How to Use the Image Retention Policy to Efficiently Manage Storage Space?

As a key part of Hasleo Backup Suite, the image retention policy manages the lifecycle of backup files. It automatically deletes or merges old backups based on customizable rules, efficiently freeing up valuable storage space. This article provides a detailed introduction of the Hasleo Backup Suite's image retention policy and demonstrates how to use it to efficiently manage storage space.

• Overview of image retention policy in Hasleo Backup Suite
• Best Windows Backup Software — Hasleo Backup Suite
• How to Use the Image Retention Policy to Efficiently Manage Storage Space?
• Summary

Overview of image retention policy in Hasleo Backup Suite

The image retention policy refers to a set of rules used to automatically manage image versions. It specifies which versions to retain and which to delete or merge, with the core goal of balancing storage space and management efficiency. The image retention policy in Hasleo Backup Suite applies to both manual and automatic backups. It allows you to retain only the latest backup version. Upon completion of a new backup, the program will automatically merge or delete older versions based on your rules to save storage space. In addition, it offers the following advantages:

1. Reduce storage costs: Saving storage space means you don't need to frequently purchase large-capacity hard drives or upgrade storage devices, thereby saving on storage expenses.
2. Enhance backup and restore performance: Reducing the size and number of backup versions can shorten backup time and speed up the restore process.
3. Simplified operation and maintenance management: The image retention policy standardizes the management of backup file lifecycles, keeping the entire backup repository organized and easy to maintain.

If configured improperly, retention policies may automatically delete critical backup files, resulting in data loss. Please carefully review the following points before proceeding.

1. It is essential to recognize the importance of your backup files. To prevent accidental deletion, you should set different retention periods or quantities based on their different importance levels.
2. When a full backup is deleted, all differential and incremental backups in the backup chain based on it will also be deleted.
3. If a differential backup is deleted, all subsequent incremental backups that depend on it within the backup chain will also be lost.
4. When deleting incremental backups, the program uses both image deletion and image merge methods to ensure that the backup chain associated with this backup is not broken.
5. When the "Always retain the first backup" option is enabled, the first backup file (full backup) of the backup task will not be affected by the retention policy for images.

* Tips: The differences and connections between full, differential, and incremental backups are explained in detail in our guide: How to Create Full/Incremental/Differential Backups in Windows Using Hasleo Backup Suite Free?

Best Windows Backup Software — Hasleo Backup Suite

Hasleo Backup Suite, as professional backup software, provides a flexible image retention policy, which is one of its powerful backup features. At the same time, it also supports restoring and cloning Windows OS, disks/partitions, and files/folders. Moreover, Hasleo Backup Suite offers a free version with powerful features. For advanced needs, the Professional edition includes features like Delta Clone and Clone as MBR/GPT, making it the best choice for your backups. Here are the notable features of Hasleo Backup Suite:

1. Comprehensive and powerful free edition: Its backup and restore features let you create system images effortlessly and recover from crashes instantly, while the cloning function promotes seamless data migration.
2. Advanced technology and excellent performance: Compatible with all Windows PCs and servers, it supports Windows x86/x64 and ARM64 architectures. It boots in both UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes, ensures safe and stable program running, and operates with high efficiency and low power consumption.
3. Multiple backup modes: It supports full, incremental and differential backups. Following an initial full backup, both incremental and differential backups save time and storage space by only copying the data that has changed.
4. Features compression and encryption: It allows you to compress backup images to save disk space and encrypt them to protect your important data.
5. Practical Toolbox: Here you can access advanced features like creating a WinPE emergency disk, merging backup images, and securely wiping disks.
6. Intuitive and user-friendly interface: The interface design is clear, with the main functions immediately obvious, and guided prompts allow even beginners to get started quickly.

How to Use the Image Retention Policy to Efficiently Manage Storage Space?

Step 1. Download, install, and run Hasleo Backup Suite Free. Click the "Backup" button in the navigation bar, then select "System Backup", "Disk/Partition Backup", or "File Backup" in the operation area.

Step 2. Select the system, disks/partitions, or files/folders you want to back up. Then customize the task name and destination location as needed. Click "Backup schedules" to open the settings interface.

You can also go to "Backup options" and select "Space" from the left navigation panel. Then, locate the "Image retention policy" section and click the "Edit" button.

* If you choose "System Backup", Hasleo Backup Suite Free will automatically select all partitions required for a Windows system backup.

* Tips:

1. Task name: Specify a task name so that you can quickly find and manage your backup task later.
2. Description: Briefly describe the purpose of the task and any other relevant information.
3. Destination: Modify the destination path where the backup image files will be stored by clicking the folder icon.
4. Backup options: Advanced backup settings. For more details, please refer to Backup options.
5. Backup schedule: Set up backup schedules to automatically perform your backup tasks on a regular basis. For more details, please refer to Backup schedule.

Step 3. You can configure individual retention periods or quantities for each backup mode in this task. Before saving with "OK", we recommend enabling the "Always retain the first backup" option. This ensures the first backup file (full backup) is exempted from your image retention policy.

Step 4. Once you click "Save", Hasleo Backup Suite Free will automatically perform the backup task at your specified time, and then merge or delete backup images according to your settings.

Summary

Hasleo Backup Suite offers a practical image retention policy to effectively manage your backup lifecycle, ensuring data security while optimizing storage utilization. Beyond core backup and restore functions, the software supports backup file compression, encryption, and Delta cloning/restoring of the system, making it an all-in-one Windows backup software. What are you waiting for? Download it for free and try it now!