1. Name the files you could not work without: client records, invoices, contracts, and photos.
2. Find where each set lives: one computer, a shared drive, or a cloud service.
3. Check that the backup service shows a recent date for those folders.
4. Restore one harmless sample file without replacing the working copy, then open it.
5. Write down who can sign in to the backup and how they would recover that account.
6. Export a copy of the records kept in rented tools, such as booking or accounting software, on a schedule.

On a Mac

1. Time Machine backs up to an external drive or a network drive. Open System Settings > General > Time Machine to see the date of the last backup.
2. To test a restore, open the folder in Finder, then choose Browse Time Machine Backups from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, or open Time Machine with Spotlight. Pick an earlier version of one harmless file and click Restore. Time Machine puts it back in the same folder, so if it asks, choose Keep Both. Do not choose Replace, because that overwrites the current file.

On Windows 11

1. With a personal Microsoft account, Settings > Accounts > Windows backup shows which folders sync to OneDrive. With a work or school account, open OneDrive settings and choose Sync and backup > Manage backup. Either way, this is sync, not a separate copy.
2. File History, in Control Panel under System and Security, copies folders to an external drive or network location on a schedule.

In OneDrive or SharePoint

1. Deleted files go to the recycle bin, but only for a limited time: 30 days for personal accounts and usually 93 days for work or school accounts. Version history restores an earlier copy of a file.

• No one can say where the copy lives or when it last ran.
• The only copy is a sync service, where a deletion can reach every device.
• A restore test fails or the file opens damaged.

We check what is copied, how often, where the copy lives, and whether it is separate from the working files. Then we run a safe restore test with you and record the steps. If the business needs a second copy or a different schedule, we explain the options and what each one depends on.

Is cloud sync the same as a backup?

Not always. Sync keeps files the same across devices, so a deleted or damaged file can disappear everywhere. A backup keeps separate earlier copies you can restore. Some services do both, so check the version history and how far back it goes. Little Fight NYC sets up and tests small business backups, including a real restore.

How often should we test a restore?

Test after setting up a backup, after a big change, and on a regular schedule the business can keep. A small restore test proves more than a green check mark. Little Fight NYC can run the first one with you.