Backup & disaster recovery · Edmonton
Backup and Disaster Recovery for Edmonton Businesses
Local and off-site backups with immutable copies stored in Canadian data centres, so ransomware, failed hardware or a deleted folder doesn’t become a business-ending event. Add Microsoft 365 backup, scheduled restore tests and cloud failover when you need them.
- Immutable backups included
- Stored in Canadian data centres
- Microsoft 365 backup available
Recovery status
● Protected
Local backup
Available
Off-site copy (Canada)
Protected
Immutable copy
Locked
Microsoft 365
Covered
Last restore test
Passed
Immutable by default
Copies that can't be altered or deleted
Data stays in Canada
Off-site copies in Canadian data centres
Proven platforms
Veeam, Synology & QNAP
Local Edmonton team
On-site help when you need it
Why backups get tested the hard way
Ransomware Goes After Your Backups First
Attackers know a business with good backups can recover without paying. So they look for the backups and try to encrypt or delete them before launching the attack. A backup that sits on the same network, with the same passwords, often goes down with everything else. To see what a week of recovery would cost you, use our downtime cost calculator.
That’s why every AlphaIT backup plan includes immutable copies: backups that can’t be changed or deleted for a set period, even by someone with admin access.
89%
of organizations hit by ransomware had their backup repositories targeted.
13%
of Canadian businesses impacted by cyber incidents in 2023 reported ransomware, up from 11% in 2021.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2024
88%
of Canadian ransomware victims did not pay the ransom, so recovering from backups is the plan.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2024
How business data is lost
Data Loss Isn't One Scenario
A good backup plan covers hardware failure, human error, cyberattacks, cloud data and losing the whole office.
Hardware failure
Servers, drives and laptops eventually fail, and the data can be trapped with them.
Ransomware
Attackers encrypt your files and try to destroy any backups they can reach.
Accidental deletion
Files, folders or mailboxes deleted long before anyone notices they're missing.
Microsoft 365 data loss
Deleted, overwritten or compromised cloud data past Microsoft's retention window.
Site disaster
Fire, flood, theft or a burst pipe takes out the office and any backups stored in it.
Backups that don't restore
A green 'success' report doesn't prove the right data comes back when you need it.
Microsoft 365 backup
Does Microsoft 365 Back Up Your Data?
Not the way most people think. Microsoft keeps deleted items for a limited time, then they’re gone for good. That’s why Microsoft itself sells Microsoft 365 Backup as a separate paid product.
| What Microsoft keeps by default | What happens after | |
|---|---|---|
| Deleted email (Exchange Online) | 14 days by default, adjustable up to 30 days | The item is removed from Exchange Online |
| Deleted SharePoint & Teams files | 93 days in the recycle bin | Gone, unless a separate backup exists |
| With AlphaIT Microsoft 365 backup | Independent copies of mail, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams | Restore what you need, when you need it |
Microsoft 365 backup is an optional add-on to any AlphaIT plan. It protects you from accidental deletion, a compromised account wiping files, or a former employee’s data being lost when their licence is removed.
Sources: Microsoft Learn: Exchange Online retention, Microsoft Support: SharePoint recycle bin, Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 Backup.
What you get
Every Plan Starts With Protection. Add What You Need.
Backup is a separate service from our managed IT maintenance plans. The core of every backup plan is the same; then you choose the extras that match your risk and budget.
Included in every plan
Core backup
The foundation every business needs
- Local backup for fast everyday restores
- Off-site copy in Canadian data centres
- Immutable copies that can't be altered or deleted
- Backup job monitoring and alerts
Optional add-ons
Scheduled restore tests
We restore real data on a regular schedule and document the result, so you know recovery works before you need it.
Microsoft 365 backup
Independent backup of Exchange mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams beyond Microsoft's retention limits.
Cloud failover (DRaaS)
If your server or office is down, critical systems can run in the cloud while the problem is fixed.
Best practice
The 3-2-1 Rule, Built for Ransomware
The classic 3-2-1 rule says: keep 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy off-site. Canada’s Cyber Centre goes further for ransomware: keep backups offline or unreachable from your network, and test them on a regular schedule, for example monthly.
Our design follows both: a local copy for speed, an off-site copy in Canada, and immutable copies attackers can’t encrypt or delete, even with stolen admin passwords.
3
Copies of your data
Your live data plus two backups.
2
Types of storage
For example, a local appliance and cloud storage.
1
Copy off-site
Stored in a Canadian data centre, away from your office.
+
Immutable
Locked copies ransomware can’t encrypt or delete.
Recovery objectives
Two Questions Every Backup Plan Must Answer
How much data can you afford to lose, and how long can you be down? The answers set backup frequency, retention and cost.
RPO · Recovery point objective
How much recent data could you recreate?
If your last backup ran at midnight and the server fails at 3 PM, you lose a day’s work. Systems that change constantly, like practice management or accounting databases, need more frequent backups than a shared drive of old files.
