Backing up data from a client includes providing a direct coupling between the client and a portable storage device, copying full backup data from the client to the portable storage device using the direct coupling, and performing at least one incremental backup from the client to the backup site through a network that is separate from the direct coupling. The at least one incremental backup is based on the prior full backup. The network may be the Internet. Following copying full backup data to the portable storage device, the portable storage device may be shipped from the client to the backup site. The direct coupling may be USB, Firewire, or eSATA. Only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset may be copied from the client to the portable storage device.