Backblaze Computer Backup is designed to be simple: install it, and it runs in the background protecting data. For many businesses, that’s enough.
But, IT teams managing large deployments asked for more control over how backup is configured across their environments. We are now introducing two new tools built specifically for that need: Advanced Installer and the Backblaze Command Line Interface, bzcli.
What it does
The Advanced Installer gives IT teams a way to preconfigure and lock down certain client settings during rollout. That means when Backblaze is installed on an employee’s machine, it already has the company’s preferred settings in place—no need for end users to make adjustments.
Admins can:
- Lock schedules so backups always run at the right time.
- Manage exclusions centrally, avoiding the risk of someone skipping important folders.
- Control security preferences to keep things consistent across the organization.
- Suppress non-essential desktop notifications.
Instead of configuring machines individually or correcting settings after deployment, IT teams can define standards once and apply them consistently.
For organizations that frequently onboard employees, manage distributed teams, or provide backup as part of a managed service, this reduces variability and support overhead.
The Advanced Installer integrates with common deployment tools such as Jamf, Kandji, Addigy and other MDM/RMM platforms.
Bzcli: Remote configuration and reporting for RMM environments
In addition to the Advanced Installer, Backblaze Computer Backup will have access to bzcli, a new command-line interface designed for enterprise IT teams using RMM and MDM platforms.
Until now, Backblaze’s command-line support focused primarily on installation. Once deployed, there wasn’t a structured way for administrators to modify configuration settings or retrieve information remotely through automation tools. Bzcli addresses that gap.
Configure after installation
With bzcli, administrators can update client configuration settings after deployment using a structured JSON input file.
It supports the same settings available through the Advanced Installer and Preferences interface, including:
- Backup schedules
- Exclusions
- Network controls
- Security-related preferences
- Notification behavior
This allows IT teams to adjust policies centrally without requiring user interaction.
Designed for automation
Bzcli uses a command-based structure (for example, bzcli configure and bzcli report) with clear flags and predictable output. It’s designed to work cleanly within scripts and automation workflows.
The tool is cross-platform and included as part of the standard client installation on both Mac and Windows. It is intended to support environments using tools such as Jamf, Kandji, Addigy, and Microsoft Intune.
Why it matters
As organizations grow, consistency becomes more important. Backup policies need to be enforced reliably. Configuration drift creates risk. Unnecessary notifications create noise.
Advanced Installer and bzcli are designed to reduce that friction.
IT teams can define standards once, apply them consistently, and adjust them when needed, without manual intervention on individual machines.
For teams responsible for protecting company data across large environments, that added control makes deployment more predictable and ongoing management simpler.
Get started with a free 14-day trial of Backblaze Computer Backup today. Or, contact our Sales team to talk about your enterprise deployment today.
