Techniques to back up a cluster resource are disclosed. In various embodiments, an active cluster node is used to take and store persistently on a cluster shared volume a snapshot of the cluster shared volume. The persistent snapshot is used to back up the cluster shared volume, including by storing checkpoint information indicating as the backup progresses which portions of the snapshot have been backed up. A cluster environment with which the cluster shared volume is associated is monitored to detect any failover or failback affecting the backup.