Continu8 uses a process called "intelligent delta backups". This means that instead of backup up all the data during each backup cycle, only the blocks (the smallest unit of storage on your hard drives) that have changed since the last backup are sent to the backup server. By using this process, Continu8's Managed Backup service can store more data in a smaller space and backup large drives in a very short amount of time.

Even with intelligent delta backups, the initial backup is often large and could take a significant amount of time to perform over the Internet. For these larger backups Continu8 sends out a "seed" drive. The first backup is performed onto the seed drive and that data is uploaded into our servers prior to starting the delta backup process.

A downside to cloud backups is that when the Internet goes down, your backups stop working. Continu8 offers a hybrid cloud backup - by keeping the most recent version of your backups on a storage device inside your network we can guarantee your backups will work if the Internet goes down. Not only will your data continue to be protected, but in the event of a disaster during Internet downtime, the local storage device can be used to restore data.

In order to meet the shorter Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) of critical systems, Continu8 offers virtual recovery capabilities. In the event of a failure, your systems can be quickly recovered to virtual servers located in our secure data centers.

When combining virtual recovery with "standby images" on your local storage we can even recover from a major disaster with nearly zero downtime - even if your Internet connection isn't available.

Continu8 backups come with a standard retention of 28 days, which is suitable for nearly all environments. But if your recovery plans call for something different, we can easily accommodate nearly any retention schedule - including multiple schedules depending on the server or dataset.

In cases where your data is subject to compliance regulations (such as HIPAA or 21 CFR) Continu8 can mark backups beyond your retention schedules as "archived". Archived data is retained indefinitely and can be restored just as easily as a regular backup should if ever be required.

Many cloud providers rely on you to monitor your own backups, or use automated alerts and call it "monitoring". Continu8 has a staff of real people that review logs, examine schedules and even perform test restores to help guarantee that your backups will be usable should you ever need them.