How to backup whole directory over SSH and keep permissions?

[Francis Potter]

I'm trying to use rsync to backup a whole system from one machine to another
over SSH. I'd like to retain the permissions and groups so I can recover
part of the directory. The problem is, the machines are both set up to
prohibit root logins over SSH (for security), and of course rsync can't set
the owners on files if it's not root. Is it possible? What's the right way
to do this? Thanks in advance.

--- Francis Potter