It's not about the Backup.
It's about the Recovery.
A hardware failure or cyber incident can interrupt business operations. We plan backup and recovery around agreed recovery objectives, available infrastructure and tested procedures.
A Real Strategy for Business Continuity
The industry-standard 3-2-1 rule is designed to keep data resilient against any localized disaster: 3 copies of data, 2 different media, 1 copy kept separately.
Copies of Data
Original Data + 2 Backups
Different Media
e.g. Local Server + Cloud
Separate Copy
Kept apart from the primary systems
Server Backup & DR
Full image-based backups of your physical or virtual servers. If a server dies, we can spin it up as a virtual machine in the cloud so your team can keep working.
Microsoft 365 Backup
Backup coverage for agreed Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams data, designed to improve recovery options after accidental or malicious deletion.
Database & Workspace Backup
We back up business-critical databases and virtual machines, with coverage that can extend to cloud workspaces such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, so important data isn't lost if something goes wrong.
How it works
Setting up and maintaining your backup and recovery plan.
Scope & Retention
We agree what needs to be backed up and how long backups are kept.
Configuration
We configure the backup jobs and schedule for the agreed scope.
Monitoring & Review
We monitor backup jobs and review results on an ongoing basis.
Hardware, storage and on-site work are quoted separately. Scope, retention and recovery objectives are agreed individually.
Why Traditional Backups Fail Against Modern Threats
A simple USB drive or a basic cloud sync folder is no longer enough to protect a modern business.
Ransomware Targets Backups
Attackers know that if they delete your backups, you are forced to pay the ransom. We keep copies separately from production systems, so a single compromise doesn't take out your only backup.
The "Microsoft 365" Myth
Microsoft is responsible for its service infrastructure, but standard retention does not replace an independent backup in every scenario. Recovery options depend on the service, licence and configuration, so each business should define its own retention and recovery requirements.
Real-World Recovery Scenarios
Accidental File Deletion
An employee accidentally deletes a critical client folder from the shared drive.
Solution: We locate the specific file or folder from the previous hour's snapshot and restore it precisely where it belongs. Time: 5-10 minutes.
Server Hardware Failure
Your main office server's motherboard dies entirely.
Solution: We spin up your backup image as a virtual machine locally (on the backup appliance) or in the cloud. Your team reconnects and keeps working while we wait for replacement hardware.
Full Office Disaster (Fire/Theft)
The physical office is inaccessible or equipment has been stolen.
Possible response: Where the agreed design supports it, the recovery plan may use replacement cloud infrastructure so authorised staff can reconnect remotely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between backup and Disaster Recovery (DR)?
Backup is simply a copy of your data. Disaster Recovery (DR) is the actual plan and technical capability to restore your systems and keep the business running after an outage or attack. In short: backup answers “do we have a copy?”, while DR answers “how fast can we operate again?”.
How do you define RPO and RTO?
We start with your business processes to understand which systems are critical. RPO (Recovery Point Objective) is the maximum acceptable data loss (e.g., 4 hours of work). RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is the target time to restore operations (e.g., 2 hours). We then design the technical backup frequency to meet those targets.
Why does restore testing matter?
A backup that has never been restored is unverified – until you know it works, you have an assumption, not a backup. Testing restores periodically is a fundamental part of any sound backup strategy.
Do you back up Microsoft 365 (Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams)?
Yes. We implement dedicated backups for Microsoft 365 environments with granular restores for individual items or full mailboxes. This matters because Microsoft's built-in retention features do not equal a full backup - especially for long-term archiving and complex recovery scenarios.
When was your last Restore Test?
Backups can fail silently. We continuously monitor your backup systems and verify backup health so you can be confident your data is there when you need it.
Book a Disaster Recovery AuditPrefer to talk directly? Call an IT engineer: +44 333 880 1344
Backup and Disaster Recovery for UK Businesses
SmartOps IT provides reliable Managed IT services and practical Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solutions for SMEs across the UK. We help businesses reduce the risk of data loss caused by ransomware, accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber incidents through backup strategies and business continuity planning. From Microsoft 365 backups to on-premise servers and business-critical systems, we focus on reliable recovery and stronger operational resilience, backed by proactive monitoring . As part of our cybersecurity services , we help businesses keep important systems protected, recoverable, and better prepared when something goes wrong.