IT support · Servers and backups
A server and backups for your business, so you do not lose data after a failure
A server or NAS gives the whole business a shared place for files, and a well-set-up backup protects them from failure, theft and attack. You know your data is safe, because we check it.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- Important files sit on one computer's desktop.
- A backup "used to exist", but nobody knows if it works.
- The drive in the accountant's computer has started to click.
- All the copies are in the same office, next to the originals.
- Staff swap files on USB sticks.
The best time for a backup is before a failure, and the second best is now.
What it is
What servers and backups are
A server or NAS is a shared place in the office where the team keeps files and from which they are easy to share. Instead of hunting for documents across computers, everyone has one organised place, with permissions that you decide.
A backup is an extra copy of your files kept separately. I recommend the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, on two kinds of media, one away from the office. That way a failure, a fire or an attack cannot take all your work from you.
I also set up monitoring and check that the copies can be restored. A backup nobody has tested only gives false comfort. I want you to be sure that, when needed, your files will come back where they belong.
What you gain
What you get from servers and backups
Files in one place
The team works on shared documents, without searching for them across computers.
Data that survives failures
Drive failure, theft or an attack do not destroy all the copies at once.
Certainty that the backup works
I check restoring, not only that a copy is being made.
Early warning
Monitoring tells you about problems before they stop the work.
Example
What it looks like in practice
Before the backup
After the backupAn illustrative example, based on situations I often meet in small businesses.
Step by step
How it works from your side
- 1
Conversation
Your part: a conversationWe agree which data matters and where it lives now.
- 2
Plan
Your part: choosingI propose a server or NAS and a backup plan to fit your business.
- 3
Rollout
Your part: accessI install, move the files and set up the copies and notifications.
- 4
Test
Your part: a short testWe check that the copy can be restored and go through the rules.
What you get
What you get
- An assessment of what is stored and where
- A server or NAS set up for your team's needs
- A 3-2-1 backup plan
- Error notifications and monitoring
- A test of restoring files from the backup
- A simple instruction for the team
“A backup is the insurance everyone forgets about. I want you to have it before the trouble, not after.”
Who servers and backups are for
- Businesses whose files live on a single computer or drive
- Offices that need a shared place for documents
- Businesses that have never checked whether their backup can be restored
- Owners who want to sleep easy knowing the data is safe
Frequently asked questions
What is a 3-2-1 backup?
It is a simple rule: three copies of your data, on two different types of media, with one kept away from the office. That way a fire, theft or attack cannot destroy all the copies at once. I set up a plan like this to fit the size of your business.
Does a business need its own server or NAS?
Not always. A small business often does well with the cloud, while another needs a shared place for files in the office. A NAS is a device with drives for the whole team. I advise what is simpler and cheaper to run in your case.
How do I know the backup works?
You do not, until you test it. That is why I set up notifications and from time to time test restoring files. A backup that could not be restored when the failure came is worthless. I want you to know it will work when needed.
What does server monitoring give me?
Monitoring watches whether the server and drives are working properly, and warns you of problems before they stop work, for example when space is running out or a drive starts to fail. That often lets me act before you notice anything is wrong.
See also
What else keeps your business safe
Free consultation
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