A NAS can be useful for shared files, local backups and small office organisation. But having a NAS does not automatically mean the business has a safe backup. The device itself can fail, files can be deleted, ransomware can sync damage, and permissions can be misconfigured.

Start by identifying what the NAS is doing. Is it the main file storage, a backup destination, or both? If it is both, there may still be no separate backup when the NAS fails.

Check restore, not just backup

A backup is only useful if it can be restored. Pick a non-sensitive test file and confirm that old versions or deleted files can be recovered. Check whether critical folders such as accounting, customer documents and project files are included.

External USB drives, cloud backup and offsite copies may still be needed depending on the business risk.

Keep access tidy

Shared passwords and broad permissions make recovery harder after mistakes. User access should match the job rather than giving every device full control.

AEPC / AKL East PC can help Auckland small businesses review computer backup basics and data access priorities. Contact us with your current setup and what files matter most.