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Digissential

Cloud Backup Setup

Serving Stellenbosch & surrounds • Transparent pricing • POPIA-aligned

cloud-backup-setup — Digissential

What’s included

  • Pick a cloud that fits your needs and budget
  • Set folders, schedules, versioning, and encryption
  • Seed the first backup; throttle so Wi-Fi stays usable
  • Do a test restore and show you how it works
  • One-page guide for future restores

Details

TL;DR: We set up automatic, encrypted cloud backups, test a restore, and leave you with a simple guide.
Local: Popular with SU students, busy homes in Welgevonden/Die Boord, and Technopark teams who can’t risk lost files.

Symptoms we fix

  • “I don’t have a backup. If my laptop dies, I’m sunk.”
  • Files only live on a USB stick that goes missing
  • OneDrive/Google Drive/iCloud is full or not syncing right
  • Same file in five places; no idea which one is current
  • Ransomware fears or “what if it gets stolen?” stress

How we do it (at a glance)

We talk about what matters: school work, client folders, photos, POS data.
We help you pick a cloud that fits. Then we:

  1. Install and sign in
  2. Choose folders to include (and what to skip)
  3. Turn on encryption and version history
  4. Set a schedule and bandwidth caps
  5. Seed the first backup and watch it start
  6. Do a test restore so you see your files come back
    You get a one-page guide with screenshots. No tech speak.

Time & cost in Stellenbosch

  • Labour: R250 per machine for setup and the first test restore
  • Cloud plan: Billed by the provider (month or year). We’ll show the current price before you choose.
  • Turnaround: Often same day once the account is ready and the first sync begins. Big uploads continue in the background.

Do-nots (to protect your data)

  • Don’t rely on a sync folder as your only “backup.” If you delete it, it’s gone everywhere.
  • Don’t keep your only copy on a single USB stick. They get lost.
  • Don’t write your encryption key on a sticky note that can vanish.
  • Don’t unplug an external drive while it’s backing up.

When to stop DIY & call us

  • Drive shows errors or makes clicking sounds
  • Ransomware pop-ups, or files suddenly end in weird extensions
  • Cloud app is stuck “pending” for days
  • iCloud/Drive created endless duplicates and you’re scared to clean it
  • You changed laptops and nothing matches anymore

Real-world notes from around town

  • SU first-year (Huis Marais): Laptop stolen at the Neelsie. Because we set cloud backup the week before, he signed in and got his essay back in minutes.
  • Die Boord family: Photos spread over phones, a desktop, and an old laptop. We pulled them into one library and set phone auto-upload. No more “where is that birthday picture?”
  • Technopark SME: Staff saved files on Desktops only. We moved key work into a shared, backed-up folder and set easy restores. Staff kept their habits; data got safer.

Simple care tips

  • Keep your laptop on power overnight once a week so the backup can finish
  • Do a small restore test once a term (we show you how)
  • Add your phone’s camera roll to auto-upload — it’s painless and saves memories
  • When changing PCs, ask us to point the new one at the same backup set so history stays intact

Need help choosing a provider?

We’ll compare a few options in plain words: storage size, price, version history, external-drive support, and how easy it is to restore. You pick. We set it up. If you already pay for a cloud (e.g., with your school or work account), we can use that and save money.

POPIA-aware handling • CPA-aligned warranties • Lawful e-waste routing on request (with data-wipe certificate)