Backup Options

Key Terms

Type: Device File/Folder, Device Image, or SaaS

  • Device File/Folder: Backup up files and folders only
  • Device Image: Backup the entire operating system including files, folders, programs, and settings.
  • SaaS: Backup cloud data in Microsoft and Google Clouds

Method: Default or Custom

  • Default: Applies to all devices as a standard best practice
  • Custom: Manually adjusted to meet unique needs

Strategy: 2-2-1 or 3-2-1

  • 2-2-1 style (2 copies of data, store 2 copies on different storage media, and 1 copy is stored offsite)
  • 3-2-1 style (3 copies of data, store 2 copies on different storage media, and 1 copy is stored offsite)

Default Plan: Workstations

Type: File/Folder Backups

a) Start Time: 6PM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 6 Months
d) Location: Cloud
e) What: User Profile Data Folders
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Default Plan: Servers

Type: Image Backups

a) Start Time: 7PM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 31 days
e) What: Everything on device
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Type: File/Folder Backups

a) Start Time: 6PM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 6 Months
d) Location: Cloud
e) What: User Profile Data Folders
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Custom Plan: Servers and Critical Workstations
Note: Custom plans are generally added on top of the default plan to accomplish 3-2-1 backup best practice standards. Custom file/folder backups are manually selected based on client environment. 

Type: File/Folder Backups

a) Start Time: 8PM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 6 Months
d) Location: Local Storage Device
e) What: Custom Selection of Files/Folders + User Folders
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Type: File/Folder Backups

a) Start Time: 9PM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 6 Months
d) Location: Cloud
e) What: Custom Selection of Files/Folders
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Type: Image Backups

a) Start Time: 12AM
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 31 days
d) Location: Local Storage Device
e) What: Everything on device
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

SaaS Cloud Backups (Office 365/Microsoft 365/Google Workspaces/Website)
Note: SaaS backups occur throughout the day and are direct backups from the cloud provider. They are independent of device backups. 

Type: SaaS

a) Start Time: Throughout the day
b) Frequency: Daily
c) Retention: 6 Months
d) Location: Cloud
e) What: All user, group, & company accounts (Email, OneDrive, Sharepoint, Teams)
f) Strategy: 2-2-1

Monitoring, Testing, and Verification Services

  1. Home Experience (reactive, set it and forget it): DIY monitoring and alerting. Recovery testing not included (available as a billable request).
  2. Business Experience (proactive, trust but verify): Monthly restoration and verification included. Alert management, monitoring, and inspection included.