the data stored in the desktop data store 104 to a backup system 114 alternatively these database files may reside in the desktop data store 104 of a computer 102 that is connected to the network 112 on a regular basis in this particular scenario the computer may be configured to backup its files and or messages to the backup system 114 in one of several ways one backup mode entails backing up the original file 132 to the backup system 114 e g a network server immediately as changes to the original file 132 occur in real time another mode is dependent on the user to manually backup the files to the backup system 114 at the user 39 s convenience yet another mode involves the backing up of files according to a predefined schedule the invention is capable of monitoring several types of database files 130 including but not limited to microsoft outlook pst personal folder files microsoft exchange database files microsoft offline personal folder files known as ost files because these files carry the extension u201c ost u201d and the like microsoft outlook may be configured to operate in a u201c cached exchange mode u201d that enables the application to synchronize messages with microsoft exchange by utilizing ost files more.