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HomeIT ServicesTools, software and servicesBackups

Backups

The backups service takes copies of data from University central filestores on a regular basis.

This is part of the University's disaster recovery process for the central IT systems, allowing data to be restored in the event of a catastrophic failure.

You can also use these backups to recover copies of files that you have altered or deleted in error.

Key features

  • Personal filestores (userfs drives) are backed up each night.
  • Shared filestores (storage drives) are backed up each night.
  • Backups are retained for a maximum of 90 days.
  • Other specialised central filestores, departmental servers and virtual machines (VMs) may also be backed up on request.

Access instructions

Follow our guide for information on recovering files from backups.

If you’re not on campus, you need a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Related tools

Available to staff and students

Students and staff can use this service on University-managed devices connected to the University network or VPN. Students can also use it on their own devices.

Funded by the University

There isn’t a cost to you for standard use.

Access instructions

Follow our guide for information on recovering files from backups.

If you’re not on campus, you need a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Related tools

Guides and help

How-to guides and set up

Search all our guides and help

Contact for support

Contact IT Services if you need:

  • older versions of files to be restored. Please provide us with file details including name, location and when it needs to be restored from. 
  • a virtual machine you administer to be restored from a backup.

Allow three working days for us to restore your data.

Service commitments

Your responsibilities and policies

For file restoration requests we expect you to tell us:

  • the name of the file and its location/which folder it is in
  • the date from which we should restore a copy of the file.

For departmental servers to be included within the backup service, we expect you to:

  • include details of your server's operating system when you contact IT Services
  • keep us informed about changes to your contact details
  • install, or allow us to install for you, on your server the client software necessary to perform backups to the backup service
  • inform us promptly when your server no longer needs to be backed up.

The following policies apply to all IT services provided by the University.

Service performance

Availability

  • This is a live service, available 24/7.

Support

  • This service is managed by IT Services.
  • We are responsible for monitoring, identifying and fixing faults.
  • Support is available during our opening hours.

Standards

  • Our service performance and standards have been produced in consultation with our customers. We regularly monitor the delivery, performance and availability of facilities and services.
Feedback and complaints

We appreciate feedback as it helps us review and continually improve our service.

Page last reviewed: 9 September 2024