---
title: "Document Engine Backup and recovery | Nutrient"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/deployment/backup-and-recovery/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/deployment/backup-and-recovery.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-23T00:08:18.039Z"
description: "Before deploying Document Engine in a production environment, set up a backup strategy with scheduled automated backups and a tested disaster recovery plan."
---

# Backup and recovery

Before deploying Document Engine in a production environment, set up a backup strategy with scheduled automated backups and a tested disaster recovery plan.

Document Engine uses PostgreSQL as a data store, while binary assets including PDFs are stored in a Docker volume. You need to make backups of both.

## PostgreSQL

We recommend using managed databases and relying on the vendor-specific backup management.

## Assets

### Built-in storage

When you use the built-in storage option, all assets are backed up with the [PostgreSQL backup](#postgresql).

### S3

Using the S3-compatible backend means you need a separate backup routine, but consider that:

- As Document Engine stores files by their SHA checksums, most of the time, a daily, incremental backup will suffice.

- You should schedule the asset storage backup right after the PostgreSQL database backup to prevent data from drifting between the two.

---

## Related pages

- [Deploying to Amazon Web Services](/guides/document-engine/deployment/aws.md)
- [Choose a Docker registry](/guides/document-engine/deployment/docker-registry.md)
- [Horizontal scaling](/guides/document-engine/deployment/horizontal-scaling.md)
- [Deploying to Google Cloud Platform](/guides/document-engine/deployment/google-cloud-platform.md)
- [Deploying on Kubernetes with Helm](/guides/document-engine/deployment/helm.md)
- [Application-specific timeouts](/guides/document-engine/deployment/ingress.md)
- [Document Engine deployment overview](/guides/document-engine/deployment.md)
- [Product activation](/guides/document-engine/deployment/product-activation.md)
- [Deploying to Microsoft Azure](/guides/document-engine/deployment/microsoft-azure-aks.md)
- [Deploying on Kubernetes](/guides/document-engine/deployment/kubernetes.md)