Data Backup Migration and Disaster Recovery
A backup only counts if you have restored from it. We set up automated backups, keep at least one copy off-site and test recovery, so you know how long getting back to work will actually take. The standard we work toward is the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy off-site.
- Backup & disaster recovery – plans for servers, PCs, Microsoft 365 and websites.
- Software RAID (mdadm) – protection against a single disk failure (RAID is not a backup).
- Linux system recovery – when a server will not boot or a disk fails.
Moving an online store to a new platform? That is e-commerce platform migration.
What automated backups should do on their own
Automated backups remove the human habit of forgetting, but only if they are set up to report on themselves. For each system we protect, we agree on:
- Schedule and versions. How often a copy is taken and how many older versions are kept, so a file damaged last month can still be recovered.
- Ransomware protection. A copy the protected network is unable to alter or erase, such as immutable cloud storage or a drive kept offline.
- Alerts. A message when a job fails or stops running, instead of silence that looks like success.
- Restore tests. Regular test restores of real files, databases and whole machines.
Email migration and website migration start with a backup
Data is most at risk while it is being moved. Before an email migration we copy every mailbox, including shared mailboxes and archives, and keep that copy until users confirm their mail is complete. Before a website migration we take a full copy of files and databases and test that it restores on another server. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace deserve their own backup as well: their built-in retention is limited, and a deleted mailbox or overwritten folder may be past recovery by the time anyone notices.
Frequently asked questions
Is OneDrive or Google Drive a backup?
Not on its own. Sync services copy deletions and ransomware-encrypted files just as faithfully as good changes. Version history helps, but a separate backup with its own retention is safer.
How often should a small business back up?
Ask yourself how much work you could afford to redo. For most offices that means at least daily backups of servers and shared files, and more frequent copies for busy databases or online stores.
What is the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
A backup is a copy of data. Disaster recovery is the plan and tooling to get systems running again, including where they run while the original hardware is repaired or replaced.
Related services: backup and disaster recovery planning, mailbox moves between email providers and our article on data management and recovery.
