Keep your photos and files safe
Most people think their photos are safe because they’ve got Google Photos, iCloud or OneDrive. Sometimes they are. Often they’re not, and the first time anyone finds out is the day a laptop dies.
What I often find
The storage is full
The free space (15 GB on Google, 5 GB on iCloud and OneDrive) fills up, and backing up quietly stops. Often for months.
It copies mistakes too
These services keep things in sync. Delete a folder, or get a virus that scrambles your files, and the cloud copy changes too. There’s only a short window to undo it.
Only half your stuff
Phone photos are usually covered. Documents, the desktop, downloads, old email and the second laptop often aren’t.
Nobody’s checking
If it stopped working last year, you’d only find out on the day you need it.
Two ways I can help
Backup check-up & setup
I make what you already have work properly.
- I check what’s backing up, what isn’t, and whether it’s full.
- I set up your Google Drive, iCloud or OneDrive to cover Documents, Desktop and Pictures, not just your phone.
- I add a second copy on an external drive, so one problem can’t take both.
- I get a file back in front of you, so you know it works.
- You keep a one-page “how to get your files back” sheet.
Good for most homes. If you need more cloud space, that’s a small monthly charge paid to Google, Apple or Microsoft, not to me. A yearly check-up is £20 if you’d like one.
From £35
Managed backup
Your files are backed up every night, and I make sure it keeps working.
- Automatic nightly backup of your important files to a secure UK data centre, separate from your Google, Apple or Microsoft account.
- Encrypted on your computer before it leaves, so nobody else can read it.
- Older versions are kept (every day for a month, every month for a year), so a deleted folder or a virus can be undone.
- If your backup stops, I get an alert and sort it, usually before you’d notice.
- Every three months I test that your files come back, and send you a short “all good” email.
- Help getting files back is included, whenever you need it.
Best for small businesses and sole traders, families with lots of photos and videos, and anyone who just wants it handled. Read the terms.
From £5 a month + £35 setup per computer
Why managed backup is often the better choice
An external drive is a good safety net, but it only works while it’s plugged in, and it sits in the same house as your computer. A fire, a burglary or a power surge can take both. Managed backup runs every night, keeps a copy away from home, and if it stops, I know about it before you do.
| Question | Cloud sync on its own | Check-up & setup | Managed backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Someone checks it’s working | No | Once, when it’s set up | Every day |
| Undo a deletion or virus | Usually 30 days at most | Yes, from the external drive | Yes, up to a year back |
| Keeps going when storage fills up | No | Only if you pay for more | Yes, space included |
| Safe if your Google or Apple account is hacked or locked | No | The external drive is | Yes, separate and encrypted |
| A copy kept away from your home | Yes | Yes, in your cloud account | Yes |
| Help getting files back | You’re on your own | Shown how at setup | Included, any time |
Managed backup plans
Home
1 computer, up to 250 GB
£5 a month
Family
Up to 3 computers, 1 TB shared
£9 a month
Business
Per computer, with a written plan for getting you working again
£12 a month per computer
Every plan has a one-off setup fee of £35 per computer. Full details are in the backup terms.
Backup questions
Can you see my files?
No. Your files are encrypted on your own computer, with a password, before they’re sent anywhere. I can keep a sealed copy of that password for you, so I can still get your files back if you forget it, or you can keep it yourself. It’s your choice, and I’ll confirm it in writing.
I already pay for Google One, iCloud or OneDrive. Do I need this?
Maybe not. Paid cloud storage plus an external drive, set up properly, is fine for a lot of homes, and that’s exactly what the check-up does. Managed backup is for when you want someone else watching it, older versions kept for a year, and a copy that doesn’t depend on your Google or Apple account.
What if I want to stop?
Cancel any time. I’ll help you take a full copy of your files first, then delete your backup and confirm in writing that it’s gone. The full Managed Backup terms are in plain English.
Which computers does it work with?
Windows and Linux computers. The check-up also covers the cloud side of iPhones and Android phones (iCloud and Google Photos).
Not sure which suits you?
Ask for a free backup check and I’ll tell you honestly what you’ve got and what’s missing.