Backup for AFAS
AFAS does not automatically create a backup of your HR records and payroll data. Here is what is genuinely at stake — and how to protect it in under an hour.
((Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation))
What is actually stored in AFAS?
AFAS is the daily operational backbone for many HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses. What most users don't realise: all that data is not automatically protected against loss.
Typical data that lives in AFAS and can be lost:
- employee records — personal data, contracts and employment history of all staff
- payroll runs — monthly salary runs including tax and pension deductions
- HR contracts — employment contracts, annexes and amendments
- financial ledger entries — journal entries and cost allocations linked to payroll
All of this data falls under Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation, which means you must be able to reproduce it for 7 years.
Does AFAS automatically create a backup?
AFAS is cloud-based, so your data is safe — right? This is the most common misconception among HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses.
AFAS Software guarantees that the platform runs, not that your data can be recovered after ransomware or errors.
Ransomware
Encrypts everything — including data synchronised via AFAS. Without an offline backup you have no clean recovery point.
Human error
A deleted record, an overwritten import or a mistaken bulk action — AFAS offers limited or no undo functionality after more than limited per module.
Payroll error propagation
An incorrect payroll run that syncs to accounting and pension systems can cascade across multiple connected applications before anyone notices.
How Mindtime protects AFAS data
Mindtime connects directly to AFAS via a local agent combined with the AFAS REST API and creates continuous incremental backups.
| Scenario | AFAS alone | With Mindtime backup |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware encrypts your data | x | ✓ |
| Employee deletes records | x | ✓ |
| Integration overwrites data | x | ✓ |
| Prove GDPR retention obligation | x | ✓ |
| Data on Dutch servers | AFAS-managed cloud (Netherlands) | 100% Netherlands |
What if something goes wrong?
Imagine: it's Monday morning. AFAS is no longer showing data — ransomware locked all payroll files the night before the monthly salary run. What now?
Alert received
Mindtime automatically detects that something is wrong and sends an alert.
Choose a recovery point
Choose the moment before the attack. Every increment is saved.
Local recovery started
Recovery starts directly from the local copy. No waiting for a cloud download.
Operational
Your AFAS environment is running again. All HR records and payroll data is intact.
AFAS and your retention obligation
Data you manage in AFAS typically falls under Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation. That means you are legally required to retain those records for 7 years.
Mindtime stores all AFAS data exclusively on Dutch servers, fully within GDPR jurisdiction.
Mindtime is ISO 27001 certified and ISO 27001 where applicable.
Secure your AFAS data in five steps
Setup takes less than an hour. After that, the backup runs fully automatically.
Request a demo
We show you how Mindtime works for AFAS.
Install the Mindtime agent
The agent is installed on your server or workstation.
Configure the backup schedule
Set which data, how frequently and how long it is retained.
First backup + test recovery
We run a test recovery so you know it works.
Runs automatically
Mindtime runs fully automatically. We schedule a brief quarterly review.
Why HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses choose Mindtime
100% on Dutch soil
Your data never leaves the Netherlands. Two redundant data centres within GDPR jurisdiction.
ISO 27001 + ISO 27001
Independently certified. Annual external audit on processes and security.
Hybrid backup: fast recovery
Local copy for fast recovery and cloud copy for disaster scenarios.
No vendor lock-in
Your data is always yours, in standard formats. You can switch or export at any time.
What is actually stored in AFAS?
AFAS is the daily operational backbone for many HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses. What most users don't realise: all that data is not automatically protected against loss. Typical data that lives in AFAS: employee records, payroll runs, HR contracts and financial ledger entries. All of this falls under Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation, meaning you must be able to reproduce it for 7 years — even after ransomware, a fire or human error.
Does AFAS automatically create a backup?
AFAS is cloud-based, so your data is safe — right? This is the most common misconception among HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses. AFAS offers high availability — meaning the software is almost always online. But availability is not the same as a backup. AFAS Software guarantees that the platform runs, not that your data can be recovered after a ransomware attack, a deleted account or an integration error.
Ransomware
Encrypts everything — including data in AFAS. Without an offline backup you have no clean recovery point.
Human error
A deleted record or bulk import error — AFAS offers limited undo after limited per module.
Payroll error propagation
An incorrect payroll run that syncs to accounting and pension systems can cascade across multiple connected applications before anyone notices.
