A method for scheduling a backup of digital data includes determining whether a backup has previously been performed within a predetermined period. It is then determined whether a connection to a backup server is available. It is then decided whether to initiate a backup of digital data within a present time slot based at least in part on a randomly generated value when it is determined that a backup has not previously been performed within the predetermined period and it is determined that a connection to the backup server is available. The digital data is backed up to the backup server when it is decided that the data backup is to be initiated.