Configure device backup settings

Overview

This article outlines how to use the Code42 console to define end-user device backup settings.

Configuring these settings allows you to fine-tune many aspects of collecting files for data protection, including:

• User device settings related to timing of backups, CPU usage, and bandwidth allocation
• Specific file paths and file types to include or exclude from backups
• Timing and thresholds for sending alerts
• Network bandwidth limits

Videos

Watch the video below for an overview of device backup settings. 

Watch the video below to learn about the general device backup settings. 

For more videos, visit the Code42 University. 

Before you begin

The default backup settings serve as a foundation for defining backup policies in a wide array of environments. Before configuring your device backup settings, review our considerations for defining your backup policies.

Considerations

• Most options in this article require administrative privileges to configure.
• This content does not apply to the insider risk agent.

Backup settings

You can use the Code42 console to define end-user backup settings at an organization or device level.

Set device defaults

When you set device default settings, you predefine the settings for endpoint devices. The settings can be set at the organization or device level.

Organization-level settings

Organization settings apply only to users within a single organization. For example, you can create an executive organization that does not have a limit on the amount of data that can be stored. All other non-executive organizations could be restricted to a set amount of data storage.

Disabled inheritance
If you disable inheritance for an organization, that organization is not affected by changes to its parent organization.

To apply settings to an individual organization:

1. From the Code42 console, select Administration > Environment > Organizations.
2. Select an organization.
3. Click Actions > Device backup defaults.

4. Select from the tabs to configure specific settings:

   • General: Specify client settings related to CPU power and bandwidth allocation, device backup alert thresholds, and file exclusions.
   • Backup: Define how and when backup operations take place, what files to include and exclude from backup, the frequency of backup, and how long to retain file versions. 
   • Reporting: Specify when and what reports are sent and to whom.
   • Security: Set the default encryption key policy. After the encryption policy is elevated, upgraded Code42 environments can never downgrade their policy.
   • Network: Control connection performance settings for WAN and LAN networks, exclude wireless networks, exclude network interfaces, or configure proxy settings.

   

Device-level settings

To apply settings to an individual device:

1. From the Code42 console, select Administration > Environment > Agents.
2. Select an agent.
3. Click Actions > Edit device backup defaults. 
4. Select from the tabs to configure specific settings.
   The Device Level Settings provides the same tabbed options as described in Organization-level settings above. The difference is that these settings apply only to a single device.

Push and lock settings

Settings can be pushed to users as suggested defaults. You can also lock settings to prevent end users from changing them.

• Saving a setting applies it for new devices in the future. Saving settings does not affect any existing devices.
• Pushing a setting changes it on user devices, but still allows users to change the setting later.
• Locking a setting pushes it out to user devices and also prevents users from changing the setting later.

Learn more about applying settings.

Apply settings considerations

• When editing settings for a single device, any changes are automatically pushed to that device.
• When you push or lock settings to many devices at once, updates can take some time to reach all devices. If an ongoing update is in process, messaging appears indicating the status of device updates. If you change additional settings, they will be added to the update queue.
• You need to turn off inherit settings from the parent before you can change settings for organizations.
• When you push or lock, a confirmation dialog appears asking to apply the settings to organizations, for example:
  • Only <number> inheriting organizations including <number> devices
    Change the setting in inheriting organizations and the selected organization.
  • All <number> organizations including <number> devices
    Change the setting in all organizations.
    

Turn off device defaults from parent

By default, organizations are set to inherit settings from the parent organization. For example, organizations inherit settings from the system-wide defaults, child organizations inherit settings from the parent organization, and devices inherit settings from the organizations to which their users belong.

You can only edit an individual organization's device settings if it is not using the device defaults from parent. If the organization inherits settings from its parent organization, then you can view the values established at the parent level, but you cannot change them.

To turn off inherited settings for an organization's devices (and enable changes):

1. From the Code42 console, select Administration > Environment > Organizations.
2. Select an organization.
3. Click Edit. 
4. Select Device backup defaults.
5. Select General.
6. Deselect the box next to Use device defaults from parent.
7. Click Save to apply changes.

Additional information about inherited organization settings is available in the Organizations reference.

Related topics

• Backup sets
• Considerations for defining your backup policies
• Organizations - Device Backup Defaults - General settings reference
• Organizations - Device Backup Defaults - Backup settings reference
• Organizations - Device Backup Defaults - Network settings reference