Why Combining Backup and Disaster Recovery Makes Sense
For many Canadian small and mid-sized businesses, managing data protection can feel overwhelming. Backup and disaster recovery (often called BDR) are two related but distinct services that work best when combined. Backup means regularly copying your important files and data to a safe place. Disaster recovery involves having a clear plan and tools to quickly restore your systems and operations after a major disruption, such as a cyberattack, hardware failure, or natural disaster.
When these services are combined, you not only have copies of your data but also a tested process to get your business running again fast. This reduces downtime and the risk of permanent data loss, which can otherwise lead to lost sales, damaged reputation, and regulatory headaches.
Business Impact: Minimizing Downtime and Protecting Trust
Imagine your business experiences a ransomware attack that locks you out of your files. Without a solid backup, you might have to pay a ransom or lose critical data. Without disaster recovery, even if you have backups, it could take days or weeks to restore systems and resume work. This downtime can cause frustrated customers, missed deadlines, and lost revenue.
Canadian businesses also face privacy expectations under laws like PIPEDA, which require protecting customer data. A combined backup and disaster recovery approach helps meet these expectations by ensuring data integrity and availability.
A Typical Scenario for a Canadian SMB
Consider a 50-person accounting firm in Toronto. They keep client records and financial data on local servers and laptops. One day, a staff member inadvertently clicks a phishing email, triggering ransomware. Their IT provider had set up daily backups stored securely offsite and a disaster recovery plan that included cloud-based virtual servers.
Within hours, the IT team isolated infected devices, wiped and restored data from backups, and spun up virtual desktops so staff could continue working remotely. The firm avoided paying ransom, minimized downtime to less than a day, and maintained client trust.
Practical Checklist: What to Do Next
- Ask your IT provider: How often are backups performed and where are they stored? Are backups encrypted and tested regularly for integrity?
- Check disaster recovery plans: Is there a documented, tested process for restoring systems after different types of incidents? What is the expected recovery time?
- Review service agreements: Look for clear commitments on backup frequency, data retention periods, and recovery time objectives (RTOs).
- Test internally: Confirm that backup access is restricted to authorized personnel and that passwords and VPNs are secure.
- Consider cloud options: Cloud-based backups and disaster recovery can offer faster recovery and reduce dependency on physical hardware.
Next Steps
Combining backup and disaster recovery services is a practical way to protect your business from data loss and costly downtime. To ensure your approach fits your specific needs, talk with a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor who understands Canadian SMB challenges. They can help you assess your current setup, identify gaps, and implement a reliable BDR strategy tailored to your business.