4 min read · Beginner · Related: Data Backup

Updated October 2026 · Tampa Bay–tested steps

10-Minute Monthly Backup Check for Small Business

Backups only matter the day you need them. Verify yours actually work before ransomware strikes.

  1. 1. Confirm the last successful backup date

    Open your backup software and check: did last night's backup actually complete? A backup that 'usually runs' but silently failed three weeks ago is the most common disaster we see. No green checkmark within 24 hours = investigate today.

  2. 2. Verify the 3-2-1 rule

    You need 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy off-site. An external drive plugged into the same computer fails this test — ransomware encrypts attached drives too. One copy must live somewhere a local disaster can't reach (cloud or rotated off-site drive).

  3. 3. Restore one file

    Pick a random file from last week and restore it. If you can't restore a single file in 5 minutes, you don't have backups — you have a backup-shaped hope. Test restores catch corrupt backup sets, expired credentials, and full destinations.

  4. 4. Check what's NOT backed up

    New employee's laptop? Files in someone's personal OneDrive? The shared folder added last month? Backups cover what they were configured to cover — new data silently falls outside. Review the included folders list monthly.

10-Minute Monthly Backup Check for Small Business — When to Call a Pro

  • Your 'backup' is a USB drive plugged into the same PC.
  • A restore test fails, or you can't find where backups even live.
  • You need ransomware-proof versioning, retention policies, or compliance documentation.
Get help with this(813) 702-3155

Guide FAQ

With reputable encrypted providers (SOC 2 compliant), yes — far safer than a single local drive. Encryption means the provider can't read your files, and versioning means ransomware can't permanently destroy them.
Daily for active business data, with versioning so you can go back in time. Databases and email may need more frequent snapshots — we size the schedule to how much work you can afford to redo.
Remote setup starts at $75/hr; most small setups take 1–2 hours plus the storage subscription (often a few dollars per month). Verification and documentation are included.
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