Backup Plans and Backup Policies

with Acronis Backup & Recovery 10

Created - Dec 30, 2009; Updated - Aug 16, 2010

In a backup plan you specify explicitly what data to back up and apply it to one machine, in a backup policy you create a template with parameters of what to back up and can apply it to multiple machines
This article applies to:

• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server - Small Business Server Edition
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Workstation
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server - Virtual Edition

Description(!) Backup policies are only available in the advanced editions of Acronis Backup & Recovery 10. See also Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Editions.
A backup plan is created by connecting to an Acronis Agent:

A backup policy is created by connecting to the Acronis Management Server:

A backup plan is a set of rules that specify how the given data (and what data explicitly) will be protected on a given machine. A backup plan can be applied only to one machine.

A backup policy is a template that contains the same rules as a backup plan, but might not explicitly specify what data items to back up. Instead, selection rules, such as environment variables, can be used. A backup policy can be applied to multiple machines.

A backup plan specifies:

• what data to back up (e.g. partition C:\);
• where to store the backup archive (e.g. in a managed vault);
• a backup scheme that includes a backup schedule and [optionally] retention rules (e.g. back up once every month and delete backups older than 3 months);
• [optionally] archive validation rules (e.g. validate the last backup only);
• backup options (e.g. run pre and post backup commands).

The workflow of using a backup policy is as follows:

• On Acronis Management Server you create a backup policy;
• Then you apply the policy to a group of machines or a single machine;
• The Acronis Management Server deploys the policy to the machines;
• On each machine, the Acronis Agent installed on the machine finds data items using the selection rules. For example, if the selection rule is [All volumes], the entire machine will be backed up;
• On each machine, the Acronis Agent installed on the machine creates a backup plan using other rules specified by the policy. Such backup plan is called a centralized plan;
• On each machine, the Acronis Agent installed on the machine creates a set of centralized tasks that will carry out the plan.

More information

• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10: Forcibly Removing Backup Policies from the Acronis Management Server
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10: Backup Policy [SYSTEM] Backs Up the Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 100 MB Partition
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10: Deployed Backup Policy Fails with "The given URI is empty"