QUESTION  Why are some files always excluded from backup?

On the Backup Exclusions tab of the Backup Exclusions page, some paths are selected for exclusion from backup. I can't deselect them! Why not?

ANSWER  The permanently excluded paths are not useful to back up and will slow down the backup process.

File Protection excludes these paths for several reasons, all of which support a more efficient experience:

• File Protection is intended to back up your files. The excluded files have little value in a file-based backup, as they cannot be restored from a backup and actually function. If you wish to back up your device image, please see Datto's business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) offerings.
• Including these paths would only congest the backup process for the files that actually matter. If the service were to spend time backing up the excluded files, the files you actually need to back up would be sitting in a queue...not getting backed up.
• Backing up the excluded items would not only waste bandwidth, but needlessly consume RAM and CPU cycles on your device.

If you'd like to know which specific files are excluded, please refer to How can I find out exactly which files are excluded from backup?

NOTE  Applying changes to backup exclusions may require a restart of the File Protection agent to take effect.