Backup & Disaster Recovery

Data breaches cost UK businesses an average of £3.4m*

Creating a ‘backup’ involves creating copies of important/business critical data, files, or systems and storing them in a separate location from the original source. Disaster recovery, is the plan organisations should have in place to re-establish access to data and systems in order to return to business as usual. Disaster recovery plans typically include steps for assessing the extent of the damage, prioritising recovery efforts, and implementing measures to restore data, systems, and infrastructure to a functional state.

“As businesses are more dependent on SaaS technologies, it becomes crucial to ensure SaaS data is both protected and recoverable. Given the vulnerability of SaaS data to errors, cyberattacks, and vendor mishaps, robust backup solutions are also indispensable.” Michael Hoeck, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner

*SOURCE: IBM Cost Of A Data Breach Report 2024

Both back up and disaster recovery work hand in hand to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity. Backups provide a foundation for recovery efforts by offering a point-in-time copy of data and systems, while disaster recovery plans leverage these backups to guide the restoration process.

The goal is to minimise downtime, reduce data loss, and enable organisations to resume operations swiftly in the event of a disaster or disruptive incident.

Why is it important to have a data backup?

In today’s digital landscape, where businesses rely heavily on technology for their daily operations, the importance of a robust backup and disaster recovery plan cannot be overstated. Cyber attacks, hardware failures, and human errors are just a few potential threats that can disrupt a company’s operations. Without a well-thought-out strategy to address these incidents, organisations risk facing significant downtime, which can be costly.

According to a study by Gartner, the average cost of downtime is $5,600 (£4,405) per minute. However, the research firm notes that this is merely an average. A report by Avaya found that downtime costs can vary widely, ranging from $2,300 (£1,809) to $9,000 (£11,440) per minute, depending on factors like company size and industry. These figures highlight the enormous financial impact that downtime can have on an organisation, potentially leading to lost revenue, damaged reputation, and a decline in customer trust.