Information Technology Solutions

Information Technology Solutions

OneDrive managed backups FAQ

IT Solutions has released the OneDrive managed backups feature, and you must enable it on your College‑issued computer. Managed backups automatically sync your data to OneDrive, always making the most recent copy available on any device and within Microsoft Teams. It ensures that the copy on OneDrive is up to date once your local device has had a chance to sync (or vice versa).

Managed backups also helps to protect your files and folders from malicious attacks and provides a quick and safe recovery from damage, theft, and catastrophic failure. For more information about managed backups and how you can get the most out of your OneDrive account, please refer to the FAQ below.

What is OneDrive managed backups?

OneDrive is Microsoft’s online cloud‑storage platform. The managed backups feature allows you to back up your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive, and have them protected and available on other devices and from within MS Teams.

When you enable OneDrive managed backups, any changes you make on your local device will automatically sync to your online OneDrive folder, keeping your information current and up to date. Your OneDrive – Red River College Polytechnic account provides you with 1 TB of cloud‑based storage.

IMPORTANT: You are responsible for the security and protection of the electronic information resources over which you have control. Please familiarize yourself with the following policies before saving information related to any students or staff members at the College to OneDrive:

Why is it important to use OneDrive managed backups?

Using OneDrive managed backups provides many benefits, including keeping your information private and secure while allowing you to access it anywhere from any device and within MS Teams. When you save your data to the cloud using OneDrive, it not only provides advanced protection from viruses and cybercrime, but it also lets you recover your files in the event of attack, damage, theft, and catastrophic failure.

What can I backup with OneDrive managed backups?

OneDrive managed backups will sync your Documents, Desktop, and Pictures folders. You can then access your backed up folders on any device where you are running OneDrive.

What does OneDrive managed backups NOT backup?

OneDrive will not allow you to protect the following types of files:

  • Files created for an Outlook database file (.pst).
  • Files that exceed the maximum path length (must be 260 characters or fewer).
  • Files that exceed the maximum file size (must be 100 GB or fewer).
  • File names that start with a space or include any of the following characters: \ : / * ? < > ” |.

How do I turn on OneDrive managed backups?

If you are setting up your OneDrive – Red River College Polytechnic account for the first time, please see the Set up OneDrive Help Resources page, and then follow the steps below.

  1. To turn on OneDrive managed backups, click the blue cloud icon in the system tray in the bottom right‑hand corner of your taskbar.
    click the blue onedrive icon
  2. On the ITS Policy window, click the Back up these folders button, and then follow the prompts to turn on OneDrive managed backups.
    its policy and backup button
  3. NOTE: If you have trouble turning on OneDrive managed backups using the steps above, please visit Microsoft’s Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive webpage, and in the Set up PC folder backup section, follow the instructions for completing the backup process.

What do I do if I am having issues using managed backups?

If you run in to difficulty using OneDrive managed backups, please visit Microsoft’s Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive webpage and follow the instructions in the Fix problems with PC folder backup section.

For video training to help you get the most out of your OneDrive – Red River College Polytechnic account, please visit Microsoft’s Manage your files – OneDrive webpage for helpful advice on the following topics:

If you have tried these resources and still cannot find the answers you are looking for, please see the ITS Service Desk webpage to submit a support request.

How do I access my backed up OneDrive files in MS Teams?

To learn how to access your OneDrive files in Teams, please visit LinkedIn Learning and watch the 36 sec video, Access OneDrive from Teams.


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