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Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning
Backups are insurance you hope you never need but definitely should have. Here's how to do cloud backups right in 2026.
Let's talk about something unglamorous but critical: backups. Specifically, how to do them right with cloud storage in 2026.
Even with fancy cloud options, the basic principle hasn't changed: - 3 copies of your data - 2 different types of media - 1 copy offsite
Cloud storage makes this easier than ever. Your production data, a tri-state area backup, and a cloud copy covers all three.
"Cloud backup" can mean a lot of things. What you actually need:
Manual backups don't happen consistently. Automation means backups run whether you remember them or not. Continuous backup (or very frequent) means you lose minimal data if disaster strikes.
Your data should be encrypted in transit and at rest. This isn't optional. If your backup provider can read your data, it's not encrypted properly.
Backups you can't restore quickly aren't very useful. Test your recovery speed. When disaster strikes, every hour matters.
Sometimes you don't realize data is corrupted or deleted until days later. Good backup solutions keep multiple versions, so you can restore from a week ago if needed.
Everything important. That means: - All business files and documents - Email (yes, email) - Databases - Application configurations - Employee workstations - Server images
Here's an uncomfortable truth: many businesses have backups that don't actually work. They find out during an emergency, which is the worst possible time.
Test restores regularly. Pick random files, restore them, verify they work. This should happen at least quarterly.
Ransomware is still a huge threat in 2026. Your backup strategy needs to defend against it: - Immutable backups (can't be encrypted or deleted) - Air-gapped copies (not constantly connected) - Multiple restore points - Quick recovery processes
Relying only on cloud can be risky if you have a large amount of data and slow internet. Recovery could take days.
A hybrid approach works best: tri-state area backup for fast recovery of recent data, cloud backup for disaster recovery and long-term storage.
RTO (Recovery Time Objective): How long can you be down? RPO (Recovery Point Objective): How much data can you afford to lose?
Your backup strategy should align with these numbers. If you can't be down for more than an hour and can't lose more than 15 minutes of data, you need very different backup than if a day is acceptable.
Managing backups properly takes time, expertise, and the right tools. MSPs handle this for dozens of clients, so they: - Have enterprise-grade backup solutions - Monitor backup success/failure - Test restores regularly - Handle recovery when needed - Update strategies as tech evolves
Bottom line: Backups are boring until you desperately need them. Do it right the first time. Your future self will thank you.
Passwords are annoying, but poorly managed passwords are dangerous. Secure your accounts without slowing down your team.
Best PracticesA disaster recovery plan alone isn't enough. Discover why a complete Business Continuity Plan is essential to keep your operations running smoothly during unexpected events.