Backup and recovery plan (simple, testable)
Backups aren’t set-and-forget. If you’ve never tested a restore, you don’t have a backup plan—you have hope.
This guide shows a practical backup routine and a simple monthly restore test, so you can recover quickly when something breaks.
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What must be backed up (systems and data)
- Email and collaboration data (Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace)
- File shares and cloud storage
- Line-of-business apps and databases
- Critical device configs (firewalls, switches, VoIP)
- Passwords/keys and recovery codes (securely stored)
The 3-2-1 idea in plain English
Keep three copies of important data, on two different types of storage, with one copy offline or isolated. The goal is to survive ransomware and mistakes.
RTO/RPO for owners (how to choose targets)
RTO is how fast you need to be back up. RPO is how much data you can afford to lose. If you don’t pick targets, your “plan” is whatever the backup happens to do.
Testing restores (monthly routine)
- Pick one system or dataset each month
- Perform a restore to a safe location
- Verify it works (not just that files exist)
- Record the time and any blockers
Incident recovery steps
When something goes wrong: isolate, preserve evidence, reset access, rebuild clean, and restore from known-good backups. Endpoint controls help reduce spread—see endpoint protection basics.
FAQ
How long should we keep backups?
It depends on business needs and risk, but many small teams benefit from a mix of short-term rapid restores and longer retention for “slow burn” incidents.
Should backups be cloud-only?
Cloud backups can work well, but you still need isolation and restore testing. A single copy in one place is fragile.
What’s the difference between backup and sync?
Sync mirrors changes (including deletions). Backups keep recovery points so you can roll back after mistakes or ransomware.
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