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NinjaOne Device Backup: Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Last Updated April 3, 2026

Topic

This article answers Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ) about NinjaOne Device Backup.

Environment

NinjaOne Device Backup

Description

With NinjaOne Device Backup, you can back up entire devices using Image Backup, or just specific files and folders using File/Folder Backup. We have compiled an extensive list of frequently asked customer questions about the product, along with answers from our support team.

Click a section below for questions related to that topic:

General Questions

This section answers general questions about NinjaOne Device Backup.

How can I back up different servers in the same organization in different ways, such as one server with Image Backup and one with File/Folder?

You can do this through device-level overrides, which allows you to assign different policies to devices that share the same organization. Refer to Policies: Change Device Policy for more information.

How does NinjaOne determine whether a device is a workstation or a server?

NinjaOne determines this by the device's operating system, but you can manually override this setting.

Whose technology do you use to power NinjaOne Device Backup?

NinjaOne Device Backup is a proprietary backup solution built in-house by NinjaOne engineers.

Which NinjaOne users are able to configure, view, and manage NinjaOne Device Backup?

Currently, only NinjaOne system administrators have the ability to turn NinjaOne Device Backup on or off. However, they can grant custom users different levels of NinjaOne Device Backup permissions. Refer to our NinjaOne Device Backup: Setup Guide for more information about granting these permissions.

Will changing permissions cause revisions?

No, NinjaOne will only retain the latest permissions for all files and folders in the Backup job.

Does NinjaOne always save the permissions for a file/folder, or is this optional?

NTFS permission backup is optional. You can activate this option at the policy level in Backups → Folders. 

What type of backups does NinjaOne Device Backup run?

NinjaOne Device Backup uses incremental block-level backup technology, which copies only modified parts of the files or backup.

Are NinjaOne Device Backups immutable?

The only way you can delete a cloud backup is with retention settings or a customer delete request. As of our 5.4 release, NinjaOne Device Backup requires multi-factor authentication to initiate a deletion, and NinjaOne will hold the data for 3 days prior to permanent removal.

Does the system automatically free up disk space following a backup?

NinjaOne retains enough information to ensure that it can restore all revisions. There may be "phantom" revisions retained until the revisions that depend on them are no longer required. For more information, refer to Ninja Backup: Image Backup Plans.

Does NinjaOne ever remove or overwrite old backup files?

NinjaOne Device Backup uses revision settings that you configure in your policy. If you set your policy never to trim any revisions, then NinjaOne will not touch any backup data for deletion. You would then need to initiate a deletion manually.

How does NinjaOne Device Backup compress files?

Backup data is compressed and encrypted on the agent machine as it is uploaded—the compression rate averages between 2:1 and 5:1 for most files.

How is encryption handled by NinjaOne Device Backup?

NinjaOne Device Backup encrypts data using AES-256 encryption in transit and at rest. NinjaOne generates Encryption keys using hardware security module clusters. You can only access keys through the NinjaOne console. Users do not have the ability to bring their own keys.

If a hybrid backup job is run, is the local backup or the cloud backup performed first?

The local backup job runs first, followed by synchronization to the cloud.

What is the minimum amount of bandwidth required to back up files?

While there is no minimum required speed, we recommend at least 1 Mbps for each machine.

Does the bandwidth throttling configured in the organization settings apply to the entire organization or each respective device in the organization?

The bandwidth throttling configured in the organization settings applies to each individual device in the organization.

Are there any limits or restrictions imposed on download speed?

No, we do not impose any rate limits or restrictions.

How are frequently changing files (such as PST files) backed up with NinjaOne Device Backup?

NinjaOne Device Backup backs up files that change regularly using Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS).

How can I configure NinjaOne to send me notifications regarding activities related to NinjaOne Device Backup?

You can enable notifications for NinjaOne Device Backup activities in Policy Editor → Activities → Backup. For more information about this option, refer to NinjaOne Device Backup: File/Folder Backup Plans.

What happens if a backup job is interrupted by the computer shutting off or rebooting?

The backup resumes uploading from the last file it stopped on, but does not resume uploading partially uploaded files. For example, if the job had sent 100 of 300 files and is currently in the middle of uploading file 101 when the system reboots, NinjaOne restarts the upload process from file 101 when the backup job resumes.

What happens when a device is offline when a scheduled backup starts?

The answer depends on whether you have selected the Run plan immediately if missed option in the backup plan settings. If you've enabled this setting, the backup plan will run when the device comes back online.

How does NinjaOne Device Backup handle files that are open and being edited on the device at the time when a backup job is running?

  • Whatever data is in the most recent save for that file will be backed up when NinjaOne Device Backup reaches the file in question.
  • If a file is open, NinjaOne attempts to use VSS to back up the current version of the file; NinjaOne logs unsuccessful backups as a warning. The job may fail if there are more than 10 percent of files in an open state or if the files are not VSS compatible.

