1. A method comprising: initiating execution of a plurality of virtual machines, wherein each of the plurality of virtual machines comprises at least one respective virtual volume of a plurality of virtual volumes, wherein each of the plurality of virtual volumes corresponds to a respective file, wherein the files are stored on one or more host volumes; accessing the plurality of virtual volumes through a central computer system; and using the central computer system to backup data from the plurality of virtual volumes independent of execution of the plurality of virtual machines, thereby bypassing the plurality of virtual machines, wherein using the central computer system to backup the data comprises: generating snapshots of the one or more host volumes; locating the files corresponding to the plurality of virtual volumes in the snapshots of the one or more host volumes; and sending at least a subset of data from the files corresponding to the plurality of virtual volumes to a backup engine.