---
title: "Configuration Workflow for Scheduling Snapshots"
slug: "configuration-workflow-for-scheduling-snapshots"
tags: ["5.4"]
updated: 2026-10-28T01:53:46Z
published: 2026-10-28T01:53:46Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/configuration-workflow-for-scheduling-snapshots"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuration Workflow for Scheduling Snapshots

This workflow schedules snapshots as local backups without replication to a remote peer. However, you can choose to combine a local backup schedule with either S3 backup, with asynchronous or synchronous replication to a remote peer:

- To take snapshots for local backup and back up those same snapshots to S3, follow the [configuration workflow for S3 backup](/docs-5-4/docs/en/configuration-workflow-for-backup-to-s3). Configuration Workflow for Backup to S3
- To take snapshots for local backup and back up those same snapshots to an asynchronous replication peer (cluster), follow the [configuration workflow for asynchronous replication](/docs-5-4/docs/en/async-replication-configuration-workflows).Async Replication Configuration Workflows
- To take snapshots for local backup and back up those same snapshots synchronously to a replication peer, follow the configuration workflow for [synchronous replication](/docs-5-4/docs/en/s3-synchronous-replication).

To configure scheduled snapshots for local backup:

1. Create a *protection policy*. See [Managing Protection Policies](/docs-5-4/docs/en/managing-protection-policies).Managing Protection Policies

A protection policy specifies a starting time and a frequency for taking snapshots. It also specifies how long to retain snapshots on the cluster.
2. Create a *local protected path*. See [Managing Protected Paths](/docs-5-4/docs/en/managing-protected-paths).Managing Protected Paths

The protected path defines a local data path to capture in snapshots according to a specified protection policy. A protected path is activated on creation.