---
title: "Passphrase Protecting Backups"
slug: "passphrase-protecting-backups-5-1"
tags: ["Portal", "8.3"]
updated: 2025-11-30T08:38:36Z
published: 2025-11-30T08:38:36Z
canonical: "kb.ctera.com/passphrase-protecting-backups-5-1"
---

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

# Passphrase Protecting Backups

When you first connect a CTERA Agent to the CTERA Portal, as part of the initial configuration, you can specify a passphrase to protect your backups. For example, when first connecting an agent running on a Windows platform to a CTERA Portal: ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-8O1Q73VH.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D) You can use an automatically generated encryption key or set your own passphrase. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-0KMQKG5F.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D)

**Note**

You can only set the passphrase when setting up the cloud backup for the first time.

If a passphrase is set, then when trying to access the backups for that device, you are prompted for the passphrase: ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-L9D7O7QX.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D)

**Note**

Remember to keep the passphrase in a safe place. If lost, it cannot be recovered.

## Changing a Device Backup's Passphrase

If your backup is passphrase protected, you are prompted for the passphrase in order to access the backup.

A lock icon ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-TL2I8SHC.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D) indicates that the backup is passphrase protected. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-4O2Z4CW6.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D)

**To change the passphrase:**

1. In the **BACKUPS** page, for the passphrase protected backup, click the passphrase icon ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-TL2I8SHC.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A41%3A28Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A41%3A28Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ss3jB2yw%2BSH2v3U%2BILeDOOwMLS%2BQTmtB2gRmrwh9nTo%3D).  

The **Change passphrase** window is displayed.
2. Enter the existing password and then the new password and its confirmation.

**Note**

Remember to keep your passphrase in a safe place. If lost, it cannot be recovered.