ServicesEncrypted Backup

Included in managed IT

Encrypted backup.

Encrypted, offsite backup so client data survives ransomware, theft, and hardware failure. It also meets the FTC Safeguards Rule contingency-plan requirement (see FTC Safeguards).

Why it matters

The FTC Safeguards Rule requires data backup as part of a written contingency plan (see FTC Safeguards).

Ransomware encrypts your local systems and demands payment to restore access. A backup on the same network gets encrypted along with everything else. An offsite encrypted copy lets you rebuild from clean data and reopen the office, so a ransomware event becomes a recovery you work through rather than a ransom you pay.

Hardware failure is less dramatic but just as costly. A server that dies with no usable backup can lock a 5 to 15 person office out of client records for days. If that lands during filing or closing season, the cost is measured in billable days no one can work and client deadlines at risk. A tested offsite copy turns that into a restore, often the same day, instead of a rebuild from scratch.

How it works

Encryption

Encrypted at rest and in transit

Client data and office files are encrypted before leaving your network and stored encrypted at the destination. Someone with access to the backup storage cannot read the data without the encryption key.

Offsite

Stored outside the office

Backup copies are stored at a location separate from your office. A fire, flood, or physical theft at the office does not destroy your backup. Ransomware that encrypts your local systems cannot reach the offsite copy.

Testing

Recovery tested, not assumed

A backup that has never been restored is a guess. Recovery is tested to confirm client data can be retrieved from the backup.

Retention

Retention aligned to your needs

How long backups are retained depends on your office type and applicable records requirements. Retention is configured so you have historical recovery points, not just the previous night's backup.

Start with the free gap report

The gap report reviews your current backup and recovery capability. No commitment, written findings delivered to your inbox.

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Written by Hammad Arain, founder of Arain Systems. CCNA, CompTIA Security+, Microsoft AZ-104. Updated June 2026. Educational, not legal advice.