Ransomware encrypting files and systems
Accidental deletion of critical files or emails
Hardware failure with no recent backup
Cloud data loss from sync errors or misconfiguration
Departing staff taking or deleting data
No tested recovery plan when it is needed most
We implement backup solutions for physical and virtual servers, workstations, and business-critical endpoints. This includes image-based backups that capture your entire system state, not just files, so that in the event of a failure, you can restore a complete, working environment rather than rebuilding from scratch.
Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and other cloud platforms do not automatically back up your data. Under the shared responsibility model, Microsoft ensures the platform stays online, protecting your organisation's data is your responsibility. We implement cloud backup solutions that give you full restore capabilities for emails, files, conversations, and user accounts across your SaaS environment.
There is an important distinction between backup and business continuity. Backup allows you to recover data. Business continuity means your operations can continue, or resume quickly, even when critical systems fail. For organisations where downtime is not an option, we implement solutions that provide instant failover capability, keeping your business operational even during server outages, network failures, or site-level disasters.
Having backups is not the same as being prepared. We work with your organisation to design and document a disaster recovery plan that covers the scenarios most relevant to your business, ransomware, hardware failure, fire, flood, site outages, and cloud service disruption. This includes defined recovery time objectives, communication plans, prioritised system recovery order, and regular testing to ensure the plan works when it needs to.
Many organisations assume their Microsoft 365 data is safe because it is in the cloud. It is not fully protected by default. We implement dedicated Microsoft 365 backup solutions covering Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive, giving you the ability to restore individual items, entire mailboxes, or complete site collections quickly and without data loss.
Whether your environment is fully cloud-based, hybrid, or still running on-premise servers, we provide data protection designed for your architecture. We support Microsoft 365 and SaaS platforms, Azure and hybrid cloud setups, on-premise servers including Windows, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware, NAS and SAN devices, and workstations across distributed or remote teams.
If you are moving to Step Fwd IT from another provider, your data protection is prioritised from day one. Our onboarding process includes full discovery and documentation of your existing backup environment, validation that your backups are working before any changes are made, and a structured transition that ensures no gap in protection during the handover.
A cost-effective, cloud-first approach that protects files, systems, and devices with reliable, automated backups stored securely offsite. Recovery involves restoring from the cloud, which means some downtime during the process. This model suits organisations where a short recovery window is acceptable and the priority is protecting data rather than maintaining continuous operations.
Best suited for
A more comprehensive model that goes beyond backup to provide instant failover capability. In the event of a server failure or site-level disaster, your systems can continue running from a failover environment, locally or in the cloud, with minimal interruption to your operations. This model suits organisations where downtime carries significant financial, operational, or compliance consequences.
Best suited for
When something goes wrong, you can restore quickly and confidently. Your backups are tested, your plan is documented, and your team knows what to do.
From on-premise servers to cloud platforms and SaaS applications, every layer of your environment is covered. No gaps, no assumptions.
For regulated industries, your data protection posture can be clearly documented and evidenced. Auditors, insurers, and clients get the assurance they need.
Immutable, versioned backups mean that even if ransomware encrypts your systems, you have a clean restore point. The damage is contained rather than catastrophic.
Moving providers or making significant changes to your environment does not create a window of vulnerability. Protection is validated and maintained throughout.
Your disaster recovery plan is not a document that sits in a drawer. It is a tested, maintained process that your team is familiar with before they ever need to use it.
We review your current backup environment, identify gaps, and understand your recovery time requirements. If you have no existing protection in place, we start with a full discovery of your environment.
You receive a clear proposal that explains what we recommend, why, and what it will cost. We explain the difference between your options in plain terms so you can make an informed decision.
We deploy and configure your protection solution with minimal disruption, ensuring backups are running and validated before we consider the work complete.
We test your backups and recovery processes to confirm they work. A backup that has never been tested is not a backup you can rely on.
We monitor your backup environment continuously, alert you to any failures, and manage your protection as your environment evolves.
National Winner — Australian Achiever Awards, Information Technology & Communication Services
You work with a consistent group of engineers who understand your environment from day one. The engineer who takes your call owns it through to resolution, with support from the wider pod when needed. Issues do not bounce between siloed teams.
We take the time to understand how your organisation operates and what you are working toward. Support is shaped by that context. Guidance is focused on long-term improvement, not short-term fixes, and decisions are made with shared understanding, not guesswork.
Your support team is based in Australia. There is no offshore escalation, no handover delays, and no ambiguity about who you are speaking to. Communication is clear, response times are consistent, and your engineers understand the standards and expectations of Australian organisations.
Yes. Cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 ensure the platform stays online, but they do not fully back up your organisation's data. Accidental deletion, ransomware, sync errors, and malicious activity can all cause data loss in cloud environments. A dedicated backup solution gives you the ability to restore specific items or entire environments regardless of what caused the loss.
Backup allows you to recover your data after an incident, but recovery takes time. Business continuity goes further, it provides instant failover capability so your systems can continue running even when primary infrastructure fails. The right approach depends on how much downtime your organisation can tolerate.
RPO stands for Recovery Point Objective, the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. If your RPO is four hours, you are accepting that in a worst-case scenario you may lose up to four hours of data. RTO stands for Recovery Time Objective, the maximum acceptable time to restore operations after an incident. Understanding your RPO and RTO helps us design a protection solution that matches your actual requirements.
Recovery time depends on your protection model and the nature of the incident. Cloud backup solutions typically require downloading and restoring data, which takes longer. Full business continuity solutions provide instant failover, meaning your systems can be running again in minutes rather than hours. We define your recovery time objectives as part of the planning process so you know what to expect before an incident occurs.
No. Microsoft operates under a shared responsibility model, they ensure the platform is available, but protecting your organisation's data is your responsibility. This means emails, SharePoint files, Teams conversations, and OneDrive documents are not fully backed up by default and can be permanently lost through accidental deletion, ransomware, or account compromise.
Yes. We design and document disaster recovery plans that cover the scenarios most relevant to your business, including ransomware, hardware failure, fire, flood, and site outages. Importantly, we also test these plans, a disaster recovery plan that has never been rehearsed is not one you can rely on.
Yes. Our onboarding process includes a full review of your existing backup environment. We validate that your current backups are working before making any changes, and we ensure there is no gap in protection during the transition.
We support a wide range of environments including Microsoft 365 and other SaaS platforms, Azure and hybrid cloud setups, on-premise servers running Windows, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware, NAS and SAN devices, and workstations across distributed or remote teams.
With a conversation. We take the time to understand your current environment and your recovery requirements before making any recommendations. There is no obligation and no pressure, just a clear discussion about what protection is right for your organisation.
