Best practices for file exclusions and preservation policies

Overview

The Code42 console includes many ways to exclude files from being backed up. Each setting applies to different backup archives or group of users. Certain file exclusion settings apply to preservation policies, which are used in legal holds. This article explains how to configure file exclusions in your Code42 environment so that the exclusions do not also apply to legal holds. 

Considerations

Filename exclusions added under the Global Exclusions in the Code42 console also apply to all preservation policies. This means that those files will not be kept under legal hold. 

For more flexibility around which files are excluded for users under legal hold, add file exclusions at the organization level. These file exclusions do not automatically apply to preservation policies.

Before you begin

The steps below describe where to find the correct settings in your Code42 environment. However, there are several ways to use these settings to specify which files and folders are excluded from backup archives, but not legal holds:   

  • Use substitution variables
  • Specify filename patterns using wildcards
  • Specify file extensions to exclude
  • Use regular expressions

Learn more about how to use these methods to include and exclude files

Exclude files under Device Default Settings

Use this option if:

  • You have already set global exclusions
  • You want to make sure that a certain file type is excluded from all backups
  1. Sign in to the Code42 console.
  2. Select Administration > Environment > Organizations.
  3. Select an organization.
    The organization's details appear.
  4. From the Actions menu, select Device backup defaults.
  5. Select the Backup tab.
  6. Browse to Filename Exclusions.
  7. Enter filename patterns, or enter regular expressions (regex) to exclude from backup.
  8. Click General, browse to Global Exclusions, and remove all exclusions.