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You should never put your DEVONthink databases in any cloud-synced location. This is well known and often spoken of by us.
You can use a File > Export > Database Archive to create an optimized ZIP of the database for storing in the cloud.
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For example, when I upload a DT database to Google, i
Again, if you’re doing what you sound like you’re doing, you should not be doing it.
PS: Sync is not a backup, neither advertised nor advocated as such. We strongly advocate proper primary backups using TimeMachine (or similar snapshot-style backup applications) and external drives. Online backups are also an excellent idea as a secondary backup. Tertiary offsite backups, are also a good idea if the data is that important to you.
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Well spotted.
@Bmosbacker. I was focusing so much on the fact that the backup strategy was so manual (and complicated) and not and automated 3-2-1 process, I missed this important point. See page 12 of the “DEVONthink Manual” (ver 3.9.1) where this warning is explained in highlighted text–no need to depend on hearing about it from others in this or any online forum.
Regarding DEVONthink Backups, see page 19 of the “DEVONthink Manual”. Excellent advice there–appropriate for not only DEVONthink for all backup strategies–which should be seriously considered.
Thank you for the reminder, I’ve made a specified note about this so I don’t forget.
Thank you. It may be that I’m misunderstanding, or I’m being misunderstood.
I am NOT uploading a DT database to the cloud to sync it. I had probably thought incorrectly that I could upload the database for “safe keeping” so that if the worst happens, I can download it and reopen it in DT. Again, I would not attempt to “sync” a DT database via the cloud.
Is uploading a database for possibly downloading it at some time in the future if needed in and of itself a problem?
With that asked, I will follow @DEVONtech_Jim’s advice to use the File > Export > Database Archive** to create an optimized ZIP of the database". I’ve also re-subscribed to Backblaze.
Hopefully, at this point, I’m covered.
I appreciate everyone’s good advice and for correcting me.
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Yes, putting Zip’s into a synced folder works … but remember (repeating myself), a synced cloud folder not a particularly secure backup location.
And, as you can find on the DEVONthink forum, there are ways to automate the creation of these archive Zip files … I’ll leave you to discover.
As you now are a Backblaze user (yea!), note that you can include attached USB drives with that automated backup. So if you put your DEVONthink zip files on the USB, Backblaze will take care of an automated backup to a secure, offsite, location. Best of both worlds as you have a backup copy local AND remote. Closer to the 3-2-1 strategy I and so many others advocate. Me…I’d never use GoogleDrive, Apple Cloud, Dropbox Sync for backup (but Dropbox’s new backup service is pretty good).
I have a 2TB USB drive which is split into two partitions: one for automated/continuous TimeMachine backups (which I recommend to you), and the other for backups of files which are backed up also to Backblaze. (TimeMachine partitions are not back-up-able to Backblaze).
Simplify and automate. Rinse and Repeat.
That is a great suggestion to add a USB drive to the BB backup process; I did not know that was possible. May I ask which one you are using?
Best to read the BackBlaze documentation.
I cannot remember the brand of USB. Away from home. I have five in use, two on iMac, two on Macbook, and one huge one on Synology NAS.
Simplify and automate. Rinse and repeat.
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Just go into the Backblaze settings and pick the drives you want to back up. And if you don’t connect them for a while, you will get emails from Backblaze yelling at you that you haven’t connected the drive recently. 
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Belt and Suspenders backup of DT3
I am a legal expert witness for engineering matters. My whole life has been in DT3. I, therefore, have a Belt and Suspenders attitude toward DT3 backups.
1. I use TimeMachine
2. Transcend SD 1TB Card
I have one mini Transcend SD card that fits flush into the MacBook Pro SD card slot. Twice a day (Noon and Midnight), I use Carbon Copy Cloner to automatically perform a backup (DT files only). I have a rolling Mon-Friday version on this SD card. IOT, if in a disaster, I can go back up to five days to hopefully obtain a clean copy.
3. 12 TB Gdrive in Raid Config
On this drive, I do a 7-day rolling backup of DT files and well as a 7-day rolling backup of my whole MBP machine
4. Backblaze
Forth I have unlimited real-time backup on Backblaze. BTW, I once had to use their overnight hard drive backup service, and after returning their HD, I don’t think it cost me a dime! I will never be without Backblaze…NEVER!!!
5. 4 TB SanDisk SSD drive
Lastly, I have a SanDisk SSD that, around once a week, I do a CCC complete MBP back up and put the SSD back into a fireproof safe.
One more point. At one time, I had one very, very large DT3 database. It dawned on me that in the event of a corrupt file, the whole thing was at risk. I have since divided it into 5 logical databases of between 10 and 20 GB. Now if I have a problem, I only have 1/5 of my information at risk and a much smaller job to retrieve.
Larry Dunville
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nice. pretty much what I do.