DOCUMENTATION

EVERYTHING YOU NEED, NOTHING YOU DON'T

How to install, configure, and operate VaultGuard Backup.

Documentation written by the person who built the software. If something isn't covered here, [email customer service] and I'll either answer directly or update the docs so the next person finds the answer faster.

Page Intro

This is the table of contents. Each section below is a topic — most are real articles you can read now; some are stubs that I'll fill in as customers ask questions about them.

VaultGuard documentation grows with the product. If you find a gap, it's probably not because the question wasn't worth answering — it's because nobody's asked it yet. Email me and we'll fix it together.

Getting Started

The basics. Most VaultGuard users only need the articles in this section.

[Installation guide] Download VaultGuard, verify the signed binary, and run the .exe for the first time. Covers the SmartScreen warning you might see during the first weeks of release.

[First-launch checklist] The Getting Started tab walks you through five steps the first time you launch VaultGuard. This article expands on each step.

[Setting up your first backup] Pick a backup target, configure a schedule, run your first backup, and confirm it succeeded.

[Setting up your first restore test] The single most important thing you'll ever do with backup software. Walk through a test restore on a non-critical file before you ever need a real one.

Configuration

[Backup targets — drives, network shares, and cloud-sync folders] What works as a backup target, what doesn't, what to watch out for.

[Backup schedules and Task Scheduler] How VaultGuard registers scheduled backup jobs through Windows Task Scheduler, and how to confirm they're running. Includes the Wake-To-Run option.

[Cloud copy setup] How to point VaultGuard at any cloud storage provider's local sync folder so your backups are mirrored off-site automatically.

[Email alert configuration] Configuring SMTP-based alerts for backup events. VaultGuard's email alerts are routed through a managed relay so you don't need to provide your own SMTP credentials.

[Optional administrator passphrase] How to set up the optional admin passphrase for compliance or shared-workstation environments. Includes guidance on choosing a passphrase that meets NIST SP 800-63B requirements.

[Optional two-factor authentication] How to add a 2FA layer to administrative actions. Includes the QR code provisioning step and a list of compatible authenticator apps.

[Machine and client identity fields] Setting a machine name and a client name in VaultGuard's configuration so backups are clearly identified across multiple sites.

Restoring Data

[File-level restore] Recovering individual files or folders from a backup without rolling back your entire system.

[Full system restore] Booting into Windows Recovery Environment and restoring a complete system image after catastrophic data loss, hardware replacement, or ransomware.

[Cloud restore] Restoring from your off-site cloud copy when your local backup target is gone.

[Reading the manifest verification result] What VaultGuard tells you about your backup's integrity, and what to do when verification fails.

[The "Check Backup" function on the Restore tab] What the ransomware-extension scan checks for, what a positive result means, and how to decide which backup to restore from.

Security And Compliance

[Verifying the VaultGuard binary] How to verify the SHA-256 hash and code signature of the VaultGuard executable before running it.

[Where VaultGuard stores its data] The contents of C:\ProgramData\VaultGuardBackup\ and the ACL permissions that protect it.

[The license server, hardware fingerprinting, and offline grace period] How license validation works, what data is transmitted, and what happens if VaultGuard can't reach the license server.

[Email alerts and the relay infrastructure] What information passes through the email alert relay on its way to your inbox, and the privacy implications.

[HIPAA considerations for VaultGuard users] A practical guide for medical and dental offices using VaultGuard. Includes Business Associate Agreement guidance.

Troubleshooting

[Common wbadmin error codes] What each wbadmin exit code means, in plain English, and what to do about it.

[Backup failed — diagnostic checklist] A step-by-step walkthrough for diagnosing a failed backup, before you email support.

[Manifest verification failed — what now?] What it means when manifest verification fails, what likely caused it, and how to recover safely.

[Drive health warnings] Interpreting SMART warnings, chkdsk results, and drive age tracking notifications.

[Cloud copy didn't run] Diagnosing why your cloud sync folder isn't getting the latest backup.

[License validation failed] What to do when VaultGuard can't activate or re-validate your license.

[Reading VaultGuard's logs] How to read the diagnostic logs in C:\ProgramData\VaultGuardBackup\ and what to include when you email support.

Reference

[Configuration file reference] Full schema for VaultGuard's configuration file, with each field explained.

[Command-line options] For administrators automating VaultGuard across multiple machines.

[Glossary] Terms used throughout VaultGuard and the documentation — manifest, hash, fingerprint, activation, grace period, and others.

[System requirements] Supported Windows versions, hardware requirements, and prerequisites.

What's Missing?

If you're looking for something that isn't documented here, email customerservice@informationsecuritykentucky.com and tell me what you needed. Documentation gaps are bugs — I treat them that way.