Secure, Automated Business Data Protection
Managed Cloud Backup Services for UK Businesses
Protect critical business data against accidental deletion, hardware failure, cyber incidents and unexpected disruption. PC Docs designs, configures, monitors and supports managed cloud backup solutions for businesses throughout the UK.
Why Businesses Need Managed Cloud Backups
Business data can be lost through accidental deletion, hardware failure, software corruption, theft, fire, flooding or a cyberattack. When important files or systems become unavailable, the resulting downtime can affect employees, customers, revenue and regulatory responsibilities.
Manual backups are easily missed, while backups stored on the same premises may be affected by the same incident as the original data. File-syncing platforms can be useful for collaboration, but synchronisation alone may also copy accidental changes, deletions or corrupted files across connected devices.
A managed cloud backup service automatically protects agreed data according to a defined schedule and retention policy. PC Docs helps select the right solution, configures it around your business requirements, monitors backup activity and assists with recovery when data needs to be restored.
Services Overview
What Our Managed Cloud Backup Service Includes
Backup Assessment and Planning
Automated Backup Configuration
Configure scheduled backups around your working patterns and acceptable data-loss window. Backup frequency, protected locations, exclusions and retention settings are tailored to the systems and information covered by the service.
Secure Off-Site Storage
Store protected data separately from the original systems using appropriate cloud backup infrastructure. Encryption, access controls, authentication and data-location requirements are considered when selecting and configuring the service.
Backup Monitoring and Alerts
Monitor scheduled backup jobs and investigate failures, missed devices, storage limits or other warnings. Managed oversight reduces the risk of discovering that a backup has failed only when data needs to be restored.
Versioning and Retention
Retain recoverable versions of files or system data for an agreed period. PC Docs helps set retention policies that balance operational recovery requirements, storage costs and relevant legal or regulatory obligations.
Data Recovery Support
Recover individual files, folders or wider datasets after accidental deletion, corruption or system failure. The available recovery method and timescale will depend on the protected system, backup frequency, data volume and selected service.
What Business Data Can Be Protected?
The correct backup scope depends on where your business stores its information and how quickly each system must be recovered. Depending on the selected solution, PC Docs can assess protection for:
- Desktop and laptop files.
- File servers and shared folders.
- Physical and virtual servers.
- Business applications and databases.
- Microsoft 365 email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams data.
- Cloud-hosted systems and virtual machines.
- External drives and network-attached storage.
- System configurations and complete device images.
Reduce Data-Loss Risk with Automated Cloud Backups
Cloud backup software copies agreed data to secure off-site storage according to a defined schedule. Depending on the solution, backups may include individual files, folders, applications, databases, servers or complete system images.
Data should be protected while being transferred and stored, with account access restricted through appropriate authentication and permissions. Retained versions can allow an earlier copy to be recovered if the latest data has been deleted, altered or corrupted.
A subscription-based service removes the need to purchase and maintain all backup infrastructure internally. Storage capacity and protection can then be adjusted as your data volumes, devices and recovery requirements change.
Cloud Backup Is Not the Same as Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage and Syncing | Managed Cloud Backup |
|---|---|
Primarily supports access, sharing and collaboration | Primarily protects recoverable copies of data |
Changes may synchronise across connected devices | Retains protected versions according to a backup policy |
Users commonly manage files directly | Backup jobs can be monitored and centrally managed |
Recovery features vary by platform and licence | Recovery requirements form part of the service design |
May not cover all devices, applications or system data | Can protect an agreed scope of files, servers or services |
Platforms such as OneDrive and SharePoint include useful retention and recovery features, but these should be assessed against your required backup scope, retention period and recovery objectives. PC Docs can determine whether native features are sufficient or whether an independent Microsoft 365 backup service is appropriate.
Plan How Much Data and Downtime You Can Tolerate
Two useful considerations when designing a backup service are the recovery point objective and recovery time objective.
Recovery point objective: How much recent data could the business afford to lose? This helps determine how frequently backups should run.
Recovery time objective: How quickly must files, applications or systems become available again? This influences the backup technology, recovery method and level of service required.
PC Docs can discuss these requirements during the initial assessment and recommend a proportionate backup and recovery arrangement.
Onboarding
How PC Docs Implements Managed Online Backups
1. Assess
Review where business data is stored, which systems are critical and what existing backup arrangements are already in place.
2. Define Requirements
Agree the backup scope, frequency, retention, data-location requirements, recovery priorities and responsible contacts.
3. Configure
Deploy and configure the selected backup solution, access controls, schedules, alerts and retention policies.
4. Complete an Initial Backup
Protect the agreed data and check that the backup service is reporting correctly before the solution enters normal operation.
5. Monitor and Maintain
Review backup activity, investigate alerts and adjust the configuration when devices, systems or data volumes change.
6. Support Recovery
Help locate and restore the appropriate version of a file, folder or dataset when recovery is required.
Backup Monitoring and Recovery Testing
A successful status notification does not, by itself, prove that every business recovery scenario will work as expected. Backup scope, retention settings, administrator access and restore procedures should be reviewed periodically.
