Yet some have been quick to note that while refusing to back up large files will obviously make backups faster, it also eliminates one of the most important functions of a business backup service.īusinesses rely on complete protection for their data, applications, and system in order to maintain business continuity and facilitate future growth. In an email to users, Code42 explains that these newly announced file exclusions to CrashPlan for Small Business are a way to achieve “faster restores, syncs, and backups” – a move that made them similar to their competitor Backblaze, which also excludes VM images files and other large file types. Why CrashPlan is implementing these file exclusions (and why it’s a problem) CrashPlan’s file exclusions and failure of trust leave these MSPs and all the customers they support vulnerable to data loss and unable to confidently defend their business. What’s worse is that several users on Reddit reported that CrashPlan deleted those file types from their backups without warning – wiping out entire backup histories and leaving many of their clients, including managed service providers (MSPs) who are responsible for the secure management of customer data, without any backups of their business critical data.įor MSPs who serve small business owners that need a trustworthy way to restore their data – including the apps and systems that keep their companies running – CrashPlan betrayed the trust the service provider had with the small business owner in one fell swoop. documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.” without the ability to restore any of the applications that run them, the backup files that protect them, or the VM images that they spin up to and test on.

(A full list of file types included in this wave of file exclusions is available here.)Įssentially, these new file exclusions leave CrashPlan users with the ability to back up and restore specific file types “e.g. These file exclusions include application data, virtual machine images, backup files, system files, cookies, caches, and more – effective immediately. Last week Code42 announced that it was excluding a wide variety of file types from CrashPlan for Small Business, their online data backup solution.

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