Back up files and directories - security policy setting
Applies to
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
This article describes the recommended practices, location, values, policy management, and security considerations for the Back up files and directories security policy setting.
Reference
This user right determines which users can bypass file and directory, registry, and other persistent object permissions for the purposes of backing up the system. This user right is effective only when an application attempts access through the NTFS backup application programming interface (API) through a tool such as NTBACKUP.EXE. Otherwise, standard file and directory permissions apply.
This user right is similar to granting the following permissions to the user or group you selected on all files and folders on the system:
- Traverse Folder/Execute File
- List Folder/Read Data
- Read Attributes
- Read Extended Attributes
- Read Permissions
Default on workstations and servers:
- Administrators
- Backup Operators
Default on domain controllers:
- Administrators
- Backup Operators
- Server Operators
Constant: SeBackupPrivilege
Possible values
- User-defined list of accounts
- Not Defined
Best practices
- Restrict the Back up files and directories user right to members of the IT team who must back up organizational data as part of their daily job responsibilities. Because there's no way to be sure that a user is backing up data, stealing data, or copying data to be distributed, only assign this user right to trusted users.
- If your backup software runs under specific service accounts, only these accounts (and not the IT staff) should have the user right to back up files and directories.
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment
Default values
By default, this right is granted to Administrators and Backup Operators on workstations and servers. On domain controllers, Administrators, Backup Operators, and Server Operators have this right.
The following table lists the actual and effective default policy values for the server type or Group Policy Object (GPO). Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
| Server type or GPO | Default value |
|---|---|
| Default Domain Policy | Not Defined |
| Default Domain Controller Policy | Administrators Backup Operators Server Operators |
| Stand-Alone Server Default Settings | Administrators Backup Operators |
| Domain Controller Effective Default Settings | Administrators Backup Operators Server Operators |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | Administrators Backup Operators |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | Administrators Backup Operators |
Policy management
A restart of the device isn't required for this policy setting to be effective.
Any change to the user rights assignment for an account becomes effective the next time the owner of the account logs on.
Group Policy
Settings are applied in the following order through a GPO, which will overwrite settings on the local computer at the next Group Policy update:
- Local policy settings
- Site policy settings
- Domain policy settings
- OU policy settings
When a local setting is greyed out, it indicates that a GPO currently controls that setting.
Security considerations
This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.
Vulnerability
Users who can back up data from a device to separate media could take the media to a non-domain computer on which they have administrative privileges, and then restore the data. They could take ownership of the files and view any unencrypted data that is contained within the data set.
Countermeasure
Restrict the Back up files and directories user right to members of the IT team who must back up organizational data as part of their daily job responsibilities. If you use software that backs up data under specific service accounts, only these accounts (and not the IT staff) should have the right to back up files and directories.
Potential impact
Changes in the membership of the groups that have the user right to back up files and directories could limit the abilities of users who are assigned to specific administrative roles in your environment. Confirm that authorized administrators can still back up files and directories.