2024/2025 Service Definition

Remote Data Backup (RBUSS)

About the Service

Our Remote Data Backup (RBUSS) service is based on Redstor's RBUSS and is a secure, cloud-hosted backup service suitable for all schools with options to protect both administration and curriculum data.

As well as being used to backup business critical information in SIMS and FMS (to help meet the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS)), it can also be used to back up all admin files and curriculum data.

As schools increasingly move to storing their essential data in the cloud, the service also includes an option for backing up data stored in your school's Microsoft 365 tenancy. The service helps schools meet the DfE recommendations in the Technology Standards for Cyber Security in schools and colleges.

What are the benefits?

  • The service enables your school to protect important sensitive data using a secure, encrypted, automatic and cost-effective off-site backup service. Backups are encrypted before leaving school and are securely transferred and stored in two separate UK-based data centres, providing security and recoverability of critical school data.
  • It helps your school comply with its obligations under the Data Protection Act, GDPR and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) best practice guidance. It can also help your school in meeting the published DfE guidance, 'Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges', in relation to backup.
  • No backup hardware is needed on-site, so no more worrying about retrieving data from tapes or whether your backup data is reliable and secure – it removes the requirement to purchase, manage and maintain local backup solutions.
  • Quick and easy data recovery is built in for excellent disaster recovery and business continuity.
  • The RBUSS service automatically carries out daily backups of your school's data via an ESS SIMS approved backup service; this is currently the only ESS approved service for backing up SIMS data.
  • Redstor, the providers of RBUSS, are certified to ISO27001 and ISO9001 standards.

What's Included?

Remote Data Backup (RBUSS) Service Options

We currently offer two remote data backup (RBUSS) service options for data on servers hosted at school:

  • Full System Backup - as either Whole School backup (can backup data on multiple servers) OR Administration/SIMS Server Backup (can backup data on a single SIMS server)
  • Selective Backup - as either Whole School backup (can backup data on multiple servers) OR Administration/SIMS Server Backup (can backup data on a single SIMS server).

We also offer:

  • Microsoft 365 Tenancy Backup - a managed service option based on Redstor's Tenancy Backup Service.

This new service launched in 2023 is to support schools transitioning to cloud-based services, by helping to ensure that your school's important data stored in the cloud is also backed up and retrievable as part of your school's disaster recovery plan.

Service Features

Data Backup Options for School Servers:

 Feature Description

Remote Backup
  • Provision and configuration of software to enable a daily Remote Backup including ESS SIMS, Finance FMS, selection of standard files and folders, etc. The software can be installed and configured on the school's curriculum server, administration servers and PCs, dependent on the individual school's need.
  • Office 365 backup will occur at a tenant level for selected users and content.

Offsite Backup Storage
  • Schools can choose from a range of bandings to match the amount of data they wish to backup.
  • All data is encrypted in transit to and from your school ensuring maximum protection for your sensitive data.
  • Encrypted backup data is stored in dual UK based data centres providing your school with secure off-site backups. 

Data Recovery

Data can be recovered on request from:

  • Every daily backup from this month
  • Every daily backup from last month
  • Last backup of the previous two months

Administration
  • RBUSS is monitored daily, with reports created indicating success or failure of scheduled backups.
  • Incidents are logged for failures and schools are contacted to advise them of the failure and the issues are resolved, where possible, at first contact.
Type of Backup Description

Full System Backup (Recommended Option)

This industry standard approach ensures that in the event of a complete server loss or hardware failure, or in the event of a ransomware attack, that all data on whichever device is being backed up can be restored.

This support model aims to help schools meet the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure full backups of all essential data, making restoration after cyber-attack easier. This model provides:

  • Full System Backup of all data on the protected server
  • Includes system state backup (servers only)
  • Includes SIMS data backup (SIMS servers only)

In most instances, schools changing to this service will require a larger backup data storage option than the selective backup option.

Selective Backup

Your backup will be configured by default to:

  • Back up the system state (servers only) and SIMS data only.
  • Plus a standard selection of folders and the files they contain, to ensure additional important user data that the school needs is backed up. Please see specification table for the default list of locations that will be backed up.

Data Backup Capacity Options:

Option Storage Capacity Details

Whole School Backup Option

 

Storage options available:

  • 300GB
  • 400GB
  • 500GB
  • 750GB
  • 1TB
  • 1.25TB
  • 1.5TB
  • 1.75TB
  • 2TB
  • 2.5TB
  • 3TB
  • 3.5TB
  • 4TB

 

  • This is our recommended option as it provides schools with the ability to backup data on multiple servers or desktops.
  • This option will be configured as either Full System Backup or Selective Backup, as requested.
  • This option can also be configured to provide secure remote backup of data on key staff laptops and computers E.g. Headteacher, Safeguarding lead etc.
  • This service provides unlimited backup licences enabling schools to backup multiple servers and data.
  • Each device will require installation of the RBUSS ESE client.
  • Larger data backup capacities available on request - see Prices table or contact us at: EducationDigitalServices@Lancashire.gov.uk

Administration / SIMS Server Backup Options
(50GB ‐ 100GB)

Storage options available:

  • 50GB
  • 75GB
  • 100GB
  • This option includes a single server licence.
  • Most schools require approximately 50GB to back up SIMS data only.
  • This option will be configured as either Full System Backup (very small servers/devices) or Selective Backup, as requested.

Microsoft 365 Tenancy Backup Options

Option Storage Capacity Description
Staff Only

Total capacity is based on:

  • 50GB per staff member

The Staff Only Microsoft 365 Backup is based on the total number of Faculty licences (Staff) in your Microsoft 365 tenancy.

All Faculty licences must be included, total backup capacity in gigabytes (GB) equals number of licences multiplied by 50.

Special Offer:  For a limited period up to 8 March 2024, we are offering schools an option to purchase a Staff and Pupils data backup option (see pricing section). Schools who opted onto the Staff and Pupils option in 2023/24 receive:

Staff and Pupils

Total capacity is based on:

  • 5GB per staff and pupil numbers combined

The Staff & Pupils Microsoft 365 Backup is based on the combined total number of Faculty licences (Staff) and Student licences (Pupils) allocated in your Microsoft 365 tenancy.

The total backup capacity in gigabytes (GB) equals the total number of licences multiplied by five.

Notes:

  • The backup capacity is available for use by the whole Microsoft 365 tenancy. Users are not allocated a personal backup allocation – the number of licences is used to define the total backup capacity (GB) available for the tenancy backup. See Additional Information section for restoration process, full details of items included and excluded from the backup service.
  • If the data to be backed up exceeds the total backup capacity, additional charges will apply (see Add-on Data Capacity price table).
  • For each subscribed user (Faculty or Student licence), we will back up the following:
    - Your Exchange Online Mailbox,
    - Your OneDrive contents,
    - Your OneNote contents.
  • We will also backup per Microsoft 365 tenancy:
    - SharePoint content,
    - Teams content.