Backup

What is a backup?

A backup is a copy of your data that you store separately, so that you can restore it if the original is lost or damaged. It is not just about documents. You can also back up your accounts, your website, a database or an entire server.

Data gets lost in many ways: someone accidentally deletes a folder, a hard drive breaks down, or ransomware locks files.

How do you make a backup for your business?

You set up backup software or your system's backup function so that it makes a copy at fixed times, for example every night. If something goes wrong, you only lose what has changed since the last backup.

A well-known rule of thumb is 3-2-1:

• 3 copies of your data: the original and two backups;
• 2 different types of storage;
• 1 copy in another place, outside your business or online.

Example in an SME

What should you watch for with a backup?

• Test restoring. Restore a file or folder now and then. That way you know it works, and how long it takes.
• Cloud is not automatically a backup. Your supplier often makes backups itself, but it can go bankrupt or suffer a cyberattack. So also make your own backup of your cloud files.
• Secure the backup. It contains your most important data. If someone who is not allowed to can access it, it may be a data breach.
• Know who does what. Does software run at a hosting provider? Ask who makes the backups, where they are stored and how restoring works.

Software that I build bespoke runs with me. For hosting and maintenance you pay a monthly amount, which we agree on together. Read more about custom software.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Chamber of Commerce (KvK): How to make a really good backup (in Dutch) and UK Department for Education: 3-2-1 backup. Consulted on 7 October 2026.