Backups fail and nobody notices
A backup job can fail for weeks before anyone checks. We monitor every job, and a failure opens a ticket for an engineer.
Backup and Disaster Recovery in Reading
We copy your servers, laptops and Microsoft 365 data off-site, test restores and write a continuity plan, so a flood, power cut or ransomware attack won't halt your Reading business.
Book a free backup review or call 0118 359 2276- Backup monitoringFailed jobs raise an alert
- Test restoresResults shared with you in writing
- Microsoft 365 coveredExchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams
- Office hoursMon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
The short answer
What is backup and disaster recovery?
Backup and disaster recovery means copying your data to a separate location, with a tested plan to restore it after a failure, attack or outage.
Business continuity covers how your people keep working while the office is out of use.
- Off-site and cloud backups of servers and laptops
- Microsoft 365 backup for Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams
- Immutable, ring-fenced copies kept apart from your network
- Scheduled test restores with written results
- Recovery time and recovery point targets for each system
- A written business continuity plan your team has rehearsed
What's included
Data backup in Reading: what our service covers
One service protects your data, proves it can come back and sets out how staff keep working. We size it to your systems and the downtime you can absorb.
Server and laptop backups
We back up file servers, application servers and laptops to off-site and cloud storage. Laptops back up wherever they connect.
Microsoft 365 backup
Recovering deleted or overwritten Microsoft 365 data falls to you. We keep separate copies of Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams, ready to restore.
Immutable, ring-fenced copies
We keep at least one immutable copy apart from your network and admin accounts. An attacker in your systems has no route to it.
Scheduled test restores
We restore files, mailboxes and whole servers to a test area and check they work. Written results help with insurer and client questionnaires.
Recovery targets and a continuity plan
We agree how long each system can be down and how much data you can lose, then build them into a written continuity plan.
Monitoring and failure alerts
Every backup job reports to our monitoring platform. A failed or missed job opens a ticket for an engineer to investigate.
Local to Reading
Business continuity planning for Reading offices
A riverside office, a listed building near Market Place and a rented floor at Green Park each need a different recovery plan.
RG1 · RG4 · Flood zonesOffices near the Thames and Kennet
Parts of central Reading and Caversham sit in flood zones. We check the flood maps and plan how you trade if the building closes.
RG1 · Market Place & Abbey QuarterOlder town centre buildings
Dated wiring in listed town centre buildings means a power cut can take servers down hard. We fit UPS units for a clean shutdown.
RG2 · M4 J11Shared comms rooms at Green Park & Reading International Business Park
Many tenants keep servers in a landlord-run comms room. We keep a copy of your data outside the building and plan for losing access.
Elizabeth line · GWRStaff who already work from home
Many Reading teams split the week between office, home and London. If the office closes, your plan moves them onto Microsoft 365 at home.
Problems we fix
Backup and ransomware recovery problems we fix
Ransomware encrypted the backups as well
Backups on the same network get encrypted with everything else. We keep immutable copies apart from your network, with MFA on backup accounts.
You assumed Microsoft 365 kept everything
Deleted mailboxes and files get hard to recover once Microsoft's retention ends. A separate backup lets us restore from before the mistake or attack.
Nobody knows what to do if the office shuts
Without a plan, staff wait. We set the recovery order, who calls whom and where people work, then walk your team through it.
Backup review
We list every server, laptop and Microsoft 365 service, check what is backed up today and test one restore.
Recovery targets
We agree recovery time and recovery point targets for each system with you, based on what downtime costs your business.
Setup and first test
We configure off-site, cloud and immutable backups, switch on monitoring and prove a full restore works.
Plan and ongoing tests
We write your continuity plan, rehearse it with key staff and repeat test restores on a schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Backup and disaster recovery in Reading: common questions
What is the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
A backup is a copy of your data. Disaster recovery is the plan and tooling that bring your systems back into use from that copy within an agreed time. You need both, because a backup with no tested recovery plan can still leave your Reading office unable to work.
Does Microsoft 365 need a separate backup?
Yes, for most businesses. Microsoft keeps the service running, but its recycle bins and retention settings hold deleted data for limited periods. A separate Microsoft 365 backup of Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams lets you restore data after an accidental deletion, a removed user account or a ransomware attack.
What do RTO and RPO mean?
Recovery time objective (RTO) is the longest a system can be down before it harms your business. Recovery point objective (RPO) is how much recent data you can afford to lose, measured in time. We agree both targets with you for each system and set backup frequency to match.
How do you protect backups from ransomware?
We keep at least one immutable copy that cannot be altered or deleted for a set period, stored apart from your main network. Backup consoles sit behind separate admin accounts with MFA. If ransomware encrypts your servers, we restore from a clean copy taken before the attack.
How often do you test restores?
We run test restores on a schedule agreed in your plan, covering files, mailboxes and full servers. Each test records what we restored, how long it took and any problems we found. You receive the results, which help with insurer forms and client security questionnaires.
What happens if our Reading office floods or loses power?
Your staff switch to working from home on their laptops and Microsoft 365, following the continuity plan. If you run an on-site server, we restore it to cloud or replacement hardware from the off-site copy.
Do backups help with UK GDPR?
Yes. Article 32 of UK GDPR expects you to be able to restore the availability of and access to personal data in a timely manner after an incident. Tested backups and a written recovery plan give you evidence of that measure if the ICO or a client asks.