Data backup for small business

Backups that survive ransomware, a dead disk and a bad day — and files you can reach from home.

We look after your office file server (Synology NAS) and the backups around it: updates, user permissions, snapshots that cannot be altered, copies kept off-site, Mac Time Machine backups, and secure access to office files from anywhere — without opening anything on your router.

What we set up

SnapshotsHourly, can’t be altered
Off-siteTwo separate copies
MacsTime Machine to the NAS
Remote filesFrom home, securely

The short answer

What is a good backup setup for a small office?

A good small-office backup follows the 3-2-1 idea: at least three copies of your data, on two different kinds of storage, with one copy off-site — and at least one copy that ransomware cannot change. A file server on its own is not a backup: if it is encrypted, stolen or fails, everything on it goes too.

For our own office that means hourly snapshots on the NAS that cannot be altered or deleted from a PC, plus two independent off-site copies. The test of any backup is a restore, so we test restores, not just backups.

Layers

What protects your files at each level?

Layer	Protects against	How
Disk redundancy (RAID)	A single failed disk	The NAS keeps working while a disk is replaced
Immutable snapshots	Ransomware, accidental deletion	Hourly snapshots that cannot be changed from a PC
Off-site copy 1	Fire, theft, a dead NAS	Encrypted copy to a separate location
Off-site copy 2	A failure of the first off-site copy	A second, independent provider
Mac backups	A lost or broken Mac	Time Machine to the NAS over the office network
Restore tests	Backups that quietly stopped working	Regular test restores, reported to you

Locked down

How do you keep the NAS itself secure?

A file server holds everything, so it is a favourite target. We keep it updated, remove default and unused accounts, give each person access only to the folders they need, and close accounts the day someone leaves. Admin access is available only from the office network and the private IT network — never from the open internet.

Operating system and apps kept up to date
Default admin account disabled, two-factor sign-in for admins
Folder permissions per person or team, reviewed regularly
Leavers locked out the same day
Firewall limited to the office and the private IT network

NAS baseline

UpdatedOS and apps
AccountsNo defaults, 2FA
PermissionsLeast access
FirewallOffice + private network

Remote access

How can staff reach office files from home safely?

The risky way is to forward a port on the router so the NAS is reachable from the internet. We use the same private encrypted network as our remote IT support instead: staff connect to office files as if they were at their desk, and nothing on the router is opened.

No port forwarding to the file server
Access per person, removable in one step
Works on Windows and Mac
Same folder permissions as in the office

Files from anywhere

Private networkEncrypted
No open portsRouter stays closed
Per personEasy to revoke
Same rightsAs in the office

Getting started

How do we start?

01ReviewNAS health, disks, accounts, permissions and current backups.

02SecureUpdates, accounts and firewall brought to our baseline.

03ProtectSnapshots and two off-site copies set up.

04TestA restore test proves the backups work.

05ManageMonthly checks, health alerts and a short report.

FAQ

Questions we get asked

Is a NAS a backup?

No. A NAS is where files live; a backup is a separate copy. You need snapshots and at least one off-site copy as well, so one failure can’t take everything.

Can ransomware encrypt our backups?

Not the immutable snapshots — they cannot be changed or deleted from a PC. Off-site copies are kept separately for the same reason.

Do you work with Synology?

Yes. We manage Synology NAS devices, including updates, permissions, snapshots, off-site backup and Mac Time Machine.

Can Macs back up to the NAS?

Yes. Time Machine can back up Macs to the NAS automatically over the office network.

How often do you test restores?

Regularly, and always after changes to the backup setup. Results are in your report.

How is it priced?

A monthly plan per office or per computer, quoted after a short audit. Ask for a quote and tell us how many PCs, Macs and sites you have.

Something else on your mind? Ask us directly →

Keep exploring

Related services

Remote IT supportStaff PCs, Macs and office systems, managed remotely.Explore →

Office network securityRouter, Wi-Fi and internet lines checked.Explore →

Backup & disaster recoveryWhole-server backups, stored off-site.Explore →

Let’s talk about your project.

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