The Best Backup Setup for Small Businesses and Farms in East Gippsland
Hard drives fail, laptops are stolen and ransomware locks files, and in every case the only thing that saves you is a backup that works. For a small business, losing the accounts, quotes and customer records can be far more costly than any equipment.
A good backup does not need to be complicated. This guide describes a simple setup that suits shops, trades, offices and farms.
The 3-2-1 Rule
- 3 copies of your important data: the original plus two backups
- 2 different types of storage, for example your computer and an external drive
- 1 copy kept off-site, such as in the cloud or at another location
A Practical Setup
- List what matters. Identify the files you could not replace: accounts, customer records, photos, farm records, contracts and email. Back these up first.
- Add an external drive. Use Windows File History or macOS Time Machine to back up automatically to a plugged-in drive. This gives you a fast local copy.
- Add a cloud backup. Use an automatic cloud backup service so that a copy exists away from your premises, safe from fire, theft and flood.
- Make it automatic. A backup you have to remember will be forgotten. Schedule it to run on its own, preferably overnight.
- Test a restore. Every few months, restore a few files to confirm the backup works. An untested backup is only a hope.
Rural Internet and Large Backups
On fixed wireless, satellite or slower rural connections, the first cloud backup can take days because upload speeds are low. Let it run overnight and be patient, as later backups only send what has changed. A local external drive gives you immediate protection while the cloud copy catches up.
Protecting Against Ransomware
- Keep at least one backup disconnected, or in cloud storage that keeps previous versions, so that ransomware cannot encrypt it as well
- Remember that file sync services such as OneDrive, Google Drive and iCloud are not backups on their own, because deleted or damaged files can sync everywhere
- Keep your system updated and use strong, unique passwords
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OneDrive or Google Drive a backup?
Not by itself. These services sync files, so a deleted or encrypted file can be removed everywhere. They help, but a proper backup keeps separate, restorable copies, ideally with version history.
How often should I back up?
Daily for most businesses, and automatically. If losing a day of work would hurt, back up more often.
Can you set up and monitor backups remotely?
Yes. We set up local and cloud backups, check that they are working, and can recover files over a secure remote session.
Need a Hand?
If you would rather have this done for you, Grimace Remote can help remotely from Bairnsdale. The first hour is $89, and every session is backed by our No Fix, No Fee guarantee.
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Make an Enquiry
Please complete the form below, email support@grimaceremote.com.au, or text 0407 464 371. Enquiries are typically answered within a few hours during business hours, and within 24 hours outside business hours.
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