Is Your Business Really Backed Up? A 5-Minute Check
Most small offices think they're backed up. Many find out otherwise the day a laptop dies, someone deletes the wrong folder or ransomware locks the server. Here's a quick way to check where you stand.
Five questions to ask
What exactly gets backed up? Shared files, each person's Desktop and Documents, email and line-of-business databases are often handled differently, and something is usually missed.
When was the last successful backup? Not when it was set up. When it last finished without errors.
Is there a copy off-site? A backup drive sitting next to the server won't help after a fire, a theft or ransomware that reaches the drive too.
Has anyone tested a restore? A backup you've never restored from is a guess.
How long would it take to get back to work? Restoring a whole PC or server can take hours or days. Know the number before you need it.
The 3-2-1 rule
A simple standard to aim for: keep 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy off-site or in the cloud.
What about OneDrive and Microsoft 365?
OneDrive, SharePoint and Outlook keep files in sync and hold deleted items for a limited time, but sync isn't the same as backup. If a file is deleted, overwritten or encrypted, that change syncs everywhere. That's why many businesses add a separate Microsoft 365 backup.
Want a second set of eyes?
Our free IT security check-up reviews your backups along with email security, sign-in and updates, and gives you a written summary of what to fix first. Managed cloud backup and recovery is included in our Complete plan. Book a free check-up or call (847) 242-1160.
