Backup and Business Continuity

Backups that are designed to restore, and continuity plans people can use

Backups are valuable only when the right data is protected and a usable copy can be restored in time. MSP247 helps organisations across York, Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region plan, manage and test backup and business continuity arrangements for cloud services, servers, endpoints and essential communications.

Our approach connects technology with the business decisions that matter during an outage: what must return first, how long the organisation can operate without it, who has authority to act and how staff and customers will be kept informed.

What should a business backup protect?

• Microsoft 365: important Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams data where an independent recovery copy is required.
• Servers and virtual machines: operating systems, applications, configurations and business data, with recovery priorities documented.
• Endpoints: locally stored files on supported desktops and laptops where data cannot be moved to managed storage.
• Cloud applications: data held by critical third-party services, subject to the export, retention and recovery options they provide.
• Network and security configurations: current firewall, switch, Wi-Fi and access settings needed to rebuild essential infrastructure.
• Business documentation: contacts, licences, supplier details, recovery instructions and decisions that must remain accessible during an incident.

Backup, sync and retention are not the same

File synchronisation is designed to keep copies aligned, so a deletion or unwanted change may also synchronise. Recycle bins, version history and retention policies can help, but they have different purposes and limits. A backup service should be selected against a documented recovery need rather than assumed from the presence of cloud storage.

For Microsoft cloud environments, our Microsoft 365 support and management service can align identity, administration and recovery responsibilities.

Recovery time and recovery point in plain language

The recovery point describes how much recent data the organisation could accept losing. The recovery time describes how quickly a system needs to be usable again. A finance system, shared file area and archive may each need a different answer. We use those answers to shape retention, backup frequency, storage and restoration priorities.

Testing the restoration process

A successful backup job is not the same as a successful business recovery. Restoration tests help confirm that data can be located, permissions are understood, credentials are available and the recovered system behaves as expected. Test frequency and scope should reflect the importance and rate of change of each service.

MSP247 can document test results, exceptions and agreed follow-up actions so recovery readiness is visible rather than assumed.

Business continuity beyond data

Technology continuity can also depend on internet access, telephony, power, premises, suppliers and key people. We help identify practical alternatives such as resilient connectivity, remote-working arrangements, documented call routing and access to essential systems from an approved fallback location.

Our connectivity services can be considered alongside backup so the recovery plan covers access as well as data.

Ransomware and destructive incidents

Recovery copies should not depend on the same everyday accounts and controls as the systems they protect. Access separation, retention, monitoring and tested recovery can reduce the chance that one compromised account or device destroys both live data and every usable copy.

Backup is one part of a wider defence. Identity, patching, device controls, email security and incident procedures are covered by our cybersecurity services.

How continuity planning works

1. Discover: list systems, data, suppliers, dependencies and existing backup arrangements.
2. Prioritise: agree recovery points, recovery times and the order in which services must return.
3. Design: select suitable protection, retention, access and fallback arrangements.
4. Test: perform agreed restoration and continuity exercises, then record gaps and actions.
5. Review: revisit the plan when systems, people, suppliers or business requirements change.

Frequently asked questions

Does Microsoft 365 include everything we need for backup?

Microsoft provides availability and a range of retention and recovery features, but the right answer depends on your required data, retention period and restoration process. We assess those needs before recommending an independent backup.

Can you guarantee a recovery time?

Recovery commitments depend on the selected service, data volume, systems, dependencies and agreed scope. We document realistic objectives and the conditions attached to them.

How often should we test?

There is no single interval for every organisation. Critical and rapidly changing systems normally justify more frequent tests than low-priority archives.