How Mindtime protects AFAS data
Mindtime connects directly to AFAS via a local agent combined with the AFAS REST API and creates continuous incremental backups — in the background, with no action required on your part. Your data is stored on 100% Dutch servers, fully GDPR-compliant.
| Ransomware encrypts your data | ✗ No recovery | ✓ Restore from pre-attack snapshot |
| Employee deletes records | ✗ Limited undo window | ✓ Record-level recovery |
| Integration overwrites data | ✗ Cannot be undone | ✓ Restore from any point in time |
| GDPR retention obligation | ✗ No audit trail backup | ✓ Point-in-time restore + report |
| Data on Dutch servers | ✗ AFAS-managed cloud (Netherlands) | ✓ 100% Netherlands |
What if something goes wrong?
Imagine: it's Monday morning. An employee notices that AFAS is no longer showing data — ransomware locked all payroll files the night before the monthly salary run. What now? With Mindtime you are back up and running within 2–4 hours.
Alert received — within minutes
Mindtime automatically detects the problem and sends an alert.
Choose a recovery point — to the minute
Select the moment before the attack in the Mindtime dashboard.
Local recovery started — quickly available
Recovery begins immediately from the local copy — no waiting for a cloud download.
Operational — within 2–4 hours
Your AFAS environment is running again. All HR records and payroll data intact. No ransom paid.
Retention obligation for AFAS
Data in AFAS typically falls under Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation. That means you are legally required to retain records for 7 years and to be able to reproduce them during an audit or legal request. Mindtime configures the correct retention period automatically and stores all data on exclusively Dutch servers — fully within GDPR jurisdiction. Mindtime is ISO 27001 certified — independently verified, not self-declared.
Secure your AFAS data in five steps
Setting up backup for AFAS takes less than an hour. After that, the backup runs fully automatically in the background — no manual actions, no maintenance burden.
Request a free demo
We show you how Mindtime works for AFAS — including the integration for your specific environment.
Install the Mindtime agent
The agent is installed on the server or workstation where AFAS is running. Average: 20 minutes.
Configure the backup schedule
Set which data, how frequently and how long — aligned to your 7 years retention obligation.
First backup + test recovery
The first full backup starts immediately. We run a test recovery together so you know it works before you ever need it.
Runs automatically — quarterly review
Mindtime runs fully automatically. Monthly backup reports and a brief quarterly review to keep scope up to date.
Why HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses choose Mindtime
Here is why HR departments, payroll administrators and medium-sized businesses choose Mindtime for backup of AFAS — and why we are different from generic cloud backup solutions.
- ISO 27001
- NEN 7510
- GDPR-compliant
- Dutch servers
🇳🇱 100% Dutch servers
Your data never leaves the Netherlands. Two redundant data centres — fully GDPR-compliant. No US law exposure.
ISO 27001 + ISO 27001
Independently certified. Annual external audit on processes, systems and security.
⚡ Hybrid backup: fast recovery
Local copy for fast recovery (hours, not days). Cloud copy for disaster scenarios.
No vendor lock-in
Your data is always yours, in standard formats. Switch or export at any time.
Frequently asked questions about backup for AFAS
Have a different question? Ask us directly.
Does AFAS automatically create a backup?
AFAS offers high availability, but that is not the same as a backup. AFAS provides high availability on their own platform but does not include an independent backup for customers. Mindtime adds an independent, immutable copy.
How long does setup take?
Installation and configuration takes under an hour on average. After the first full backup, all incrementals run automatically.
What does backup for AFAS cost?
The price depends on data volume and retention window. We provide a tailored quote after a short intake.
What happens when I want to recover data?
Choose the recovery point in the Mindtime dashboard — to the minute. Recover a file, folder or the complete environment. Average: 2–4 hours.
Is Mindtime compliant with Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation?
Yes. ISO 27001 certified, exclusively Dutch data centres, retention configured for 7 years under Dutch Tax Authority + payroll tax obligation.
Does Mindtime also work with Exact Online and Microsoft 365?
Yes. Mindtime works across your complete IT environment — not just AFAS. See also: backup for Exact Online and backup for Microsoft 365.
Protect your AFAS data today
ISO 27001 certified · 100% Dutch servers · Operational within one hour · No vendor lock-in
Free and no obligation. Average setup time: < 1 hour.