MAC Laptop Backup advice needed

[Face-Man]

Our Head and Deputy Head have just bought brand new mac laptops and I've been given the job of setting them up.

 

Their old ones were backed up using an old timecapsule but this is unreliable and a big risk as unsupported hardware.

 

I'm going to set them up with onedrive but I know that they will save something vital locally that will then go missing. Also with Mac updates sometimes failing being able to rebuild the MAC from a backup like time machine would be invaluable.

 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a backup solution ideally saving to the storage we get with 0365 or Google workspace as well as a local network copy. There is budget for a one off purchase but not for cloud storage revenue costs.

[2ilent8cho]

Just use OneDrive with known folder move so it also backs up the Desktop and Documents folder, then use an Apple ID to backup other things like Keychains, Safari Favorites, Notes.

[computer_expert]

then use an Apple ID to backup other things like Keychains, Safari Favorites, Notes.

 

I'd use a managed apple ID instead. Take note of what services are not permitted though.

Edited March 23, 2023 by computer_expert

[Mrpower]

A Synology NAS can be used as a Local / Network Time Machine. I have two of our Synology NAS set up with Time Machine ability. Using the hyper back up software in the NAS, you could back up the files to the Cloud. Alternatively, you could create a FreeNas / TrueNas server and backup the Mac on to that using TimeMachine (local backup).

I did notice on my own M1 MacBook when I signed into iCloud it offered me the option to have all my files stored in the cloud and have the MacBook as an access point to those files. As it removed the local folders such as "Documents" or "downloads" and put them in the iCloud which meant that the only file stored on the local drive where temporary files which would be backup to the cloud. Well that's what I would imagine would happen.