#32 - From The Trenches - Backups, Ransomware & Service that Answer (William Oppenheimer)

In this From the Trenches episode, William Oppenheimer, CEO of Enveloc, Inc., joins Josh Peterson to unpack what really matters in modern backup strategy for MSPs. Starting from a pivotal moment in 1995—when a friend’s CAD drawings nearly vanished because there was no automatic backup—William walks through how that wake-up call evolved into a full backup and restoration platform. He explains how today’s solution uses AES 256-bit encryption, local and cloud copies, and policy-driven software to back up everything from on-prem servers to roaming laptops, while still keeping restores simple enough to execute under pressure.

For service leaders and vCIOs, this conversation functions as a practical blueprint for turning backup from a forgotten chore into a disciplined business continuity practice. William and Josh dig into daily status reporting, color-coded exceptions, test restores, and ransomware-resilient media that’s hidden from the OS, as well as why real humans answering the phone at 2 a.m. often matter more than logo size. They also connect backup strategy to broader financial and operational planning, showing how a well-run backup stack supports the kind of goal setting and execution that BMK drives through the BMK Vision operating system.

For MSPs sharpening their backup and recovery strategy, explore more From the Trenches conversations, BMK articles, and resources on the BMK Vision Podcast main page →

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Episode Highlights

• 00:00:31 – How a single CAD backup in 1995 revealed that “computers don’t back themselves up” and sparked a 30-year backup career.
• 00:04:09 – Walking through AES 256-bit encryption, local plus cloud copies, and why end-to-end security is table stakes for modern backups.
• 00:10:16 – Daily, color-coded reports that let MSPs see backup health at a glance and fix issues before clients feel the pain.
• 00:13:33 – Ransomware defense in depth, including hidden backup drives that stay invisible to the operating system—and to malware.
• 00:17:46 – Why 24/7 live, human support during a restore beats slick marketing when an MSP is staring down a real outage.
• 00:22:42 – Growing through MSP channel partnerships, with flexible models that balance commissions, discounts, and white-glove service.
• 00:32:17 – Using AI tools like ChatGPT to accelerate software development, troubleshooting, and even customer communications.

About the Guest

William Oppenheimer is the CEO of Enveloc, Inc., a backup and restoration software company based in Mobile, Alabama. A 30-year veteran of data protection, he has helped organizations move from tape-based rotations to encrypted, cloud-hybrid backup strategies that prioritize clean restores, ransomware resilience, and responsive, human support.

🌐 Visit Enveloc →
💼 Connect with William on LinkedIn →

About the Host

Josh Peterson is the CEO of Bering McKinley and host of the BMK Vision Podcast. Through the From the Trenches series, Josh surfaces honest, tactical stories from MSP leaders who are building resilient, profitable firms in the real world.

💼 Connect with Josh on LinkedIn →
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