Can I generate reports with NinjaOne Device Backup data?

Yes. To generate a PDF report, you can use the NinjaOne Device Backup Summary report. Refer to NinjaOne Device Backup: File/Folder Backup Plans.

What happens if I attempt to back up an excluded file/folder?

NinjaOne will not back up the excluded file or folder.

Can I initiate a download for multiple files at the same time?

While you can only initiate a download for one file at a time, you can also opt to download an entire folder.

How can I delete data that I no longer need from my backup storage to ensure I don't get billed for it?

Refer to NinjaOne Device Backup dashboard: Select the device in question and then click Manage.

How is the progress of a backup job or restore measured?

NinjaOne Device Backup bases the percentage completed on the size of the job in progress. The number and size of files can impact the speed of the job.

Is there a maximum size for File/Folder backups?

There is a maximum of 5 TB for a single compressed file. No individual file being uploaded to the S3 bucket in the cloud can exceed 5TB in size.

How many times can I use an image authorization key?

You can only use an image authorization key once. Once you've used an authorization key to obtain the backup data, you cannot reuse it.

What is a trim revision?

When you set trim revisions, NinjaOne will delete all the revisions up to the latest that meet the criteria you set for being removed. If you change this number, NinjaOne will trim the data according to the new limit. If revisions are limited to a smaller number than what is currently backed up, NinjaOne Device Backup will delete old revisions until it is compliant with the new limit. There may be slightly more data than you set the limit to, but this is expected behavior intended to ensure access to data.

If limit revisions and trim revisions are both inactivate within the plan, what data does NinjaOne delete?

If limit revisions and trim revisions are both off, NinjaOne will not delete any backup data.

Is there a way to know if the backup failed or did not run?

Yes. From the NinjaOne system or organization dashboard, open the Backup tab and select Overview. From there, you can filter for Last failure. You can also set up notifications for several different events through Policy → Activities. 

Compatibility

This section answers questions about NinjaOne Device Backup compatibility.

What service does NinjaOne Device Backup use for data storage?

NinjaOne Device Backup uses AWS to store data.

What storage options are available for NinjaOne Device Backup?

Cloud and NAS storage options are available for NinjaOne Device Backup.

Can data be carried over to a second storage location?

At this time, we do not allow you to carry data to a second storage location.

Can I change my cloud storage bucket location?

Cloud storage location can only be selected when there is no cloud storage used. If you need to change your storage bucket, be sure to first delete all cloud data from your console. Once there is zero data stored in the Cloud, you can change your bucket within Administration → Apps → NinjaOne Device Backup → Edit Settings.

Which regions can I select for NinjaOne Device Backup storage?

Partners using the EU instance may select between Frankfurt, Stockholm, Ireland, Zurich, London, and Paris. Partners using the US instance may select between Oregon, Virginia, Ohio, and Canada. Partners using the OC instance may select Sydney. Partners using the CA instance may select Canada.

Can I use different regions for NinjaOne Device Backup storage for different organizations?

  • No—the backup storage region is configured at the account level and cannot be changed following configuration.
  • However, you can split backup destinations between an organization's locations via Administration → Organization editor → Locations → Edit → Backup.

Which versions of Windows does NinjaOne Device Backup support?

NinjaOne Device Backup supports Windows 8 and newer, and Windows Server 2012R2 and newer.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup support Linux?

No, NinjaOne Device Backup does not support Linux at this time.

Can NinjaOne back up a machine running Microsoft SQL Server?

NinjaOne's Image Backup type can integrate directly with Microsoft SQL and its VSS Writers that get installed when you install SQL Server. NinjaOne takes an Image Backup of a machine running SQL Server.

Are backups from pre-NinjaOne Device Backup accessible?

If you were using a different backup solution, such as Cloudberry, NinjaOne will not be able to access that backup information.

Should I run NinjaOne on my primary server, or should I run NinjaOne on each of my virtual machines? 

You will need to put the NinjaOne Agent on each of the virtual machines rather than putting it on just the host. This method is currently the only supported one, and is known as "agentless backup."

If I did a local backup to an NAS device and then downloaded the Key to restore from NinjaOne, how long is the Key active?

  • The Key expires on use or based on the time you select when creating it (default is 14 days, but you can set it for as much as 365 days).
  • A Key does not need to be generated at the time of backup, as long as backup remains enabled on the NinjaOne agent. The only time you need to create a Key is when you need to do a restore.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup support files encrypted with EFS?

No. Currently, you need to ensure the advanced properties do not show contents to be encrypted. If they do, clear that option and attempt the backup again.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup support virtual machine backup?

