Small Business Backups: A Simple Plan That Actually Restores

Data backup solutions for small business

Most small offices do not lose data in a fire or flood. They lose it to a failed disk, a stolen laptop, a file deleted by mistake or a malware attack. The good news is that a sensible backup setup is not hard to build, as long as you plan what to protect and test that you can get it back.

Start with what matters

List the data your business cannot work without, then decide for each one how much data you can afford to lose and how fast you need it back:

  • Accounting and GST records
  • Shared folders on a server or NAS
  • Email and cloud documents
  • Files saved on laptops and desktops
  • Website databases, CRM and network device settings

Follow the 3-2-1 rule, then add one more layer

Keep three copies of your data on two kinds of storage, with one copy away from the office. Add an immutable or offline copy so ransomware or an admin mistake cannot wipe everything. A common mix is a NAS for quick local restores, cloud backup for the offsite copy, and a separate backup for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.

  • Encrypt backups and keep the keys separate
  • Use separate backup admin accounts with MFA
  • Get same-day alerts when a backup job fails
  • Test restores every month, quarter and year, and write down the results

Read the full data backup guide here: Data Backup Solutions for Small Business

Published by Affix Center, a Mumbai-based IT services company. Learn more about our cloud and backup services.

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