RTO · Recovery time objective
How long can each system be down?
Restoring a few files takes minutes. Rebuilding a whole server takes longer. If your business can’t stop for that long, cloud failover keeps critical systems running while the problem is fixed.
Retention & compliance
Backup Rules Many Edmonton Businesses Must Follow
Some industries don’t just need backups, they need proof they work and that records are kept long enough.
Law firms
Law Society of Alberta rules require firms using accounting software to keep an electronic backup of prescribed financial records, update it monthly and restore-test it twice a year. Records must be kept for ten full years.
Dental & healthcare
Under Alberta's Health Information Act, custodians must keep safeguards that protect against reasonably anticipated threats, including loss of health information. Tested backups are part of that.
Accounting & every business
The CRA generally requires records to be kept for six years from the end of the tax year they relate to. Your backups and retention need to cover that.
AlphaIT provides IT services, not legal advice. Check your specific obligations with your regulator or advisor.
When something goes wrong
Recovery Is a Plan, Not a Restore Button
A documented recovery sequence means decisions are made calmly, in the right order, when everyone is under pressure.
Step 1
Detect
Confirm what happened and stop further damage.
Step 2
Contain
Isolate affected systems, accounts or locations.
Step 3
Prioritize
Decide which systems must come back first.
Step 4
Restore
Recover clean data from an uninfected backup.
Step 5
Validate
Confirm apps, permissions and data are right.
Step 6
Resume
Get staff working and document what to improve.
Cost
How Much Does Business Backup Cost?
It depends on how much data you protect, how long you keep it and which add-ons you choose. After a free backup review, you get a written quote with the core plan and each add-on priced separately, so you only pay for the protection you need.
What sets the price
- Amount of data to protect
- How long backups are kept (retention)
- Number of servers and computers
- Microsoft 365 users (add-on)
- Restore-testing schedule (add-on)
- Cloud failover for critical systems (add-on)
Why AlphaIT
Backups Designed With Your Servers, Not Bolted On
We design backup together with your servers, network, Microsoft 365 and security, so recovery is planned from day one. And because we’re local, we can be on-site in Edmonton when a restore needs hands-on work.
Platforms we use
- Veeam Backup & Replication
- Synology NAS
- QNAP NAS
- Microsoft 365
- Hyper-V & VMware
- Windows Server
Areas we serve
Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Leduc & Nisku, Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont and Acheson.
Frequently asked questions
Backup & Disaster Recovery FAQs
Straight answers before you design, replace or review your business backups.
What's the difference between backup and disaster recovery?
Backup makes recoverable copies of your data. Disaster recovery is the plan for getting your business running again after a serious event: which systems come back first, how, and who does what.
Does Microsoft 365 back up my data?
Not in the way most people expect. Exchange Online keeps deleted email for 14 days by default (up to 30), and SharePoint keeps deleted files in the recycle bin for 93 days. After that, they’re gone. Microsoft sells Microsoft 365 Backup separately, and we offer Microsoft 365 backup as an add-on.
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Keep 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy off-site. We add immutable copies on top, because ransomware now targets backups directly.
What is an immutable backup?
A backup that can’t be changed or deleted for a set period, even by someone with admin access. If ransomware or an attacker gets into your network, they can’t encrypt or wipe it. Immutable backups are included in every AlphaIT plan.
Where is our backup data stored?
Your local backup stays in your office for fast restores, and off-site copies are stored in Canadian data centres.
Can ransomware encrypt our backups?
It can encrypt backups that are reachable from your network with ordinary credentials. That’s why we keep immutable copies and separate backup access from your everyday accounts.
How often should backups be tested?
Regularly. Canada’s Cyber Centre gives monthly as an example. Law firms using accounting software must restore-test their financial-records backup twice a year. Scheduled restore tests with written results are available as an add-on.
How often should our data be backed up?
It depends on how much recent work you could recreate. Busy databases and practice-management systems need more frequent backups than files that rarely change. We set the schedule for each system.
Cloud backup or local backup: which is better?
Both. A local copy restores quickly for everyday problems. An off-site copy protects you if the office or the local backup is lost. Every AlphaIT backup plan includes both.
What is cloud failover (DRaaS)?
Disaster recovery as a service lets critical systems run in the cloud if your server or office is unavailable, so staff can keep working while the problem is fixed. It’s an optional add-on.
How long should we keep backups?
Long enough to meet your obligations. The CRA generally requires records to be kept for six years, and law firms must keep prescribed financial records for ten years. We set retention to match.
How much does business backup cost?
It depends on how much data you protect, how long you keep it and which add-ons you choose. We give you a written quote after a free backup review.
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Free backup review
Would Your Backups Actually Get You Back Up and Running?
We’ll review what you back up, where it’s stored, who can delete it, Microsoft 365 coverage and how long recovery would take, then give you a clear plan and a written quote. No obligation.
780-318-0149
Edmonton, AB · serving the Edmonton region