Every business needs a backup. The question most owners ask us is not whether to back up, but where. Should copies of your data sit on a device in the office, or in the cloud? Both have strengths, and the right answer depends on how quickly you need to recover and what you are protecting against.
What on-site backup does well
On-site backup stores copies of your data on hardware in your building, such as a network storage device or a backup server.
- Fast restores. Recovering a large folder or a whole server over your local network is much quicker than downloading it from the internet.
- Full control. You know exactly where the data sits and who can physically reach it.
- No reliance on your internet line. Backups and restores still work if your broadband is down.
The weakness is location. A fire, flood, break in or ransomware attack that hits your office can take out the backup along with the original data.
What cloud backup does well
Cloud backup sends encrypted copies of your data to secure data centres away from your premises.
- Protection from local disasters. Whatever happens to your office, your data is safe somewhere else.
- Automatic and hands off. Backups run in the background without anyone swapping drives.
- Easy to scale. You add storage as you grow, without buying new hardware.
- Covers cloud services. Microsoft 365 email, OneDrive and SharePoint data can be backed up independently of Microsoft.
The trade off is speed. Restoring a very large amount of data over the internet can take time, especially on a slower connection.
Why most businesses use both
The most reliable approach combines the two. A common rule of thumb is the 3-2-1 rule:
- Keep 3 copies of your data
- On 2 different types of storage
- With 1 copy offsite
In practice, that often means a local backup for fast everyday restores and a cloud copy for disaster recovery. Many businesses now add an immutable copy too, which cannot be changed or deleted for a set period, giving extra protection against ransomware.
Questions to ask before you choose
- How long could your business cope without its systems: an hour, a day, a week?
- How much data could you afford to lose since the last backup?
- Are your Microsoft 365 emails and files being backed up, or just synced?
- When did you last test a restore?
That last question matters most. A backup that has never been tested is only a hope.
How we can help
We design and manage backup and restore for businesses across Dartford and north Kent, combining on-site and cloud protection to suit your recovery needs and budget. We monitor every backup and test restores regularly, so you know your data is there when you need it.