We are a software company providing expense and contract management software for enterprises. For over a decade, we have grown step by step on the foundation of our customers' trust.
Last year, a long-term client—a large private supervision group with multiple subsidiaries and dozens of partners using our system—suddenly reported in the morning that they could not sign in the system.
After a remote check, my colleague's heart sank: the server had been hit by ransomware.
We had reminded the client many times to back up their database and attachments to an external hard drive weekly. However, the client reported that the staff member responsible for this task had left, and the successor did not know how to operate it, so the backups were never performed.
As a software vendor, we only provide software service after-sales support. When the system failed, I always felt we were responsible, that we were at fault—for not truly taking care of the customer's data.
Fortunately, we had an unwritten internal rule: for clients without dedicated IT for backups, our after-sales colleagues would periodically manually back up a copy of their data. Just last week, a colleague had used our machine to perform an off-site backup of the data for our system.
However, another account software data on the server had been entirely encrypted, with no off-site backup. The only available off-site backup was one left by a former finance colleague last May—meaning we could only restore to that point in time at best.
We took immediate action: reinstalled the system, patched vulnerabilities, and hardened the ports. We restored our system's database to last week's version and re-uploaded the attachments. We also asked the client to contact T+ system after-sales support to reinstall the T+ system and restore the database to last May.
What about the missing account vouchers? Fortunately, all accounting vouchers—salaries, payables, reimbursements—were automatically pushed to account via an interface after being generated by our expense control and contract system.
So, the problem was solved. These vouchers were still stored in our system. We batch-repushed the historical vouchers from our system, bit by bit "retrieving" the data.
This was not a simple restoration; it was a "rebirth" of the data.
Afterward, I kept thinking: Customer data cannot be protected by "luck" and "manual backups."
We tried cloud snapshots, but they weren't supported; we tried several backup software, but the configurations were complex, and we never felt entirely at ease.
Until one day, a colleague discovered this "Cross-machine Backup" software.
Its design is clear and easy to understand at a glance. We set our system server as the "Data Source" and an idle old PC in the office as the "Data Storage." After the two ends handshake, they silently transfer data. We set the folders to back up, clicked "Start," and the data automatically synced over, requiring no further intervention.
More crucially, it has a file filtering function that can automatically identify and reject the transmission of abnormal files infected by ransomware, ensuring the backups remain clean.
Cost is almost zero: A discarded 2TB old computer, plug and play, saving thousands in cloud storage fees annually.
Operation is extremely simple: The interface has only a few buttons: "Connect," "Start Backup," and "Restore."
Even the Finance Director can manage it: Now, they only need to check the backup status once a week, as simple as checking email.
Now, we recommend and assist all our clients in installing this solution. We have integrated it into our system. Every time we see that green "Backed Up" indicator, we feel a bit more at ease.
This is no longer just a technical solution; it is the bottom line of our service.
A huge weight has been lifted off our minds. We feel our service is more complete, and our sense of social responsibility has strengthened along with it.
Previously, whenever we heard of a company being hit by ransomware, we were on edge. Now, we have confidence—our clients, at least in the link of data security, will not easily fall.
Thanks to the developers of "Cross-machine Backup." What you have built is not just a tool, but a sense of security.
And thanks to every customer for their trust. We will continue to guard your data, because—
Data is the lifeblood of an enterprise; protection is our responsibility.