Managed IT & Support
Cybersecurity
Cloud, Backup & Network
Your files, servers and Microsoft 365 data are copied to secure offsite storage every day, checked by real people and restored fast when something goes wrong, all for one predictable monthly fee.
Get a Free IT AssessmentA cloud backup service makes a copy of your business data and stores it in a secure data center far from your office. If a laptop dies, a server fails or someone deletes the wrong folder, you get the files back. If your building loses power or floods, your data is still safe somewhere else. That is the whole point of the cloud part.
Most Chicago offices need more than a folder synced to a cloud drive. Sync tools copy mistakes as fast as they copy good work. Real backup keeps older versions, so you can go back to last Tuesday before the bad file overwrote the good one. It also covers servers, line-of-business software and databases, not just documents.
Good cloud backup is something you check, not something you hope about. Jobs run every night, someone reads the reports, failures get fixed and restores are tested on a schedule. You should know how much data is protected, how long it is kept and how long a full restore would take before you ever need one.
Chicago has its share of ways to lose data. Basement server rooms flood after heavy spring storms. Older downtown buildings lose power during summer heat and winter freezes. Laptops get left in rideshares and stolen from cars. A backup that sits on a drive next to your server fails right along with it. Offsite copies do not.
Ransomware is the other big reason. Attackers look for backups first and try to encrypt or delete them. Cloud backup with separate credentials, versioning and locked retention gives you a clean copy they cannot easily reach. It will not stop an attack, but it turns a business-ending event into a bad week.
Everything below is part of one monthly plan. Pick a topic to see what is handled for you and how it works in a Chicago office.
Shared drives, file servers, databases and key laptops are backed up on a set schedule, usually overnight, with more frequent runs for systems that change all day. Data is encrypted before it leaves your office and stays encrypted in storage.
Backup jobs are matched to how you work. An accounting server may need several backups a day, while an archive folder needs only one. You choose how long versions are kept, and we help you set that based on your business needs.
Microsoft keeps its service running, but your data is still your responsibility. Deleted mailboxes, overwritten files and departing employees are common causes of loss, and the built-in recycle bins only reach back so far.
A separate backup of Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams files gives you longer retention and simple restores. You can recover a single email, a folder or a whole mailbox without opening a support case with anyone.
Modern ransomware hunts for backups before it locks anything. Cloud backup is stored under separate credentials, with multifactor sign-in and retention that cannot be shortened by a single compromised account.
Immutable storage means a copy, once written, cannot be changed or erased for a set period. If your main systems are encrypted, you still have clean data to restore from, and you can decide when to restore rather than being forced to.
Backups fail quietly. A full disk, a changed password or a new server nobody added can leave you unprotected for weeks. Each job is monitored, and failures are flagged and fixed, not left in an unread email.
On a regular schedule, real restores are run to prove the data comes back and opens correctly. You get a short report showing what was protected, what was tested and how long recovery took, in plain English.
Cloud backup pricing depends on how much data you protect, how many devices and users are covered, how long copies are kept and how fast you need to recover. A small office with a few laptops costs far less than a firm with several servers.
After a free assessment you get a written quote that lists what is covered and what is not. If you want to compare options, our cost article explains the typical ranges and the factors that move the price up or down.
Plenty of companies can fix a laptop. These are the three reasons clients mention most when they explain why they picked Ping Chicago.
Your technicians know how Loop high-rises handle building access, why basement server closets flood in summer storms and how long it really takes to reach Oak Brook at 4 p.m. That local knowledge turns into faster, calmer fixes.
Your network, devices and backups are watched around the clock. Most issues are caught and fixed before anyone in your office notices, and the rest are explained to you in plain English.
You get a written per-user quote after a free assessment, with every included service listed. No hourly surprises, no emergency rates and no fine print about what counts as extra.
Your data matters the same wherever your office sits, from a Loop high-rise to a storefront practice in Lincoln Park. Backup runs over the internet, so the main differences are connection speed and how much data you carry.
Most Loop offices share a building’s internet riser, wiring closets and security desk. Managed IT here means working with property management on access and cabling, keeping remote access stable for commuters and scheduling after-hours work around building rules.
Creative agencies need fast Wi-Fi for large files and constant video calls, while medical offices near Northwestern Memorial need HIPAA-ready systems. Both get the same help desk, with security matched to the data they store.
Teams here grow fast, so new hires need laptops, accounts and access on their first day. Managed IT keeps onboarding repeatable and the network ready for the next floor or the next office.
Dental and medical practices, therapists and small firms run on a few critical systems: scheduling, imaging and billing. Managed IT keeps them patched, backed up and running before the first appointment of the day.
