Welcome to VPF•Tech

How is Your Data Protected at VPF?

At MIT we use backup service called Code42 CrashPlan. CrashPlan is installed on every computer and runs whenever your computer is turned on but not asleep. You do not need to be logged in for CrashPlan to run, and you do not have to be connected to the VPN. You only need to be connected to the Internet.

  1. Click the Windows (Start) button, begin Typing 'code42' and choose 'Code42' from the search results.

  2. Wait for Code42 CrashPlan to connect to the MIT backup service.

  3. Log in using your MIT email address.

  4. A new browser window will open

  5. Use your MIT Personal Certificate or enter your Kerberos credentials

  6. Complete your DUO two-factor authentication

  7. Wait several minutes for Code42 to initialize your backup (If given the choice to "Add New Device" or "Replace Existing" chooce Add New Device)

  8. CrashPlan can take several hours to backup your computer for the first time. You can check the status of your backup by launching Code42 CrashPlan at any time.

How Does Code42 CrashPlan Work?

Code42 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 me know as soon as possible so that we have a chance to recover it.

Code42 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, Code42 CrashPlan, or the best place to save your data at VPF.