Backup & Disaster Recovery
Backup and disaster recovery that’s tested, not just hoped for
Hardware fails, files get deleted, offices flood and ransomware strikes. We back up your servers, computers and cloud data automatically, keep protected copies off-site and test recovery regularly, so you’re ready to recover when a bad day comes.
- Automated, encrypted backups
- Off-site and immutable copies
- Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup
- Regular restore testing
- A written disaster recovery plan
Why it matters
Backups are easy. Recovery is what counts.
Plenty of businesses discover their backups don’t work at the worst possible moment: a drive fails, someone deletes a folder or ransomware locks the server, and the “backup” turns out to be months old, incomplete or encrypted along with everything else.
Our approach starts with the question that really matters: how quickly do you need to be running again, and how much data can you afford to lose? We design your backups around those answers, monitor every job and prove they work with regular test restores.
- Automatic: no tapes to swap or drives to take home
- Protected: encrypted, off-site and locked against tampering
- Monitored: failed jobs are flagged and followed up promptly
- Proven: restores are tested, not assumed
- File serverComplete
- Accounting databaseComplete
- Microsoft 365 mailboxesComplete
- Off-site copySynced
- Monthly restore testPassed
What we protect
Your data lives in more places than you might think. We make sure every important copy is covered.
Servers
Full image backups of physical and virtual servers, so an entire system can be restored, not just its files.
Workstations & laptops
Important files on staff computers backed up automatically, even for people working from home.
Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace
Email, calendars, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and Google Drive backed up independently of the provider.
Databases & business apps
Accounting, CRM and industry software backed up in a consistent, restorable state.
Cloud servers
Virtual machines and data hosted in Microsoft Azure protected with their own backup policies.
Network configurations
Firewall, switch and router settings saved, so replacement equipment can be up and running quickly.
Best practice, built in
The 3-2-1 backup rule, done for you
A time-tested standard for keeping data safe, strengthened for today’s ransomware threats.
- Three copies of your important data
- Two different types of storage
- One copy off-site, away from your office
- An immutable copy that can’t be altered or deleted
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Daily monitoring of every backup job
- Regular test restores with documented results
- Retention periods that match your business and legal needs
Recovery targets explained
Two numbers every business should know
We agree on these with you before anything goes wrong, then design your backups to meet them.
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
How much data you can afford to lose, measured in time. If your RPO is one hour, backups need to run at least hourly so you never lose more than an hour of work.
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
How quickly a system must be running again after a failure. A short RTO may call for local backup appliances or standby systems in the cloud, rather than a slow download.
Building your disaster recovery plan
A backup protects data. A disaster recovery plan protects the business.
- 01
Identify what matters
We list your critical systems and agree on recovery targets for each one.
- 02
Design the strategy
Backups, off-site copies and failover options are chosen to meet those targets.
- 03
Implement & automate
Everything is configured, encrypted, monitored and documented.
- 04
Test & update
We run test restores, refine the plan and keep it current as your business changes.
When was your last successful test restore?
If you’re not sure, it’s worth finding out before you need it. We’ll review your current backups as part of a free IT assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
Backup is about keeping copies of your data. Disaster recovery is the plan and tools for getting your business running again after a major outage, including which systems come back first, where they run and who does what. You need both.
Doesn’t Microsoft 365 back up our data already?
Microsoft keeps its platform running, but it doesn’t include, by default, the kind of long-term, point-in-time backup most businesses need. Deleted items, ransomware damage and departed employees’ data can be lost for good without an independent backup.
How often are backups taken?
It depends on how much data you can afford to lose. Critical servers and databases are often backed up several times a day, while less critical systems may be backed up nightly. We set the schedule with you.
Where are our backups stored?
Backups are encrypted and kept both locally, for fast restores, and off-site, for protection against disasters at your office. We can keep off-site copies in Canadian data centres to help meet data residency expectations.
How do we know our backups will actually work?
We monitor every backup job daily and perform regular test restores. You receive reports showing what was backed up and confirming that recovery was tested.
Can backups protect us from ransomware?
Yes, if they’re designed for it. Immutable, off-site backups can’t be encrypted or deleted by attackers, giving you a clean copy to restore from. See our ransomware protection approach.
Related services
Ransomware Protection
Layered prevention, early detection and tested recovery to make ransomware far harder to pull off and far easier to recover from.
Learn moreCloud Solutions
Microsoft 365, cloud migrations, virtual desktops and secure remote access, planned and managed for you.
Learn moreManaged IT Services
Your complete outsourced IT department: monitoring, patching, helpdesk and planning for one predictable monthly fee.
Learn moreLet’s make IT the part of your business you stop worrying about.
Talk to a local, Canadian team that has been keeping GTA businesses running since 1996. Your first assessment is free, with no obligation.