# Backing up and restoring

> Academium Surepass Help › Your school server
> For: Server Edition
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-backing-up-and-restoring
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

A backup is a copy of everything on the server: students, results, questions and settings. Backups are **encrypted**, so they can only be opened by your school.

Backups become available once the school is set up on the server.

## Automatic backups

On the **Backup** tab:

1. **Backup Location**: click **Browse** and choose a folder. Backups are saved in **Academium\SurePassBackups** inside it. Choose your **second drive** or an external drive.
2. **Schedule**: choose **Daily**, **Weekly** or **Monthly**, the day, and the **Time** it runs.
3. **Keep Last**: how many backups to keep. Older ones are removed.

Turn **Automatic Backup** on from the Overview tab's **Services** list.

> **Warning:** If backups are saved on the same drive as the system, the Backup tab warns you. If that drive fails, you lose your data **and** your backups. Choose another drive.

## Backing up now

Click **Back Up Now** before anything risky: an update, moving the server, or a factory reset.

## Cloud backup

When cloud backup is set up for your school, backups also upload to the cloud automatically, and each backup shows **On cloud** or **Local only**. You can **Upload** or **Remove** a backup from the cloud. If it says **Not configured**, contact Academium support.

## Restoring a backup

> **Warning:** Restoring **replaces everything** on the server with the contents of the backup. Anything added since the backup was taken is lost. This cannot be undone.

1. Under **Local Backups**, find the backup and click **Restore**.
2. Read the warning and confirm.

To restore from an external drive, or after replacing the server, use **Restore from another location**. Only backups made with your school's account appear.

## Common problems

**"No backup taken yet."** Automatic backup is on but has not run yet. Click **Back Up Now**.

**"Disk space nearly full."** Lower **Keep Last**, or move backups to another drive.

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