What are backup policies
Backup policies are configurations that automatically define how backups are performed, how often they run, and how long restore points are retained.
Each backup policy defines:
- the type of backup performed (Full and/or Incremental);
- the backup schedule (day, frequency, and time);
- the backup retention period.
By associating a backup policy with a volume, the platform automatically applies the defined scheduling and retention rules, keeping the backup strategy configuration separate from the associated resource.
Why backup policies were introduced
Backup policies were introduced to standardize and centralize backup scheduling management within the Public Cloud platform. A policy-based model allows you to:
- ensure consistent backup configuration;
- reduce the risk of errors caused by inconsistent manual settings;
- apply reusable protection strategies to multiple volumes;
- simplify operational management by separating the schedule configuration from the service that uses the backup.
This approach provides clearly defined backup and retention rules, improving overall system reliability and ensuring operational continuity.
Available backup policy types
Three types of backup policy are available within the platform:
- global backup policies
- template-based backup policies
- custom backup policies
Global backup policies
Global backup policies are predefined infrastructure-level configurations. They have fixed settings for:
- the backup sequence and execution logic (Full and Incremental);
- the backup frequency;
- the scheduled day and time;
- the retention applied to Full backups and the related incremental backup chain.
Global backup policies cannot be edited and provide a standardized configuration based on platform best practices.
Template-based backup policies
Template-based backup policies are created from an existing global backup policy. They retain the same:
- backup execution logic (Full and Incremental);
- retention settings;
However, you can customize:
- the schedule start day;
- the execution time.
This option allows you to adapt the schedule to your operational needs while retaining the protection strategy defined by the reference global backup policy.
Custom backup policies
Custom backup policies allow you to manually define backup scheduling and retention. You can configure:
- the backup sequence (Full and Incremental);
- the backup frequency and execution days;
- the retention applied to backups.
This type provides maximum flexibility and allows you to create a fully customized protection strategy.
How retention works in backup policies
Retention is the period of time for which backups remain available as restore points. With backup policies, retention is defined within the policy itself. Depending on the backup policy type:
- for global backup policies, retention is predefined and cannot be edited;
- for template-based backup policies, retention is inherited from the reference global backup policy;
- for custom backup policies, retention can be configured when creating the policy.
Each backup policy defines:
- how many days Full backups are retained;
- how long any associated Incremental backups remain available;
- the overall available restore window.
Retention is applied automatically by the system: when the defined retention period expires, backups are deleted without requiring any manual action. This ensures:
- consistent management of storage space;
- availability of restore points within the defined retention window;
- alignment between backup scheduling and retention.
Impact on management and restore
The introduction of backup policies changes how backups are scheduled, but does not affect how Agentless Backup is managed or restored.
Management
On the Agentless Backup details page, you can view the backup policy associated with the volume. The scheduling and retention settings applied depend on the selected backup policy type (global, template-based, or custom).
- With a global backup policy, the scheduling and retention settings cannot be edited.
- With a template-based backup policy, you can define the schedule start day and time while retaining the structure of the reference global backup policy.
- With a custom backup policy, you can configure the available settings directly when creating the policy.
Any changes to the associated backup policy apply to subsequent backup runs and do not affect backups that have already been performed.
Restore
The restore process remains unchanged: you can select one of the available restore points and choose whether to restore it to the original volume or to a new compatible volume.
For Incremental backups, the system automatically reconstructs the complete state of the volume using the reference Full backup and subsequent Incremental backups, without requiring any additional action.
The availability of restore points depends on the retention defined by the associated backup policy.