Data Backup & Cloud Storage: How Your Scheduled Backups Work and How to Restore a file

Data loss can be catastrophic for any business. Whether caused by accidental file deletion, localized hardware storage failure, or a malicious cyber attack, a dependable backup framework is your ultimate safety net. ALCO USA manages a resilient, multi-tiered cloud backup strategy that mirrors and protects critical production data continuously.

However, understanding where data is securely backed up—and how to retrieve it yourself—is a foundational skill for every team member.

Where Should You Save Your Files?
Our automated infrastructure backups can only protect files that reside in approved, monitored enterprise directories. Files stored locally outside these locations are invisible to our cloud sync utilities.

• Secure & Monitored Storage Locations (Safe to Use):
  • Your corporate OneDrive or Google Drive sync folders.
  • Company SharePoint Document Libraries or shared network drives (e.g., the S:\ or P:\ drive).
  • Your system Desktop and Documents folders (if folder backup redistribution is active on your profile).
• Unmonitored Local Storage Locations (High Risk - Do Not Use):
  • The local C: root folder or custom local partitions.
  • The temporary Downloads folder.
  • Physical external USB flash drives or unmanaged external hard drives.

** Backup Cadence and Recovery Windows**
Our cloud architecture operates on a precise retention schedule to balance data history depth with organizational agility:

Self-Service File Restoration (Step-by-Step)
If you accidentally modify or delete an important document, you do not always need to wait for a technician to open a backup vault. You can leverage self-service version histories directly from your computer.

Restoring via Microsoft OneDrive/SharePoint

1. Open your file explorer and locate the target document folder.
2. Right-click the file you wish to roll back and select Version History from the context menu.
3. A panel will appear displaying a chronological list of every user save event, along with the date, time, and name of the person who modified it.
4. Click the three dots next to the historical version you want to recover.
5. Select Restore to overwrite your current draft, or choose Download to save a standalone copy of that specific point-in-time version for a side-by-side comparison.

Restoring Deleted Items
If a folder or file was deleted entirely, check the native cloud trash bin:

1. Log into your corporate account online via browser (e.g., office.com or drive.google.com).
2. Click the Recycle Bin or Trash icon located in the primary left navigation pane.
3. Find your file, select it, and click Restore. The asset will immediately return to its original folder structure with its previous security sharing configurations fully intact.

When to Escalate to Support: If an entire subfolder directory vanishes, or if you suspect data corruption across a network drive, do not attempt manual recoveries. Stop editing data immediately and log an urgent ticket with the ALCO USA Help Center via phone or your desktop app agent to deploy an engineered system rollback.

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