Data Backup and Transfer Services

Backups are important because they serve as protection against hardware failure, accidental deletion, human error and viruses like malware and ransomware.

Think of having backups as having insurance for your data, computers will malfunction and hard drives can randomly die, you don’t want to lose your data because you did not have backups.

Jim’s IT recommends having two types of backups. This includes local backups, such as backing up to a portable or external hard drive.

The second type of backup is cloud backups. We recommend having automated cloud backups, in case there is a problem with your external hard drive.

We recommend setting up automated backups, that backup your data as soon as you create new files or update existing files.

If you are using automated local backups, we recommend weekly backups.

If you are using cloud backups, we recommend instant backups.

The best type of backups includes a hybrid mix of backup services, including local backups, cloud backups, and for businesses also using a NAS (Network attached storage system) for backup and data redundancy.

Yes, it’s important to utilise multiple forms of backups, in case one of them fails. Since you may not check your backups for many years, until you have a computer or hardware failure, it’s important to have at least two types of backups working in the background.

For most businesses, we recommend a NAS system (Network attached storage). This is a system that has multiple hard drives and is plugged into your business network.

All your staff’s files and data are centrally stored on it, and as the NAS unit has either 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 or more hard drives, if a hard drive fails, none of the data is lost as the NAS system continues to operate and work with one or two failed drives.

This is known as RAID redundancy and is common in larger servers. When a hard drive fails, it is replaced, and no data is lost. And there is no downtime for the business.

We also recommend having the NAS perform automated cloud backups, in case of physical fire, flooding, hacking or theft.

Yes, cloud backups are generally safe and secure as cloud backup providers use data encryption, off-site protection, data redundancy systems and have extremely high levels of physical security at their data centers.

Local backups are backups stored to local media, such as a USB stick, portable hard drive, or NAS system.

Cloud backups on the other hand are backups stored onsite, with a cloud storage provider. Your data is then stored on their internal servers inside a data center.

If you lose your data from accidental deletion or your computer died, you will need to use a data recovery service. Our data recovery engineers will need to assess your hard drive, and can then give you a quote and the chances of recovering your data.

A ‘full’ backup means that the entire computer is backed up each time to the backup device. An ‘incremental’ backup means, that only new or revised files are backups.

An example may include a Full backup on day 1, and then for the next 7 days, an incremental backup, then on the 8^th day a full backup. This saves a lot of storage space, increase of doing a full back up every day, which would be incredibly cumbersome and slow to do.

Yes, Jim’s IT provides data recovery services and will be able to recover your data. We will need to come onsite to assess your computer and hard drive. From there we will be able to provide you with a quote for data recovery

Yes, we can recover your files even if your computer has crashed. We will need to assess and check the computer and test the health of your internal hard drive.

Most of the time we can easily recover your files, and can also fix your computer at the same time.

Yes, we can transfer data from PC to Mac and also transfer data from a Mac to PC. We can do this by formatting an external hard drive in a special format.

Yes, this is a common service Jim’s IT provides when setting up new computers. We can transfer all your documents, PDF files, videos, emails and photos to your new computer.

How long a data transfer takes depends on how much data there is to transfer, if you have 2 gigs of data this may take 2-5 minutes. If you have 50-60gig, this can take 3-5 hours.

The best backup software for Macs is the built-in backup software called ‘Time Machine’. This is an automated backup software that backs up your entire Mac, and also backs up any new files created or files that have changed.

This software works extremely well.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a software tool called ‘Windows backup’. This is easy to use and works well.

For computers that are older and run windows 7, there is a built in software called “File History and Backup and restore”.

We recommend all customers use some form of cloud backup system such as one drive or google drive.

Jim’s IT prefers Microsoft one drive, as it integrates into Microsoft office very well, and is included with most office 365 licenses.

We recommend storing all your important documents inside your one drive folder.

If your emails accounts are POP3 format, we recommend backing them up to a local/external hard drive.

Alternatively, we recommend upgrading your POP3 email accounts to either IMAP or Exchange – as these types of email accounts are automatically backed up in the cloud.

Here are some simple rules that will keep your backups safe and secure.

1. Keep a local backup in a safe space such as a fireproof safe.
2. Test your local backup regularly to make sure they are working.
3. Use a 2^nd form of cloud based back up.
4. Automate all your backups.
5. Password protect your backups or encrypt your backups.