Secure Backup How-To
Kryptel can create encrypted backups that can safely be stored anywhere, even on a public server or Internet storage. This article is a quick how-to on Kryptel encrypted backups.
The simplest way to back up
Right-click a file or a folder and select Backup. If you want to create the backup in a different folder, drag the item there with right mouse button pressed. Release the button and select Backup Here.
It is really simple indeed, but what if we need to back up several items from different folders? Well, we can create several backup files. Or we can try a more advanced technique.
Another simple way
Using Kryptel Wizard gives a bit more power. Select Start / All Programs / Kryptel / Kryptel Wizards and choose the first item.
Enter the name of the backup file and set the type to 'Backup'.
On the next page use the 'Add' button to add as many files and folders as you wish.
Press Finish and enjoy. Simple and certainly does the job. However this method is not so good if we want to make this backup on a regular basis. There must be a better way than repeating the same steps every time, again and again. Yes, there indeed is!
Scripted Backup
Backup script is basically a text file that contains a list of files and folders that are to be backed up. As soon as you create a script, you can backup your data simply by double-clicking the script file. And what is more, you can use that script to perform automated scheduled backups.
Creating Script
Open Kryptel Wizard (Start / All Programs / Kryptel / Kryptel Wizards) and select ‘Create a new backup script’.
Enter the name of the new backup, which will also be the name of the backup script. The script must not contain the characters not allowed in file names, i.e. <>:"/\|?*. The created script file will be assigned the .bk extension and placed into the standard script storage (which by default is <Documents>\Kryptel Data\Backup Scripts). You may also choose to store script to an alternate location, for example, to a USB stick (see 'On-demand backups' below).
This page also lets you specify where the resulting backup file is to be stored – to a local folder or to an Internet storage.
The next page specifies the list of files and folders that are to be backed up. Use + and – buttons to add items or to remove them from the list.
And the last page specifies what key material should be used for encryption. Keep in mind that backup script is a simple text file, which can be viewed in any text editor. This fact is important to remember if you want to specify a password – make sure that your system is safe and your backup script can't be accessed by another person.
Using Script
There are several ways to use the newly created backup script. The simplest one is double-clicking the script's .bk file. Or you can execute the script in the corresponding Kryptel Wizard.
You can also run the script using Kryptel Tray Utility (you will need to enable Kryptel tray icon in Kryptel Settings panel).
On-demand Backup
On-demand backup starts when you connect an external backup drive. In order to set up an on-demand backup:
- Connect your external drive (insert a flash stick, connect a USB or eSATA hard drive),
- Create a backup script and save it to the root folder of the external drive,
- Open Kryptel Settings panel and enable USB Monitor.
Processing of the backup script will start automatically as soon as the external drive is connected.
Scheduled Backup
You can make the system to run your backup script periodically.
Open Windows Control Panel, select System and Security / Administrative Tools. Double-click Task Scheduler item.
In the Task Scheduler's menu select Action / Create Basic Task.
Name your task and press Next.
Select how often your backup script should be run, for example, weekly.
On the Action page select 'Start a program'.
In the 'Program/Script' field enter the name of your backup script .bk file.
Is There Anything More?
Yes! If you want to fine-tune your new backup script – add more advanced file filters or specify behavior in conflicting situation, use Kryptel Dataset Editor (Start / All Programs / Kryptel / Advanced Tools / Dataset Editor).