Where included in the chosen service, PC Docs can carry out or coordinate test restores to confirm that protected data can be located and recovered. Any problems discovered can then be addressed before a genuine data-loss incident occurs.
Why use PC Docs?
Reduced Risk, Reduced Cost
Reduce the risk of data loss without investing in costly physical backup infrastructure. Our scalable cloud backup solutions protect your critical business data off-site, while flexible subscription-based storage allows your service and costs to adapt as your data volumes and recovery requirements change.
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Value-Added Service
Receive more than cloud storage alone with a managed service tailored to your business. PC Docs helps assess your requirements, configure appropriate backup schedules and retention policies, monitor backup activity and provide knowledgeable support when protected files or data need to be recovered.
UK-Based Data Centres
Where data residency is an operational or regulatory requirement, PC Docs can recommend backup options that use UK-based data centres. We will help you review the selected provider’s storage locations, security controls, retention options and contractual information before implementation.
Protect Your Business Data Before It Is Needed
Talk to PC Docs about your existing backup arrangements, critical systems and recovery requirements. We will recommend a managed cloud backup service designed around your data, risks and budget.
FAQ
Looking for tailor-made online backup solutions?
At PC Docs, our cloud solutions specialists are ready to tailor a cloud backup package just for you. Talk to us today to find out how we can protect your company against devastating data loss.
How much does an online backup service cost?
Cost will always be one of the most important factors when looking at an online backup service.
Most are subscription-based, but they do vary in terms of features and costs, so it is important to compare plans carefully before proceeding.
Most will be based on the volume of cloud storage provided for your data, although some will be led by number of devices per account. Be careful with storage limits on cheaper solutions, or restricted features, as well as file-size upload limits which could hold you back from protecting everything you need to.
How secure are online backup solutions?
It is vital to examine the security of your chosen online backup solution. Most will encrypt your files before uploading to the cloud storage servers, and some offer a private encryption key option.
If you choose to manage your own encryption keys to decrypt your backups when required, then it will be down to you to remember those keys, bearing in mind that the service itself won’t be able to help you with a reset if you forget them. The good thing about this is that no one can unlock your cloud backup other than you, which is beneficial from a privacy and security standpoint. The best course of action is to use a password manager to keep track of your encryption key.
How easy is it to restore your data from a cloud backup?
A good online backup service will make it fast and straightforward to restore your data. Features such as search tools to locate specific files replications of full folder-tree structures will help you recover more easily from bigger data losses, so look out for those when choosing your cloud backup solution.
There is also a feature known as ‘versioning’. This saves incremental changes made to files as recoverable snapshots. This is useful should you need to retrieve information from an earlier version of a file, or if your latest saved version becomes corrupted. Online backup services vary in terms of how many versions they retain, and for how long they are retained. Some will keep an unlimited number of file versions forever.
What is a managed cloud backup service?
A managed cloud backup service automatically copies agreed business data to secure off-site storage according to a defined schedule. PC Docs helps select and configure the solution, monitors backup activity, investigates alerts and supports recovery when protected files or data need to be restored.
What is the difference between cloud storage and cloud backup?
Cloud storage platforms are primarily designed for access, file sharing and collaboration. Cloud backup creates recoverable copies according to scheduled backup and retention policies. Some storage platforms include recovery features, but these should be assessed against the organisation’s full backup and restoration requirements.
How often should business data be backed up?
The correct frequency depends on how often the data changes and how much recent information the organisation could afford to lose. Critical systems may require more frequent protection than archived files. PC Docs can assess these requirements and configure an appropriate backup schedule.
Can cloud backups protect against ransomware?
Cloud backups can help an organisation recover data after ransomware, particularly when protected copies are isolated, access-controlled and retained in recoverable versions. They do not prevent ransomware by themselves, so backups should form part of wider cyber security, access-control and incident-response arrangements.
Are cloud backups encrypted?
Many business backup services encrypt data while it is transferred and stored, but the exact controls vary between providers and plans. Encryption should be combined with strong authentication, restricted administrative access and suitable key management. PC Docs reviews these requirements when recommending a solution.
Can you back up Microsoft 365?
Subject to the selected service, Microsoft 365 data such as Exchange Online email, OneDrive files, SharePoint content and Teams data can be backed up independently. PC Docs can assess native Microsoft retention features and recommend additional backup where required.
How quickly can backed-up data be restored?
Recovery time depends on the amount of data, the system protected, internet connectivity, backup format and selected service. Restoring one document may be quick, while recovering a server or large dataset may take considerably longer. Recovery priorities should be agreed when the service is designed.
Where is our backup data stored?
The storage location depends on the selected backup provider and plan. If UK data residency is required, PC Docs can recommend an appropriate option and help review its primary storage, replication, security and contractual arrangements before implementation.
How much do managed online backups cost?
Pricing normally depends on data volume, the number and type of protected systems, backup frequency, retention period and support requirements. PC Docs assesses these factors before recommending an appropriate service and providing a tailored quotation.
How long should backups be retained?
Retention should reflect operational recovery needs, legal responsibilities, industry requirements and storage costs. Keeping every backup indefinitely is not always appropriate, particularly where personal information is involved. PC Docs can help establish a suitable versioning and retention policy.