A failing drive, a file deleted by mistake, ransomware that encrypts everything: without backups, an SMB can lose years of work.

The 3-2-1 rule

  • 3 copies of your data (the original and two backups).
  • 2 different media (for example an external drive and a cloud service).
  • 1 copy off-site or disconnected from the network.

Why a disconnected copy

Ransomware can encrypt everything reachable from the network, including a backup drive that's always plugged in. An offline or immutable copy stays intact.

What to back up

Documents, accounting, client database, email, website. Make the list.

How often

Depending on what you can afford to lose. If redoing a day of work is acceptable, a daily backup is enough.

Test restoring

A backup that has never been tested is only a hope. Try restoring a file a few times a year.

What about cloud tools?

Online software generally backs up its own servers, but not necessarily against your mistakes (accidental deletion). Check each tool's export and restore options.