diff --git a/root/scripts/backup.sh b/root/scripts/backup.sh
index 3209830..a6b3b2a 100644
--- a/root/scripts/backup.sh
+++ b/root/scripts/backup.sh
@@ -179,6 +179,23 @@ function cleanup {
     fi
 }
 
+### operate docker containers
+function operateDocker {
+# determine action to take
+if [ "$1" = "stop" ]; then
+    echo -e "${op}${stamp} Stopping ${2}-mailcow container...${normal}" \
+        >> "$logFile"
+    docker-compose stop --timeout ${dockerStopTimeout} ${2}-mailcow \
+        >> "$logFile"
+    dockerResult=$(docker inspect -f '{{ .State.ExitCode }}' ${COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME}_${2}-mailcow_1)
+elif [ "$1" = "start" ]; then
+    echo -e "${op}${stamp} Starting ${2}-mailcow container...${normal}" \
+        >> "$logFile"
+    docker-compose start ${2}-mailcow >> "$logFile"
+    dockerResult=$(docker inspect -f '{{ .State.Running }}' ${COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME}_${2}-mailcow_1)
+fi
+}
+
 ### End of Functions ###