For non-Windows virtual hosts, you can back up a virtual machine if you've installed a NinjaOne agent and Backup agent on the individual VM guest. However, NinjaOne Device Backup does not currently back up a VM host, unless the host is Microsoft Hyper-V. For Hyper-V servers, you can install the NinjaOne agent and Backup agent directly on the Hyper-V server, and you can back up the server itself using NinjaOne. 

  • A user may restore the entire server, including all guests. (Applicable to both file/folder and image backups.)
  • A user may restore a particular volume or copy the VHDX files for a guest to another server. (Applicable for local image backups.)
  • A user may mount the image backup in the Cloud and restore the VHDX files for a particular guest to another server. (Applicable for Cloud image backups.)
  • A user may restore just the VHDX files for a particular guest. (Applicable for file/folder backups.)
  • Or, if you backed up a guest individually, then a user may perform a standard restore. (Applicable to both file/folder and image backups.)

Does NinjaOne Device Backup have the ability to back up SQL, Exchange, QuickBooks, or similar databases?

  • NinjaOne Device Backup can back up database workloads if they have a VSS Writer. Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server are examples of products that use VSS Writers. Our Image Backup plan is capable of backing up these files even while in use.
  • QuickBooks is an example of a program that does not include a VSS Writer; therefore, we are unable to back up the database while in use. For these types of programs without VSS Writers included, we recommend setting up recurring products to back up to a directory that Ninja Backup can accommodate with a File/Folder backup type.
    • NinjaOne can back up the machine with an image, but it may need a database repair, as QuickBooks is not compatible with backup products that need the database stopped in order to run a Backup.
Important Note: Check the vendor documentation for the database software in question to determine whether you can back it up natively, or what else the vendor recommends as best practices for backing up the database.

Are mapped network drives included in backups?

No, not at this time.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup output to an SIEM?

No, NinjaOne Device Backup does not currently output to an SIEM.

Can I exclude files or folders from backups using Regex?

No. However, you can add exclusions while building out your backup plan.

Can I back up to a USB or external drive?

No, NinjaOne currently only supports cloud or network storage. While it is possible to set up a shared folder on an external hard drive as a network storage location that users will be able to access as a mapped drive, the drive will not have system access. NinjaOne will not recognize the mapped drive; therefore, this method is not a recommended workaround.

Can I perform a restore across virtualization platforms?

Yes, you can perform restores across virtualization platforms. However, a backup of one physical host cannot be restored to a virtual host (for example, a backup of a Hyper-V server cannot be restored to a VMware environment/host). The individual guests, on the other hand, can be restored.

Can I perform bare metal restores to servers that are being hosted in Microsoft Azure?

Due to Microsoft's limitations, NinjaOne Device Backup is not currently able to perform bare metal restores to servers that are being hosted in Azure. However, NinjaOne Device Backup can restore any volume other than the boot volume.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup support backups or restores of software RAID controllers?

No. We do not support backups or restores of software RAID of any kind at this time.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup work with proxy settings?

At this time, NinjaOne Device Backup does not support proxy use.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup work with Microsoft ARM processors?

At this time, we do not support Microsoft ARM processors.

Is NinjaOne Device Backup capable of backing up devices with BitLocker enabled?

Yes, NinjaOne is capable of backing up devices with BitLocker enabled.

Does NinjaOne Device Backup hidden folders on a device?

Yes, NinjaOne Device Backup includes hidden folders in the backup.

Can external hard drives be backed up?

No. Backing up an external hard drive is not supported.

Why am I unable to back up OneDrive files in a File/Folder backup?

There may be a setting in OneDrive blocking NinjaOne Device Backup from backing up those files. Check to ensure that the setting in Files on Demand is not selected.

Can I back up a file or folder whose path changes?

No. You can only back up static paths.

Deployment

This section answers questions about deploying NinjaOne Device Backup.

Is the NinjaOne Device Backup Agent standalone from the NinjaOne Agent?

While the NinjaOne Device Backup agent is separate, it requires the original NinjaOne agent to run. The NinjaOne Device Backup agent runs as the Lockhart service. You will have two services running on a machine: NinjaOne agent and Lockhart.

Is the installer for NinjaOne Device Backup silent?

Yes, the NinjaOne Device Backup installer is silent.

Transitioning from other Backup Tools

CloudBerry is not available in the NinjaOne FedRAMP instance.

This section answers questions about transitioning to NinjaOne Device Backup from other backup solutions.

Will my Cloudberry backup plans transfer over for use with NinjaOne Device Backup?

No. You will need to configure new backup plans for use with NinjaOne Device Backup.

If I am transitioning from Cloudberry to Ninja Backup, can my backup data be transferred?

No, the backup data is not transferable.

How do I transition from Cloudberry to NinjaOne Device Backup?

