Add configuration options for serialization

**Feature request**
It would be great to have backup for helpers.

**Use case**
Many users need this functionality for production deployments.

**Implementation idea**
Add a new config option `enable_backup` with default `false`.

No files, tests, or entry points are identified. Start by locating the configuration definitions and the serialization or helper-backup code, then determine how configuration defaults are tested. Done should include an `enable_backup` option defaulting to `false` and verified backup behavior for the intended helpers.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.