Point-of-sale systems, guest Wi-Fi and a handful of laptops can still take a shop offline. Managed IT separates guest and business networks and keeps payment systems updated and monitored.
Event, hospitality and professional offices near McCormick Place deal with seasonal rushes. Managed IT scales support around busy weeks and keeps shared and public spaces secure.
Practices and offices in Evanston and Skokie get the same remote help desk as downtown clients, with on-site visits scheduled for hardware, cabling and network work.
Logistics and distribution businesses near O’Hare run warehouses, scanners and shipping systems around the clock. Managed IT monitors those networks 24/7 and plans updates outside shift changes.
Many offices start with a consumer storage account or an external drive. Both can work for a single person, but they leave gaps once a business depends on the data.
| Topic | Ping Chicago | DIY Cloud Storage | Local Backup Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offsite protection | Encrypted copies stored in secure data centers | Offsite, but often just synced files | None unless someone takes the drive home |
| Version history | Set to match your retention needs | Limited, often 30 days or less | Depends on the software and drive size |
| Server & database coverage | Yes, with application-aware backups | Usually files only | Possible, but needs setup & upkeep |
| Ransomware resilience | Separate credentials & locked retention | Synced files can be encrypted too | Drive is often encrypted along with the PC |
| Monitoring | Reviewed daily, failures fixed | You check it yourself | Rarely checked until it is needed |
| Restore testing | Scheduled and reported | Almost never done | Almost never done |
| Typical cost | Monthly fee based on data & devices | Low monthly fee, extra work for you | Low upfront cost, high risk |
You stop wondering whether your data is safe and start knowing it is.
Deleted files, damaged servers and lost laptops become routine restores.
Clean, protected copies mean you are not forced to pay anyone.
Restore times are measured in advance, so you know what to expect.
Pricing is based on devices and storage, with no surprise bills.
Backup needs vary by what you store and how fast you must be back online.
Patient records and imaging files need encrypted backups and restores that are tested and documented.
Law FirmsClient files and case documents stay protected, with older versions kept for as long as your firm requires.
Dental OfficesPractice software, x-rays and schedules are backed up so you can see patients the next morning.
Financial ServicesClient data and records are kept offsite with controlled access and clear retention.
Our old provider took a day to answer. Now a typical ticket is closed in about 12 minutes, and password resets happen while I’m still on the phone. Our staff stopped complaining about IT within the first month, which never happened before.
We were nervous about changing providers with deadlines ahead. The whole move took three weeks, email and files kept working throughout, and every login and device was documented. Not one person missed a day of work because of it.
We used to get surprise invoices every time something broke. Now it’s one predictable monthly bill, and problems get flagged before we notice them. Planning our IT budget takes five minutes instead of an argument with the owner.
After a free assessment, you get a written quote that shows what is backed up, how long it is kept and what it costs each month.
Most small offices pay a monthly fee based on how much data and how many devices they protect. A few laptops cost far less than several servers with large databases. Retention length and recovery speed also affect the price. A free assessment gives you a written quote.
No. Sync tools mirror changes, including deletions and ransomware damage, across every copy. Backup keeps separate, versioned copies you can roll back to. If a file is overwritten or encrypted, a backup lets you restore an earlier clean version.
It depends on how much data you restore and your internet speed. A single file or mailbox takes minutes. A full server can take hours or longer. Restore times are tested ahead of time so you know what to expect before an emergency.
It helps a great deal, but it is not a complete defense. Backups stored under separate credentials with locked retention give you clean copies even if your network is encrypted. You still need security tools and training to reduce the chance of an attack.
Yes, in most cases. Microsoft keeps its platform running, but deleted items, overwritten files and departed employee accounts can be hard or impossible to recover after the built-in retention windows expire. A separate backup gives you longer protection and easier restores.
Most offices back up nightly, and systems that change all day, like accounting or practice software, may be backed up several times daily. The right schedule depends on how much work you can afford to redo. We help you set it during the assessment.
Your data is stored in secure, encrypted data centers in the United States, away from your office. You can ask where your copies live and who can access them. Encryption keys and access are controlled and documented as part of the service.
Yes. Application-aware backups can protect file servers, virtual machines and common databases so they restore in a usable state. Some older or specialized software needs extra setup, which is reviewed during the assessment before you commit.
Backups pause and then catch up when the connection returns. Local copies can also be kept onsite for fast restores while the cloud copy remains your protection against theft, fire or flooding. We check your bandwidth to make sure nightly jobs finish on time.
Retention is set to fit your needs, often a mix of daily copies for a few weeks and monthly copies for a year or more. Some industries must keep records longer. We help you choose a schedule and explain the storage cost of each option.
Need something slightly different? These services cover the same ground from another angle.
A free assessment shows what is backed up today, what is missing and what it would cost to fix.