Once you have enabled NinjaOne Device Backup for your account, you can follow the steps in the NinjaOne Backup: Setup Guide. When you switch your organization's backup settings from Cloudberry to NinjaOne Device Backup, the Cloudberry agent will be automatically uninstalled, and NinjaOne will deploy the Device Backup agent.

Image Backup and Restore

This section answers questions about Image Backup and Restore using NinjaOne Device Backup.

What size must the destination disk be for an imager restore?

The destination disk must be larger than the original partition size.

Can I use your backup to push an image to my eSXi server?

Yes. You can restore an image to a virtual machine.

Does image backup to a local NAS allow for single file downloads or Cloud mounting?

No, Cloud mounting or downloading single files is only available for Cloud-only or Hybrid plans.

Is it possible to use image backup for deployment?

NinjaOne Device Backup is not designed as an image deployment tool and cannot apply the golden image automatically. NinjaOne does support the use of golden images; however, if you use a third-party tool, you can use the following documentation to add NinjaOne to your golden image. Refer to How do I clone a device with NinjaOne installed?

Does NinjaOne have its own bootable media to restore the image backup?

Yes. refer to the following article for more information: NinjaOne Device Backup Image Restores.

Does NinjaOne allow remote image deployment?

No, NinjaOne does not allow Remote Image Deployment at this time.

Is there a maximum size for individual image backups?

5TB is the maximum size for an individual image backup.

Is it possible to download a single file from an image backup?

Yes, it is possible to download a single file from an image backup by mounting it to a cloud or hybrid backup.

Can I use the Image restore tool on an Azure VM?

Due to the Azure VM environment not allowing ISO to be bootable, we currently do not support restores on Azure VMs.

Why are some files grayed out in NinjaOne (and unable to be selected for file/folder backups)?

You can only back up these files using an Image Backup plan.

Can NinjaOne do a system state backup?

Yes, image backup includes system state.

Apple macOS

This section answers questions about using NinjaOne Device Backup on Apple macOS devices.

Which versions of macOS does NinjaOne Device Backup support?

NinjaOne Device Backup supports macOS Monterey and newer.

Why does NinjaOne Device Backup need Full Disk access?

In order to complete a successful backup, NinjaOne Device Backup needs full access to your files. This arrangement allows the backup service to perform all backup-related tasks, including traversing folders and reading files, to back them up.

Why isn't Full Disk access granted automatically?

As of macOS 10.14 and higher, Apple requires the user to approve access to anything privacy related—including disk access for backups.

What is the name of the app that I need to add?

The NinjaOne Device Backup service is named "Lockhart" and runs as a macOS daemon.

What is Lockhart?

"Lockhart" is the codename for the NinjaOne Device Backup service. It is named that way for future white-labeling purposes.

Are we able to back up macOS devices to a network-attached storage/local storage device?

No, at this time, macOS file/folder can only back up to the cloud.

Does NinjaOne support Image backup for Apple macOS devices?

No, NinjaOne only supports file/folder backup for macOS devices at this time.

Why am I getting a "309 No full disk access" error on Apple devices, even though the NinjaOne agent should have access?

Backup runs via the "Lockhart" agent. Refer to NinjaOne Device Backup: Apple macOS Requirements.

Disaster Recovery and Ransomware

This section answers questions about using NinjaOne Device Backup for disaster recovery.

Does NinjaOne have hardware installed onsite for advanced disaster recovery?

NinjaOne is agent-based, so we do not have an appliance. However, we do offer full bare metal restore and the ability to restore a complete server image. We recommend testing the restore process and engaging our Support Team to learn the best way to perform restores based on your specific needs.

How fast is NinjaOne's disaster recovery?

Speed depends on a variety of factors, such as how much data you need to download, how fast your internet speed is, and how fast your LAN network for local restores is. We recommend always running a test first to learn your restore capabilities.

What stops a threat actor from deleting all backups if they get access to RMM and pushing ransomware?

If a threat actor gains access to the console:

  • The actual deletion of the data requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a second layer of protection. Without the correct MFA response, no data gets deleted from backup as long as they are using a cloud or hybrid solution.
  • Additionally, while attempting a mass deletion, a user is prompted for multi-factor authentication (MFA) for "EVERY" data deletion, requiring a new MFA response every sixty seconds.
  • NinjaOne holds deleted backups for 72 hours on every deletion. This precaution provides a buffer in case someone maliciously or accidentally attempts to delete files.

How is NinjaOne Device Backup protected against ransomware?

Once NinjaOne Device Backup sends data to the Cloud, that data is then completely inaccessible except for restores. It is up to you to protect your local storage.

Why am I getting the error: "Collecting local disk information failed. Please ensure at least one disk is present."

 Changing to AHCI in your BIOS settings may resolve this issue. You should also check your BIOS settings to make sure there is no type of RAID setup enabled.

FAQ

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