A method of handling a backup process comprises receiving an instruction initiating a backup process from a source storage volume to a target storage volume, identifying the type of backup process as either a full backup process intended to make a complete copy of the source storage volume on the target storage volume or a fractional backup process intended to make a copy of data changed on the source storage volume on the target storage volume, and if a cascade exists for the identified backup process type, adding the target storage volume to the existing cascade for the identified backup process type, or if a cascade does not exist for the identified backup process type, starting a new cascade of the target storage volume from the source storage volume.