Every Australian business relies on data—whether it's customer records, financial information, or operational documents. Backup and disaster recovery (BDR) are essential strategies that protect this data and ensure your business can keep running smoothly if something goes wrong. Simply put, backup means making copies of your important files regularly, while disaster recovery is the plan and technology to restore those files and systems quickly after an unexpected event.
Why this matters for Australian SMBs
Without proper backup and disaster recovery, your business risks losing critical information due to hardware failure, accidental deletion, cyberattacks like ransomware, or natural disasters such as floods or fires. This can lead to costly downtime, lost productivity, damaged reputation, and even regulatory issues if you handle sensitive customer data. For small and mid-sized businesses, these impacts can be devastating because recovery often requires resources and expertise that may not be available internally.
A real-world example
Consider a Melbourne-based accounting firm with 50 employees. One day, a ransomware attack encrypts their client files and internal systems. Without recent backups, they face weeks of downtime and potential data loss, risking client trust and compliance breaches. However, if they had a managed IT provider handling automated backups stored securely offsite and a tested disaster recovery plan, they could restore their systems within hours, minimizing disruption and safeguarding their reputation.
What to check and ask your IT provider
- Backup frequency and retention: How often are backups made, and how long are they kept? Daily backups with at least 30 days retention is a common standard.
- Backup storage location: Are backups stored offsite or in the cloud to protect against local disasters?
- Recovery time objectives (RTO): How quickly can your systems be restored after an incident?
- Recovery point objectives (RPO): What is the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time (e.g., last 24 hours)?
- Testing and validation: Does the provider regularly test backups and recovery processes to ensure they work?
- Security measures: Are backups encrypted and access-controlled to prevent unauthorized access?
- Compliance support: Can the solution help meet relevant Australian data privacy and industry regulations?
Simple internal checks
- Verify that backups are running as scheduled and check backup logs for errors.
- Confirm who has access to backup data and review permissions regularly.
- Ensure backup copies are stored separately from your main systems, ideally offsite or in the cloud.
- Ask your team if they know the basic steps to report data loss or IT incidents promptly.
Backup and disaster recovery are not just technical tasks—they are critical business safeguards. If you don't already have a clear, tested BDR plan, it's wise to discuss your needs with a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor. They can help tailor a solution that fits your business size, budget, and risk profile, helping you protect your data and keep your operations resilient.