# Quickstart (/docs/quickstart)

This guide takes you from a new account to a verified, encrypted backup that you can open yourself.

## Before you start [#before-you-start]

- A database that is reachable from the internet over TLS. See [Connecting a database](/docs/databases) for the requirements.
- A database user for backupd. A read-only user is enough to back up.

<Steps>
<Step>

### Create your account and workspace [#create-your-account-and-workspace]

Sign up with your name, email and a password. backupd then walks you through a short setup:

1. **Profile:** your full name and timezone.
2. **Role** and **Discovery:** a couple of questions about you.
3. **Workspace:** a **Workspace name** and a **Workspace URL**. A workspace holds your databases, backups, schedules and team. You can create more workspaces later from the workspace switcher.
4. **Goals:** the engines you run.
5. **Invite team:** optional. You can invite people later from **Settings → Members**.

</Step>
<Step>

### Choose a plan [#choose-a-plan]

A new workspace has no plan, so it can't back up yet. Open **Settings → Billing** and choose **Start 14-day trial** on Starter, or subscribe to Pro. See [Plans](/docs/billing).

</Step>
<Step>

### Connect a database [#connect-a-database]

Go to **Databases** and click **Add database**. In the **Connect a database** dialog:

1. Pick the **Engine**: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB or Convex.
2. Give it a **Name**, for example `production`.
3. Paste the **Connection string**. For Convex, choose **Convex Cloud** or **Self-hosted** and enter the deployment URL and key instead.
4. Pick a **Schedule** and how long to **Keep backups for**.
5. Click **Connect database**.

The connection string is encrypted before it is stored. Only the host is shown after you save.

</Step>
<Step>

### Run your first backup [#run-your-first-backup]

Scheduled backups start on the next slot of the schedule you picked. To back up right away, open the database and click **Backup now**, or use **Run your first backup** in the setup checklist on the **Overview** page.

The backup's page shows progress: **Connecting**, **Backing up**, **Uploading**, **Finishing**, then **Verifying** while the stored file is checked.

</Step>
<Step>

### Add your own key [#add-your-own-key]

Open **Settings → Encryption** and click **Add key**. Choose **Generate in browser**, then **Generate key pair**, and save the secret key with **Download key file** or copy it to your password manager.

From now on every new backup is also encrypted to your key, so you can decrypt it without backupd. See [Encryption keys](/docs/security/encryption-keys).

</Step>
<Step>

### Set up alerts [#set-up-alerts]

Open **Notifications** and click **Add channel** to get told about failed backups, failed restore tests and unreachable databases. See [Notifications](/docs/notifications).

</Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps [#next-steps]

- Check the first restore test on the backup's page. It runs on your plan's cadence, and the first backup of a database is always tested.
- On Pro, add [your own bucket](/docs/storage/destinations) to keep a second copy you control.
- Learn how to [restore without backupd](/docs/restoring/without-backupd).