We work with small businesses and law offices around Levy County, and one of the first things we ask is: "If this computer died right now, what would you lose?" The answer is usually an uncomfortable pause.

The 3-2-1 Rule

Three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy offsite. For a small office: files on your computer (copy one), an external drive or NAS backing up automatically each night (copy two), and a cloud backup service (copy three, offsite).

External Drive Backups

A 2TB external drive runs about $60-$80. Windows File History or Mac Time Machine can back up automatically. The key is automation — if it depends on someone remembering, it won't happen consistently.

Cloud Backup for Offsite Protection

An external drive doesn't protect against floods or fire. Backblaze runs about $7/month per computer for unlimited backup, runs in the background, and you can restore from anywhere.

The Real Test A backup plan is only as good as your ability to restore from it. Pick a random file and confirm you can get it back. If you've never tested your restore process, you don't really have a backup.

NAS Devices for Larger Offices

If you have more than two or three computers, a network-attached storage device backs up all your machines automatically and serves as a file sharing hub. Synology and QNAP are popular and reliable.