Parent backup application driving of children backup applications is described. An instruction for a child backup application to execute a child backup task is communicated from a parent backup application to the child backup application. An instruction for a second child backup application to execute a second child backup task may be communicated from the parent backup application to the second child backup application. An execution of the child backup task by the child backup application is communicated from the child backup application to a parent backup application. An execution of the second child backup task by the second child backup application may be communicated from the second child backup application to the parent backup application. A parent backup task is executed by the parent backup application. At least one child backup application inherently lacks a functionality to execute the parent backup task as the parent backup application executes the parent backup task.