Why Business Continuity Starts with a Proven Recovery Plan
More than one in four UK businesses faced a cyberattack last year, and disruptions from system failures or data loss are only becoming more common. The Guardian recently reported that, over 27% of UK businesses experienced cyberattacks in the past year, up from 16% the year before. And when something goes wrong, businesses that rely solely on a basic backup often find themselves unprepared.
The truth is simple: Backup alone is not disaster recovery.
Without a tested recovery plan, downtime can be damaging—and expensive. UK businesses collectively lost more than 50 million hours to internet outages last year, resulting in over £3.7 billion in losses.
The Backup Myth: Why Saving Data Isn’t Enough
Many businesses think that if their data is backed up, they’re protected. But in a real incident—whether it’s ransomware, hardware failure, or a natural disaster—having a backup is only part of the story.
The real question is:
Can you recover quickly and keep your business running?
Without a clear disaster recovery (DR) plan:
- Downtime can last hours or even days
- You risk losing revenue and productivity
- Customer confidence can take a hit
- You could fall short of compliance obligations
And once those consequences hit, they’re hard to undo.
What Is Disaster Recovery and Why Does It Matter?
Disaster recovery is the process of restoring systems, applications, and data after an unexpected event. It’s not just about recovering files—it’s about making sure your business gets back on its feet quickly and safely.
DR works best when it’s part of a full Business Continuity Plan (BCP)—a plan that helps keep your business running, even when something goes wrong.
A strong DR and BCP setup can:
- Define clear recovery time and point objectives (RTO/RPO)
- Help you recover from ransomware and system failures
- Support business operations across different sites
- Meet legal and industry standards
How PDQ and Datto Help You Stay Prepared
At PDQ, we go beyond basic backup. We deliver complete business continuity solutions, using Datto SIRIS—a system designed to get you up and running with minimal fuss.
SIRIS is more than just a backup—it’s designed from the ground up to help businesses recover fast, reduce downtime, and keep operations running smoothly. Unlike traditional solutions, it combines backup, recovery, and cloud continuity into one streamlined system.
What You Get with Datto SIRIS:
Instant system recovery
Boot systems instantly, on-site or in the cloud.
Backups that can’t be changed
Protection against ransomware, with visual confirmation that backups work.
Quick switch back to normal systems
Fast return to original hardware once systems are fixed.
Every backup is a full recovery point
No risky incremental chains—every snapshot stands alone.
Manage everything from one place
See and control backups for multiple sites through a single dashboard.
Predictable pricing
Flat-rate Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) with no hidden costs.
Real Examples: What Can Go Wrong?
These scenarios are drawn from real client experiences to highlight what can go wrong—and how to recover. Let’s look at a few common problems:
- Ransomware Attack
Your files are locked, and your backups are targeted next. If they’re not protected, recovery may be impossible.
With Datto: You can roll back to a safe backup immediately—without paying a ransom.
- Hardware Failure
A server goes down, and key services grind to a halt.
With Datto: Spin up a virtual version of that server in minutes and stay online.
- Natural Disaster
Flooding or power loss means your office systems are offline.
With Datto: Your backups are safely stored offsite in a secure UK-based cloud, ready to restore at a moment’s notice.
Why DR and BCP Go Hand in Hand
A backup is a tool. Disaster recovery is the plan. Business continuity is the result.
PDQ helps you combine the right technology with proper planning to make sure you’re ready for anything.
With our help, you can:
- Feel confident your systems can recover fast
- Stay on top of compliance with GDPR, ISO and Cyber Essentials
- Avoid extended downtime and keep your team working
Is Your Business Ready?
PDQ offers a Free Disaster Recovery Readiness Assessment where we:
- Review your current recovery plans
- Estimate how much downtime could cost you
- Highlight gaps and risks in your existing setup
- Show how Datto SIRIS can improve recovery time and reduce stress
Don’t Wait for Something to Go Wrong
Having a working backup is good—but it’s not enough. The real question is whether your business can carry on when things go wrong.
Let’s make sure the answer is yes.
Book your free Disaster Recovery Readiness Assessment – Get In Touch Today
[Download the Datto SIRIS BCDR Datasheet]
We’ll help you build a plan that works when it really matters.
Data sources: The Guardian & IT Pro