Backup and Restore

CareLog provides comprehensive backup and restore capabilities to protect patient data and ensure business continuity.

Overview

The backup system in CareLog:

• Creates automatic daily backups
• Allows manual backup creation
• Stores backups securely in data/backups/
• Maintains backup history
• Supports full system restoration

Backup Types

Automatic Backups

Features:

• Scheduled daily backups
• Configurable backup time
• Automatic retention management
• Background processing
• No user intervention required

Default Schedule:

• Daily at midnight (configurable)
• Retains last 30 days (configurable)
• Automatic cleanup of old backups

Manual Backups

Features:

• On-demand backup creation
• Immediate execution
• Named with timestamp
• Available through Admin Dashboard
• Useful before major changes

When to Use:

• Before system updates
• Before bulk data operations
• Before configuration changes
• For special archival purposes
• Before user training sessions

Creating Backups

Via Admin Dashboard

1. Log in as Hospital Admin
2. Navigate to System Management
3. Select Backup & Restore
4. Click Create Backup Now
5. Wait for confirmation

Backup Contents

Backups include:

• All user accounts
• Patient records
• Health logs
• Diagnoses and prescriptions
• Emergency call history
• Appointments
• Feedback entries
• System configuration

Excluded:

• Audit logs (separate archival)
• Temporary session data
• Cache files
• Log files

Backup Storage

Location

Backups are stored in: data/backups/

File Format

• JSON format for data portability
• Compressed files (optional)
• Timestamped filenames
• Example: backup_2025-10-29_14-30-00.json

Security

• Backups contain sensitive data
• Store in secure location
• Restrict file access
• Encrypt for offsite storage
• Include in security policies

Restoring from Backup

Restoration Process

1. Stop the CareLog application
2. Locate the backup file in data/backups/
3. Copy desired backup file
4. Replace data/data.json with backup file
5. Restart CareLog application

Verification

After restoration:

1. Verify user login works
2. Check patient record count
3. Validate data integrity
4. Review audit logs
5. Test critical workflows

Caution

DANGER

Warning: Restoration replaces current data!

• All data since the backup will be lost
• Users added after backup won't exist
• Changes made after backup are lost
• Always create a current backup first

Backup Management

Retention Policy

Default:

• Keep 30 daily backups
• Monthly backups for 1 year
• Annual backups indefinitely

Customization:

• Adjust retention periods
• Configure storage limits
• Set cleanup schedules

Backup Verification

Regular verification tasks:

1. Weekly: Check backup completion
2. Monthly: Verify backup file integrity
3. Quarterly: Test restoration process
4. Annually: Full disaster recovery drill

Disaster Recovery

Recovery Time Objective (RTO)

Target: 1 hour

• Time to restore system from backup
• Includes verification steps

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

Target: 24 hours

• Maximum acceptable data loss
• Based on daily backup schedule
• Consider more frequent backups for critical systems

Recovery Procedures

1. Assess Damage

   • Identify what data is affected
   • Determine restoration point
   • Document the incident

2. Prepare Environment

   • Ensure system requirements met
   • Verify backup file available
   • Stop running services

3. Restore Data

   • Copy backup to data directory
   • Verify file integrity
   • Restart application

4. Verify System

   • Test all user roles
   • Verify data completeness
   • Check system functionality

5. Document Recovery

   • Record restoration details
   • Update incident log
   • Review lessons learned

Offsite Backups

Best Practices

1. Regular Offsite Copies

   • Copy backups to separate location
   • Use cloud storage or external drives
   • Automate offsite replication

2. Encryption

   • Encrypt offsite backups
   • Secure encryption keys
   • Document encryption method

3. Testing

   • Test offsite backup restoration
   • Verify data accessibility
   • Document restoration procedures

Automation

Backup Service

CareLog includes a backup service that:

• Runs in the background
• Executes scheduled backups
• Manages backup retention
• Logs backup operations
• Alerts on failures

Configuration

Configure backup settings:

• Backup frequency
• Retention period
• Storage location
• Compression options
• Email notifications

Monitoring

Admin Dashboard

View backup status:

• Last backup date/time
• Backup success/failure
• Backup file size
• Available disk space
• Backup history

Alerts

Set up alerts for:

• Backup failures
• Low disk space
• Missing scheduled backups
• Corruption detection

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Backup Failed:

• Check disk space
• Verify write permissions
• Review error logs
• Check system resources

Restore Failed:

• Verify backup file integrity
• Check JSON format
• Ensure sufficient disk space
• Review error messages

Missing Backups:

• Verify backup service running
• Check scheduled task
• Review error logs
• Confirm storage location

Compliance

Backup and restore procedures support:

• Healthcare data protection regulations
• Business continuity requirements
• Disaster recovery standards
• Data retention policies

Best Practices

1. Regular Backups

   • Enable automatic daily backups
   • Create manual backups before changes
   • Verify backup completion

2. Testing

   • Test restoration quarterly
   • Document procedures
   • Train staff on recovery

3. Security

   • Encrypt offsite backups
   • Restrict backup access
   • Secure backup storage

4. Monitoring

   • Check backup status daily
   • Monitor disk space
   • Review backup logs

5. Documentation

   • Document backup procedures
   • Maintain recovery playbook
   • Update contact information

Related Features

• Security Best Practices
• Audit Logs