Utilizing user devices for backing up and retrieving data in a distributed backup system

A computer-implemented method of backing up multiple data files of a user across multiple computing devices associated with the user based on multiple data backup policies, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a data backup application executing on a specific computing device of the multiple computing devices, a request to backup a data file received at the specific computing device, each of the multiple computing devices configured to store a set of the data files that match with one or more of the data backup policies associated with the corresponding computing device;
• identifying, by the data backup application, a data backup policy of the data backup policies with which the data file matches;
• identifying, by the data backup application, a first computing device that is associated with the data backup policy;
• determining, by the data backup application, if the first computing device is in proximity to the specific computing device;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the first computing device is in proximity to the specific computing device, transmitting, by the data backup application, the data file to the first computing device.