How is My Data Protected at MIT?

At MIT we use backup service called CrashPlan. CrashPlan is installed on every computer and runs whenever your computer is awake and connected to the Internet. You do not need to be logged into Windows/macOS for CrashPlan to run, and you do not have to be connected to the VPN.

  1. Click the Windows (Start) button, begin Typing 'crashplan' and choose 'CrashPlan' (not CrashPlan Tray) from the search results

crashplan-start

  1. Log in using your MIT email address (if a server address is required use clients.us2.crashplan.com:4287)

crashplan-login

  1. A new browser window will open
  2. Use your MIT Personal Certificate or enter your Kerberos credentials

touchstone

  1. Complete your DUO two-factor authentication

duo

  1. Wait several minutes for CrashPlan to initialize your backup

crashplan-waiting

  1. If given the choice to "Add New Device" or "Replace Existing" choose Add New Device

crashplan-new

  1. Confirm your choice by Yes

crashplan-confirm

  1. CrashPlan can take several hours to backup your computer for the first time. You can check the status of your backup by visiting the CrashPlan web portal

How Does CrashPlan Work?

CrashPlan checks for changed files in your computer's C:\Users folders every ~15 minutes. CrashPlan backs up any files that have changed. This includes your Desktop, Documents, Email Archives, Movies, and Pictures. CrashPlan keeps a copy of your changed files every time it backs up and preserves:

  • Incremental versions for the last week
  • Daily versions for the the last 90 days
  • Weekly versions for the last year
  • Monthly versions for each additional year

Files saved outside of your C:\Users folders are not backed up. Deleted files and their previous versions are only saved for 30 Days. If you discover a file is missing, has been deleted accidentally, or you require a previous version of a file please let us know as soon as possible so that we have a chance to recover it.

CrashPlan may not be able to backup some files that are in use during the day. If you don't think you will be using your computer overnight, log off instead of shutting down so CrashPlan has a chance to backup files that were previously open.

Please let me know if you have any questions about backup, CrashPlan, or the best place to save your data at MIT.