When considering disaster recovery for your business IT systems, the idea of having backup servers is often raised. Backup servers are additional machines that store copies of your critical data and applications, ready to take over if your main servers fail. This setup helps ensure your business can keep running smoothly even if there's a hardware failure, cyberattack, or other unexpected event.
Why backup servers matter for Canadian SMBs
For small and mid-sized businesses in Canada, downtime can be costly. When your main server goes offline, employees may lose access to essential files and software, halting productivity. Worse, if data is lost or corrupted, you could face lost sales, damaged customer trust, or challenges meeting privacy regulations like PIPEDA. Backup servers reduce these risks by providing a near-instant fallback that keeps your operations running and your data safe.
A practical example
Imagine a 50-person Canadian manufacturing company that relies on a central server for order processing and inventory management. One day, their main server's hard drive fails unexpectedly. Without a backup server, the IT team scrambles to restore data from backups stored offsite, which takes several hours. During this time, orders can't be processed, causing delays and unhappy customers.
With a backup server in place, the company's IT provider quickly switches operations to the backup machine. Employees continue working with minimal interruption, and the failed server is repaired without pressure. This approach saves time, reduces stress, and limits the impact on revenue and reputation.
Key questions to ask your IT provider
- Do you recommend backup servers as part of our disaster recovery plan? Understand their reasoning based on your business size and risk profile.
- Where will backup servers be located? Onsite backup servers provide fast recovery but can be vulnerable to the same physical risks as primary servers. Offsite or cloud-based backups offer geographic separation.
- How quickly can we switch to backup servers? Ask about expected downtime and recovery time objectives (RTO).
- How often is data synchronized between primary and backup servers? Frequent syncing reduces potential data loss.
- What security measures protect backup servers? Ensure they have strong authentication, encryption, and access controls.
Simple internal checks to perform
- Review your current backup procedures and confirm if backup servers are part of the plan.
- Check access logs to backup systems to ensure only authorized personnel have entry.
- Verify that backups are tested regularly by restoring sample data.
- Confirm that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled for server access.
- Ensure backup data is encrypted both at rest and in transit.
Backup servers are a critical component of a robust disaster recovery strategy, especially for businesses that depend heavily on their IT systems. They help minimize downtime, protect data integrity, and maintain customer confidence. If you're unsure whether your current setup includes effective backup servers or want to explore options, consider consulting a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor. They can assess your unique needs and help design a practical, cost-effective disaster recovery plan tailored to your business.