zebNet Backup for eM Client TNG: Features, Pricing, and Comparison

Step-by-Step: Automating eM Client TNG Backups Using zebNet

Keeping your eM Client TNG data safe is essential—automated backups remove the manual burden and reduce risk of data loss. This guide shows a complete, prescriptive workflow to install, configure, and automate backups of eM Client TNG using zebNet Backup.

What you’ll need

• A Windows PC with eM Client TNG installed and configured.
• zebNet Backup (installed on the same PC or a reachable machine).
• Destination storage: external drive, NAS, or cloud storage accessible from the PC.
• Administrator privileges for installing/configuring scheduled tasks.

1. Install zebNet Backup

1. Download zebNet Backup installer from zebNet’s official site and run the installer as Administrator.
2. Follow the installer prompts; accept default locations unless you have specific folder policies.
3. Launch zebNet Backup after installation completes.

2. Locate eM Client TNG data folders

1. eM Client stores profiles and data typically under:
   • %appdata%\eM Client</li>
2. Confirm the exact profile folder by opening eM Client → Menu (or Tools) → Settings → General → Storage or by checking the AppData path on your system.
3. Note any additional folders you use (attached files, custom archives, or PST exports).

3. Create a new backup job in zebNet Backup

1. In zebNet Backup, choose Create New Job (or New Backup Task).
2. Job type: select “File/Folder Backup”.
3. Add source folders:
   • Add the eM Client profile folder(s) identified earlier (e.g., C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\eM Client).
   • Add any additional export or attachment directories you use.
4. Add excludes if desired (large cache folders you don’t need).

4. Select backup destination and mode

1. Destination: choose your preferred target (external drive, NAS path, or cloud provider configured within zebNet).
2. Mode: choose “Incremental” or “Differential” for regular runs to save space; use “Full” for the initial backup.
3. Retention policy: set how many versions to keep (e.g., 30 days or 12 versions).
4. Encryption: enable AES encryption if storing backups offsite or in cloud. Set a secure password and store it in a password manager.

5. Configure schedule for automation

1. In the job’s Schedule settings, choose frequency:
   • Daily at off-peak time (e.g., 02:00) for routine protection.
   • More frequent (hourly) only if you require near-real-time recovery.
2. Set run conditions:
   • Run only if computer is idle (optional).
   • Wake computer to run backup (if using laptop and allowed).
3. Choose post-job actions:
   • Email notification on success/failure.
   • Log rotation or cleanup tasks.

6. Test the backup job

1. Run the job manually once to perform the initial full backup.
2. Verify the backup completed successfully and check logs for warnings/errors.
3. Browse the backup destination to confirm files are present and readable.
4. If encryption was enabled, test decrypting a small file to validate the password.

7. Configure versioning and retention review

1. Ensure retention settings match your recovery objectives (RPO/RTO).
2. Optionally enable backup verification or periodic integrity checks in zebNet to detect corruption.

8. Automate backup verification and alerts

1. Configure email or system notifications for job failures, skipped files, or low disk space.
2. Schedule a monthly restore test: pick a random backup version and restore a small set of mail files to a temporary folder, then open in eM Client (or import) to confirm usability.

9. Document and secure backup credentials

1. Record schedule, destination path, encryption password location, and restore steps in a short runbook.
2. Restrict access to the backup destination and zebNet configuration to administrators only.

10. Recovery steps (quick reference)

1. Open zebNet Backup → Restore Job → select backup date/version.
2. Choose files/folders to restore (eM Client profile folder).
3. Restore to original location or alternate folder.
4. If restoring to original location, close eM Client before restoring and reopen after restore completes.
5. If needed, use eM Client’s import function to load restored data.

Checklist (quick)

• Installed zebNet Backup
• Located eM Client profile folder(s)
• Created backup job with sources and destination
• Set schedule (daily at off-peak)
• Enabled encryption and retention
• Ran manual test backup and verified files
• Configured alerts and monthly restore test
• Documented runbook and secured credentials

Following this workflow will automate protection for your eM Client TNG data while ensuring recoverability through testing and verification.