Backup & Disaster Recovery: Why Every Business Needs a Plan B
Imagine this: it’s Monday morning, and you’re about to kick off the week with a full client list and a team ready to go. But instead of booting up to a normal day, your systems are down. Worse still, your crucial files are missing. You call your IT support and they ask, “When was your last backup?” If the answer is longer than 24 hours ago – or worse, you don’t know – you’re already in strife.
At Gray Area Consulting, we’ve seen firsthand how a solid backup and disaster recovery (BDR) plan can save a business from disaster. From accidental file deletions to major cyberattacks or natural events like floods, having a reliable backup system can mean the difference between a temporary hiccup and a full-blown shutdown.
What is Backup and Disaster Recovery?
Backup and Disaster Recovery refers to the strategies and tools businesses use to make copies of data (the backup) and restore operations quickly when something goes wrong (the disaster recovery). It’s not just about preventing data loss, but making sure your business can bounce back fast and with minimal disruption.
Why It Matters More Than You Think
Let’s break it down:
- Hardware Fails: Even the best set-ups can crash. And when they do, data can be lost in seconds.
- Human Error: From accidental deletions to misconfigurations, people make mistakes. A good backup system lets you rewind and recover.
- Cyber Threats: Ransomware attacks are on the rise. If your business is hit, having an offsite, secure backup is your best insurance policy.
- Natural Disasters: Think floods, bushfires, or power surges. Physical damage can wipe out your hardware, but cloud backups keep your data safe elsewhere.
Daily Backups: A Non-Negotiable
The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Framework recommends daily backups as a core defence strategy. It’s not just good practice, it’s essential for compliance and business continuity.
We often tell clients: think of backups like brushing your teeth. Do it daily, or you’ll definitely regret it later.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
One of our clients – a local legal practice – came to us after a ransomware attack locked them out of their documents for three days. They had no viable backup. It took weeks to rebuild their data, and the financial and reputational cost was enormous. They now have a BDR plan in place, and backups run daily with offsite replication.
Disaster Recovery: It’s Not Just the Backup
Backing up your data is one thing. But recovery is where the real test lies. How quickly can you restore operations? Where will your team work from if your office is unavailable?
That’s where disaster recovery planning comes in. It’s not just about data – it’s about people, processes, and continuity. We help businesses map out recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO), so they understand how long they can afford to be offline and how much data they can afford to lose.
Cloud Backup: Smarter and Safer
Cloud-based backup solutions offer flexibility, scalability, and enhanced security. With Microsoft Cloud Backup, for example, your data is encrypted, stored offsite, and easily recoverable.
It’s a smart move for businesses of any size, especially when paired with a managed IT provider who monitors the health of your backups daily.
How to Get Started
If you’re not sure where your business stands, start with these steps:
- Check when your last full backup was completed
- Test your ability to restore from backup – don’t wait for a real emergency
- Review your current backup solution – is it secure, offsite, and automated?
- Build a disaster recovery plan – who does what, when, and how?
- Talk to a technology partner (like us) to help design a fit-for-purpose solution
Looking Ahead
Data loss can happen to anyone, but the businesses that prepare are the ones that survive and thrive. Backup and disaster recovery isn’t just a checkbox – it’s a mindset, a commitment to ensuring your business can weather any storm.
If you’re ready to build resilience into your business, here’s a deeper dive into continuity planning that might help get you started.
Want help assessing your current backup and recovery processes? Reach out to Gray Area Consulting – we’re here to help businesses across Australia stay secure and prepared.
