Obtaining backups using a portable storage device

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer software that obtains, at a backup site, backup data from a client using a portable storage device, We backup site and the client being coupled to a network, the software comprising:

• executable code that receives a request from the client for a full backup data operation according to a backup service subscription of the client;
• executable code that determines whether to perform the full backup data operation using the network or using the portable storage device according to characteristics of the backup service subscription;
• executable code that, when it is determined to perform the full backup data operation using the network, initiates a network operation to copy full backup data from the client to the backup site via the network;
• executable code that, when it is determined to perform the full backup data operation using the portable storage device, performs the following:
• selects the portable storage device, the portable storage device being selected in accordance with the characteristics of the backup service subscription;
• correlates, at the backup site, the portable storage device with the client using a correlation device, wherein the correlating further includes providing a first key known to the backup site;
• prepares the portable storage device for shipping from the backup site to the client;
• receives, at the backup site, the portable storage device from the client, wherein the portable storage device is returned from the client and includes the full backup data, the full backup data having been copied from the client to the portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device received at the backup site includes data associated with the full backup data that is encrypted using the first key and at least a portion of the full backup data that is encrypted using a second key that is not known to the backup site;
• matches the portable storage device having the full backup data to the client using the correlation device;
• and
• uploads the full backup data for the client from the portable storage device to the backup site via a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site, wherein the direct coupling is separate from the network, wherein the portion of the full backup data encrypted using the second key is stored at the backup site in encrypted form;
• and
• executable code that, after obtaining the full backup data on We backup site, causes at least one incremental backup to be performed from the client to the backup site through the network, wherein the at least one incremental backup is based on at least one difference between data on the client site and the prior full backup data on the backup site.

A system that backs up data, comprising:

• at least one client coupled to a network;
• a backup site, coupled to the network to receive data from the at least one client;
• a portable storage device that contains full backup data from the at least one client and provides the flail backup data to the backup site;
• and
• at least one computer readable medium storing software that includes:
• executable code that receives a request from the client for a full backup data operation according to a backup service subscription of the client;
• executable code that determines whether to perform the full backup data operation using the network or using the portable storage device according to characteristics of the backup service subscription;
• executable code that, when it is determined to perform the full backup data operation using the network, initiates a network operation to copy full backup data from the client to the backup site via the network;
• executable code that, when it is determined to perform the full backup data operation using the portable storage device, performs the following:
• selects the portable storage device, the portable storage device being selected in accordance with the characteristics of the backup service subscription;
• correlates, at the backup site, the portable storage device with the client using a correlation device, wherein the correlating includes the backup site providing a first key;
• prepares the portable storage device for physical shipping from the backup site to the client;
• copies the full backup data from the client to the portable storage device wherein the copying to the portable storage device includes encrypting data associated with the full backup data using the first key and encrypting at least a portion of the full backup data using a second key that is not known to the backup site;
• receives, at the backup site, the portable storage device from the client, wherein the portable storage device is return from the client and includes the full backup data;
• matches the portable storage device having the full backup data to the client using the correlation device;
• and
• uploads the full backup data for the client from the portable storage device to the back site via a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site, wherein the direct coupling is separate from the network, wherein the portion of the full backup data encrypted using the second key is stored at the backup site in encrypted form,
• wherein at least one incremental backup is performed from the at least client to the backup site through the network after providing the full backup data to the backup site, and wherein the at least one incremental backup is based on at least one difference between data on the client site and the prior full backup data on the backup site.