Signs your backups might not be real
- You cannot name where backups are stored or who has the password
- The external drive is always plugged in—and full, or never checked
- Cloud backup shows green checks but nobody has opened a restored file
- Only one copy exists—and it lives next to the computer it protects
- Ransomware could encrypt both the PC and the attached backup drive
A simple backup test
- Pick one important file, delete it on purpose (or use a copy), and restore it from backup.
- Check the date on restored files—are you backing up daily or only when someone remembers?
- Confirm off-site or cloud copy exists so fire, theft, or ransomware cannot take everything at once.
What I set up for clients
I design backups for how you actually work: automatic runs, monitoring when they fail, and periodic restore tests written down so anyone can follow them. For businesses, that includes knowing which systems must come back first after an outage. Want the explanation, or just want to sleep better? Either works.