A computing device for backing up virtual machine data includes a persistent storage and a backup initiator. The persistent storage stores virtual machine priority groupings and backup policies associated with the virtual machine priority groupings. The backup initiator obtains write rates of virtual machines; divides the virtual machines into priority groups based on the obtained write rates; updates the virtual machine priority groupings based on the priority groups; and performs a backup of the virtual machine data based on the backup policies using the updated virtual machine priority groupings.