diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d880a03..be64a08 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ ENV \
     #################
     SCHEDULE_BACKUP="R 2 * * *" \
     SCHEDULE_CLEANUP="R 4 * * *" \
-    FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY=3M \
-    BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME=6M \
-    KEEP_NUM_FULL_CHAINS=2 \
+    POLICY_FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY=1W \
+    POLICY_BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME=1M \
+    POLICY_KEEP_NUM_CHAINS=3 \
     \
     ######################
     # ADDITIONAL OPTIONS #
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 22a5c96..6c3649d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,13 +23,24 @@ backup:
 - backups the entire service data directory
 - stores all backup data on the host file system
 - daily incremental backups at night 
-- a new full backup once every 3 months
-- keeps backups up to 6 months old
-- keeps daily backups for two recent sets (3-6 months)
+- a new full backup once every week
+- keeps backups up to 1 month old
+- keeps daily backups for three recent sets (2-3 weeks)
 - backup jobs run at a random minute past 2 am
 
 Be aware though -- backups will use a fair bit of storage space!
 
+## Changes
+
+### Version `0.13`
+
+- **Changed default backup policy**
+- *old:* full backup 3 months, keep 6 months, keep 2 chains
+- *new:* full backup 1 week, keep 1 month, keep 3 chains
+- **Changed environment variable names**
+- *old:* `FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY`, `BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME`, `KEEP_NUM_FULL_CHAINS`
+- *new:* `POLICY_FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY`, `POLICY_BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME`, `POLICY_KEEP_NUM_CHAINS`
+
 ## Customization
 
 The kiwi-backup image allows for extensive customization even without creating a local image variant.
@@ -75,16 +86,16 @@ backup:
     SCHEDULE_CLEANUP: "R 4 * * *"
     
     # how often to opt for a full backup
-    # default: every 3 months
-    FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY: "3M"
+    # default: every week
+    POLICY_FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY: "1W"
 
     # how long to keep backups at all
-    # default: 6 months
-    BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME: "6M"
+    # default: 1 month
+    POLICY_BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME: "1M"
     
-    # how many full backup chains with incrementals to keep
-    # default: 2
-    KEEP_NUM_FULL_CHAINS: "2"
+    # how many backup chains with incrementals to keep
+    # default: 3
+    POLICY_KEEP_NUM_CHAINS: "3"
 ```
 
 ### Handling Secrets
diff --git a/libexec/kiwi-backup/build_command b/libexec/kiwi-backup/build_command
index 14cb7bc..450c469 100755
--- a/libexec/kiwi-backup/build_command
+++ b/libexec/kiwi-backup/build_command
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ case "${task}" in
   backup)
     printf ' --allow-source-mismatch'
     printf ' --volsize %s' "${BACKUP_VOLSIZE}"
-    printf ' --full-if-older-than %s' "${FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY}"
+    printf ' --full-if-older-than %s' "${POLICY_FULL_BACKUP_FREQUENCY}"
     printf '%s' "$( add_space "${OPTIONS_BACKUP}" )"
     printf ' %s' "${BACKUP_SOURCE}"
     ;;
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ case "${task}" in
     ;;
 
   rmfull)
-    printf ' remove-older-than %s' "${BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME}"
+    printf ' remove-older-than %s' "${POLICY_BACKUP_RETENTION_TIME}"
     printf ' --force'
     printf '%s' "$( add_space "${OPTIONS_RMFULL}" )"
     ;;
 
   rmincr)
-    printf ' remove-all-inc-of-but-n-full %s' "${KEEP_NUM_FULL_CHAINS}"
+    printf ' remove-all-inc-of-but-n-full %s' "${POLICY_KEEP_NUM_CHAINS}"
     printf ' --force'
     printf '%s' "$( add_space "${OPTIONS_RMINCR}" )"
     ;;