashPlan has completed an initial full scan of your system, it uses your computer’s built-in file tracking system to detect changes to files. In this way it detects files that have been added, removed, or modified, then schedules eligible files to be quickly and safely backed up.

Will cloud-based backup work when I am offline?

No. CrashPlan won’t be able to back up your files while you are offline. However, the program will keep track of which files have been modified since your last backup and, the next time you are online, perform those backups. As a reminder, your IT Support Group may configure CrashPlan to send you an email notification when your computer has been offline, asleep, or turned off for a week or more, to let you know your backup is not current.

Will cloud-based backup use all my bandwidth if I use my computer at home?

By default, CrashPlan uses minimal computer and network resources while you are using your computer. In their CrashPlan settings, users can throttle the network usage to prevent disruptions on home networks or public wireless networks that should never be used by CrashPlan for backup.

That said, it is not recommended that you do the initial CrashPlan full backup from a remote internet connection.

How do I recover a file that I have lost?

Recovering a lost file is quick and easy. See Overview: Get Files From Your CrashPlan Archive.