Patent ID: 8862689

Claim:
A method for providing continuous data protection (CDP) in a system comprising at least one CDP client, at least one remote server having storage for storing backed up data from the at least one CDP client, and a network for connecting the at least one CDP client and the at least one remote server, the CDP client having local hard drive storage for storing data locally to the at least one CDP client and further having local flash memory for storing backup data locally to the at least one CDP client, the method, at the at least one CDP client, comprising the steps of: a. submitting updated data for writing to the local hard drive storage, the hard drive storage being a primary storage location; b. determining, in response to the submitting of the updated data, and before writing to the local hard drive storage, whether there is a network connection present between the CDP client and the remote server for transmitting the updated data from the CPD client to the remote server for backup purposes; c. if there is no network connection present, storing the updated data to the local flash memory, the local flash memory being a hardware component that is separate from the local hard drive that operates as a secondary storage location; and d. if there is a network connection present, sending the updated data to the remote server for backup purposes.